The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 2 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE OLD WEST “Vou leave the brake’ alone!” ordered the judge. ‘This is my treat and I won’t have any one cutting in on me.” Reeves knew the eccentric old judge was set on having his way, and that he would have it even if he wrecked the coach and killed passengers and mules. But there was a dare-devil impulse stirring in Reeves, and he made up his mind to see the thing through. Leaving the gulch by the easy slope of the Rocky Spur road, they turned the other way, covered two miles and came into the Penyan trail. There the judge squared around, a quarter of a mile from the gulch rim, and set the mules at the gloomy chasm on a run. Only a faint depression in the plain marked the course of the ancient trail. The mules seemed confused, but the judge guided them handily. Reeves had been observing the judge’s work with the reins, and admiration slowly rose in him. The old gentleman was a splendid driver, there was not the least doubt about that; nevertheless, what would skill amount to if the trail’s edge crumbled under the wheels? The shaky old vehicle bounded up on the rim rock. ’Way down below was the thin, white thread-of Nugget Creek. The trail, barely discernible, dropped over and skirted a shoulder of granite with nothing but dizzy space on one side. ‘““B—hetter slow down a mite, jedge!” gulped Catamount Cal. The judge paid no atteftion. With a leap the coach took the descent. Slam went the coach door. ‘“‘Who’s out?” yelled the judge, eyes ahead, a pair of lines in each hand and one foot on the clumsy old brake. ‘Pop Handy,” answered Reeves, stealing a frantic look behind. Handy was picking himself off the rim- rock, groping for his hat and drawing a flannel sleeve across his moist brows. “One!” yelled the judge, exultantly. ‘“Make it two!”? howled Catamount Cal; “ve’re crazier nor a loon!” PER CONTRACT. 309 With that he rolled off the box, taking chances on coming safely out of the spill rather than stay with the judge and face graver dangers. He landed in a heap at the foot of the granite shoulder; and Reeves, hanging on for dear life, had a glimpse of him staggering erect and hugging the stone wall. The coach rounded the shoulder with two wheels in the air. Then followed a few rods of almost level going while the trail gathered itself for a jump over the next drop. The door was swinging. Some one, with a wild cry, fell out of it and missed tumbling over the edge by a hair’s breadth. ‘Who was that, Reeves?” roared the judge. . “Rayner!” gasped Reeves, and had to speak twice before the judge heard him. “Three!” whooped the headstrong old man in what seemed like an abandon of joy. Was Judge Brand really crazy? The Tenderfoot had few thoughts apart from those aroused by that hair-raising ride, but this managed to occur to him. It hardly seemed possible that any sane man would behave as the judge was doing then. Another turn carried the creaking, groan- ing old coach down a few yards of almost sheer wall—a sort of causeway with a chasm on either side. The vehicle careened and seemed on the point of somersaulting sideways into the depths. “Wait!” wailed Perdue from “le’me out!” No attention was paid to him. The coach, as by a miracle, righted itself and another twist brought it out upon a short stretch of wide ground. There the little man from Bad Ax chose the less of two evils and projected himself straight out- ward between the whirling wheels. ‘There goes Perdue!” reported Reeves. “Four!” roared Judge Brand, reaching inside; for the long-lashed whip. ‘You’re the last passenger, Reeves, and the toughest bit of going is just ahead. Whoop!” The Tenderfoot hung on. A filmy cur- tain swayed before his eyes and he could see but indistinctly. (To Be Continued.) TRYST pS of moth’s wings ’mid the pale primroses; Shimmer of starlight opaling the dew; Bird-song that droops and dies in dreamy closes, And waiting by the garden gateway—VYou! Clinton Scollard. COMMICLOOOKS (EO)