Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 34: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

172 “ Quick, boys!” the judge ordered. Git down thar—thar’s somethin’ up!” And down the trail the group hur- ried, jostling and sliding into each other in their haste. But just before they reached the swift flowing waters of Roaring River, old Jake appeared in the path in front of them, holding a crumpled, faded, black hat in his hand! “I got him!” he announced evenly. “That fellow won't trouble no pay- masters no more!”’ “Yuh got him!” the judge ejacu- lated. ‘‘ Where? How?” “Right down at th’ edge of th’ river while he was tryin’ tuh figure out some way tuh get across. He was standin’ out on a big rock when I nailed him ‘fore he could draw. I wasn’t takin’ no chances on a devil like him—not even me!” “But his body—where is it? who is he?” the judge persisted. Jake shrugged his shoulders. ‘“'Yore guess is jist as good as mine! His body must be some place down th’ river by this time, ‘cause when I plugged him, he jist toppled off that rock and sank out of sight. And thar was no fishin’ him out, either, *cause th’ water was too swift and deep. But { did manage to catch his hat with a long stick by chasin’ down th’ bank of th’ stream fur a piece.” Jake held up the faded black hat which he was carrying in his hand. “And as to who he was—I never laid eyes on the fellow before. He was a nasty looking cuss with a big scar on one side of his smooth face and had a big, blue handkerchief tied around his neck and had a black poncho strapped on his back.” Some of the members of the posse exchanged swift, meaning glances and a scowl broke out on Judge Wilson's ruddy face, And “A fine cock and bull story tuh hand us!’ the judge sneered. “‘ What do yuh take us fellows fur, anyhow—a bunch of dumb half-breeds ?”’ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY,. “ But here’s his hat,” Jake returned. “Yuh kin see it for yourself!” What’s a hat, anyway?” the judge snapped. “* With those Loder fellows usin’ this trail, like as not one of ’em lost it some time. And an old bluff like you would be jist cute enough tuh pick it up and try tuh palm it off as be- longin’ tuh yore man. But yuh cain’t fool me with such stuff!” “ Not this hat, judge!’ Jake disputed sharply. “ This here head-piece don’t belong tuh any of th’ Loder boys. Not by a damn sight!” “Why not: 2” the judge roared. “ It looks like a right ordinary kind,”’ “Tf yuh had half th’ brains a man in yore position s’posed tuh have, you’d soon see, you old fool!’ Jake flashed back. “ Snake out that leather hatband what was found near th’ killin’s and show these folks what thinks you’re a little Lord God Almighty jist how blamed dumb yuh are!” There was a tone of confidence and authority in old Jake’s voice that caused the judge to reach hastily into his coat pocket, quickly bringing the braided leather hatband to view. Old Jake snatched it from his hand unceremoniously and handed it, to- gether with the faded black hat, to the nearest member of the posse. “If you'll jist notice th’ part of th’ hat what ain’t faded so much ‘fore you put th’ band back in place, you'll see what I mean,” Jake drawled. “ By darn, Jake’s right!” the fellow exclaimed, after he had fitted the band back on the hat. “‘It covers all the blacker part to a hair’s breadth of an inch—saw-iooth edges and all. Thar’s no mistakin’ but what this is the hat that went with this band! The way them rough edges meets together proves that for certain!” “Let's see!” testily, jerking the hat from the fel- low’s hand and examining it carefully. ‘What do you find, judge?’ some one asked after the judge had com- pleted his inspection. EOPMICL OO KS the judge demanded (E@)