Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

TROUBLE RANCH. 481 “It’s better, now I’ve got it in the cold water,” she smiled. “ You'll have to ride to town alone, Old Timer.” “But I don’t want to go off and leave you like this, Peggy,” he pro- tested. “That don’t seem right, strikes me. Be different if Mort Radcliff was here.” Radcliff was a rider employed at odd times by Peggy Winsome when a man’s services were required on the ranch, and when she could spare the cash for hired help. He was a faith- ful, well-meaning fellow, yet hardly remarkable for a high degree of intel- ligence. Though not regularly a Three Star Dot hand in any sense of the word, Mort Radcliff used the place as his headquarters much of the year, so that Peggy and Newt were less lonely than would otherwise would have been the case. At this particular time Radcliff had a temporary job with a ranchman thirty miles away. “JT wish Mort was here to look after you, sort of, when I’m away,” the boy mused on, eying his sister hesitatingly. “Tl be perfectly all right for a few hours,” she insisted. ‘‘ You don’t need to worry about me.” “T won't get any fun out of hitting the trail alone, and thinking of you sitting here all bunged up, Peg. Be a sight nicer to wait mebbe a week—till - you can ride again. Why can’t we do it that way?” “You're forgetting Banker Spof- ford, Newt,” she told him. “ He’ll be expecting his three hundred dollars on time, and we can’t disappoint the poor fellow. It’s up to you to save the day. Think you can do that much for the old ranch?” “°Course I can,’ he averred. “Only it’s more fun if you're along.” “You're a darling, Newt, to want me to go with you,’ she whispered. “ Next time I will. Here’s the filthy lucre,”’ and Peggy took the little pouch from the pocket of her riding jacket. “ Saddle up your cayuse and beat it. 4A “All you have to do is give the money to Spofford and get his receipt. Don’t forget that last. It’s important —when one deals with a gentleman of his sort.” You gathered that Peggy entertained no misconceptions regard- ing Banker Spofford’s failings. ‘“ What’ll you do for chow this noon, Peg?” “Tl manage somehow. way, Old Timer.” “They’s no great hurry,’ he de- murred. “I'll leave some grub where you can reach it, and dig up a book or a Magazine, or something else for you to read. Then the time won’t drag.” To the best of his ability, Newt ar- ranged things for the comfort of the invalid. “Tl hustle back as fast as I can,” he promised. “Don’t move around any more’n you have to.” “I won't,” Peggy told hime Then, “Oh, I forgot, Newt. In that leather bag is a slip of paper with a list of stuff to buy. The extra ten dollars will take care of everything and leave money enough for your box of shells. Good- by, Old Timer.” “ Good-by, Peg,” and awkwardly he bent over to kiss her. ‘Then, dropping the heavy bag of gold coins into his coat pocket, Newt started for the stable. Hidden among the rocks of the sandstone ridge which towered just back of the Three Star Dot ranch buildings crouched Carl Davis. He saw practically everything which went on there. : The accident to Peggy brought a grunt of amusement to his lips, but no display of sympathy for the injured girl. “Guess they’s one party that won’t be hitting the trail into town to-day,” he muttered. Later, when Newt emerged alone from the house—following his first trip to the pump for water—the spy’s interest increased. | On your ee, oe ie ae igi a ee ~ comicbooks.com mt Fe. mea