The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 2 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

308 white-feathered outfit. Have I got to take this little joy-ride alone?” “Pll go with you!” called Reeves, mov- ing forward. A quick glow lighted up the judge’s face. “The Tenderfoot!” he cried. ‘Time was when the West was full of real men, but now they seem mostly to come from the East. Get up here with me, Reeves; we'll pull this off alone if we have to.” “Glory to glory and all sashay!”’ bel- lowed a voice. “I don’t take no back seat for a Tenderfoot, not me! Where’ll I ride, jedge?”’ It was Perdue. lightedly. “The Bad Man from Bad Ax has really some sand,” he remarked. “Get inside, Perdue.” The little man was in a highly nervous condition, as could be readily seen, but he had a desire to regain some of his lost prestige in the eyes of the judge. Opening the door, he scrambled into the coach. “Tl go,” said Gentleman Jim calmly. “T was only hanging back to give some one else a chance.” “Count me in, by juniper!” whooped Pop Handy. “Tf I didn’t have to look after this hotel, suh,” breathed Colonel Hungerford in wheezy regret, ‘“you’d have to jump on me to hold me back.” “T got hosses to look out fer,” put in Lafe Smedders, “‘an’ that’s all that makes me hang fire.” “T’m with ye, jedge,” grunted Catamount Cal. “Get up here, Cal,” said Brand. “I want to show you the old trail out of the gulch to Penyan, only we’ll take it coming and on the down-grade.” Catamount Cal hesitated for a fraction of a second, with one foot on the hub of a forward wheel. Perdue pushed a wild and despairing face out of one of the coach windows. “Tid the jedge say the old trail to Pen- yan?” he inquired faintly. “That’s what, Purdy,” said Castle. “T want Middling to have my carved leather belt,” went on Perdue, “and the stag-handled dirk is fer Smedders.”’ “Stow that!” growled Pop Handy, ner- vously. Nearly all the Forty-Niners had_ seen that old trail that twisted up the gulch wall on the way to Penyan. In places it Judge Brand smiled de- THE ARGOSY. was almost straight up and down, and in other spots it described circles with preci- pices on one side and sheer walls on the other. Then, for years and years, it had remained unused and crumbling. To come down the face of the cliff in an ancient vehicle, bought at a bargain for show purposes, and piloted by an Easterner who might, after all, be a rank amateur with the reins, was more than enough to fill the passengers with direful forebodings. ‘““Catamount is changin’ his mind,” some- body remarked. “What about it, Catamount?” inquired the judge grimly. Catamount Cal swore under his breath, climbed up and squeezed into the seat be- side Martin Reeves. ‘Any one else want a thrill?” asked Judge Brand. No one else did; and the judge, with a wild yell, gave the mules their heads and the crazy old coach went lurching and swaying down the gulch. To reach the Penyan trail the judge should have gone up instead of down the defile. Perhaps, some of the passengers must have reasoned, he was only bluffing and did not intend to attempt the fearsome old goat-path. Judge Brand, however, set- tled the doubt. “We'll slide out by the Rocky Spur road, gentleman,” he announced, ‘‘then double- back and hit the Penyan trail well on the other side of camp. Last time I took that high dive was more than thirty years ago, and we nosed kingdom come by a hair. I had six good horses, though, and chains on the wheels. How about these mules, Cal?” “Most onery critters you can imagine,” answered Cal, between his teeth. “Brakes in good shape?” “They wouldn’t hold a toy wagon on a level straightaway.” The old Westerner cackled delightedly. “T’m that hungry for excitement, gentle- men,” said he, “that I wouldn’t sell out my interest in this joy ride for ten thousand dollars. Of course, I’m not so young as I used to be,” he added apologetically, ‘and I may have lost some of my knack as a whip, but if everything holds I’m pretty sure [’ll get you down.” ‘There was a wild light in Catamount Cal’s eyes. “T’ll do what I kin with the brake, jedge,” he whispered hoarsely; ‘‘jest you watch them mules.” Go .TOO AMUG S (C@