Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

FIRED AND HIRED. hot on his trail, and they were close to nailing him at Caxton Junction. Came in just one train behind him. Sadie told us he saw them from the window of the westbound train while they were running around the depot trying to find him. They didn’t know the ropes, and the train pulled out on them. Sadie knew they’d wire ahead, so he dropped off the train at Sudden City, hid be- hind that pile of ties, and changed his clothes. You know the rest.” “But if you recognized him the night I brought him here, why didn’t you show him up right then and there? What ’d you want to send me off to. Mexico for?” I asked, indignant. “ Huh!” snorted Ma with a great show of scorn. “ Did you think I was going to let you pull down half of that reward and then go and lose it in a crooked stud poker game? Not on your tintype, Rawhide!” “ Reward?” says I, surprised again. “What reward?” “Oh, just a little matter of five _ thousand dollars that the banks put up for his capture. I got it, Rawhide,” she tells me. “Yep. Lafe Elwood and them two Chicago detectives had a notion that the reward ought to be split four ways, each of us taking a share, but I ex- ploded that idea damn sudden. I had the prisoner holed up in my root cel- lar, and I just naturally insisted that I get the whole reward before I'd give him up. I just had to have it.” “ Well, I'll be darned!” says I, grin- ning all over. ‘That sure was good news. THE U 471 ““And, say!” I cried, getting a sud- den hunch. ‘ What’s been bothering me all along was why that big bozo tried to kidnap me and Sadie that night. Must be he knowed about that five thousand reward, and was trying to cop it off for himself?’ “ Sure he was,” Ma told me. “ What Lafe Elwood didn’t do to that hombre ain’t worth telling. He’s still serving time in the county jail, and he'll be there a sweet, long time if the sheriff has his way about it. Lafe was sure sore over that trick. “ And now, listen, son,” Ma went on. “The old Bent Arrow ranch is going into action again. I’m the boss, and you’re elected foreman at top wages. That’s why I’ve been waiting for you. I happen to know that you are one of the best little buyers that ever sized up a beef critter. “ Now, I got three thousand dollars laid aside out of that reward money, and to-morrow you take it and start out restocking this ranch. I don’t reckon it ‘ll be with imported English shorthorns, but I want a good, hardy breed. I’m leaving that part to you. Are you on?” “ Why—sure,” says I, kind of hesi- tating. “Tl be right pleased to take the job, Ma, if I don’t have to go to jail. I gather from your remarks that Lafe is right peeved.” “You won't have to go to jail,” Ma assured me. “I squared you with Lafe and the other boys, and they’ll be all right about it, but you’re going to get one awful laugh from the gang next time you hit Sudden Junction.” END Le] FIGHT FANS and our readers generally will be deeply interested in two very unusual stories of championship bouts we are soon to give them. They are both Complete Novelettes, and each handles the subject not only expertly, but from a wholly new angle, up to the latest clanging of the gong. Watch for future announcements as to release dates. (EO) DOOKS AMUG (C@