The Argosy, Vol. 82, No. 3 — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

556 Adams cashed in, In fact, I was the only man with him, at the time.” The judge drew a long breath. “So you knew about Lorena Adams from Hugh, himself,” said he. ‘You are a bigger scoundrel than I thought, Rayner, for you stole that nugget chain from a man who could not help himself.” “Vou’re clever,” Rayner returned, “and you ought to consider yourself under obli- gations to me for giving you one of the best thrills you have had in the old camp. But IT can’t delay any longer—the don and I have a lot to do, this morning.”’ His voice hardened as he added: “Every man of you will stay right here until the don and I have left camp. One glimpse of either of you and we'll open the fireworks.” He picked up the heavily weighted hat, backed out of the room and closed the door behind him. Through the window, the judge and his friends could see him empty ‘the hat in one of the saddlebags, climb to the back of his horse and ride away with Don Quesada. Castle sank into a chair, his face as ex- pressionless as paper. “He’ll clean out the camp,” said Robbins heavily. ‘‘At the office he’ll take every dol- lar in the chest! Merciful powers, what a play the villain is making!”’ Reeves was looking out of the window. “Vince and Pop Handy are lined up in front of the Rio Rey,” he announced, “and Gentleman Jim is making them put their money in the saddlebags. They’ll stop at the hotel next, and then they’ll cross over to the Bazar!” The Tenderfoot, thinking of Lady Ann, turned from the window and started reso- lutely for the door. The judge stepped in front of him. “Where are you going, Reeves?” the judge demanded. “To the Bazar,’ was the answer. “Don’t be a fool, Reeves!” begged Cas- tle. “Rayner only wants an excuse to pot ou.’ “Sure, » added the excited Robbins. “We don’t want a killing! Be sensible, Reeves.” * “T’l] chance the shooting,” said Reeves, white but resolute. “I’m not going to stand by and let Rayner do as he pleases at the Bobbetts’.” “Wait,” interposed the judge sternly. “You’ve got more nerve than all the rest of the Forty-Niners put together, my boy. I’ve proved that to my own satisfaction. THE ARGOSY. We'll call this game of Gentleman Jim’s as surely as we called that other scheme of his. But we can’t make any headway at the Bazar. We've got to lay for the scoundrels at the point where the trail leaves the gulch.” “There are two trails out of the gulch,” said Reeves, ‘the one to Rocky Spur and the other to. Penyan.” “TI don’t think the thieves will take the Penyan trail—Rayner has had enough of that. To be on the safe side, though, Rob- bins and Castle will slip out of the house, crawl around the bend, pick up Middling and Perdue and take positions among the rocks. If Rayner and his son should go the Penyan road, you can discourage them by dropping boulders down the gulch wall.” “What are you planning to do, judge?” demanded Robbins anxiously. ‘While Rayner and Quesada are busy at the hotel,” was the resolute answer, “Reeves and I will go out of this adobe by the rear door, get down to the edge of the creek and make our way to the slope on the Rocky Spur road.” “And then?” asked Robbins nervously. “Uncle Rufus, if anything happened to you—” “Whatever is going to happen will hap- pen to Gentleman Jim,” cut in the judge. “This is no time to say no to me, Amos.” He took down the riata from the wall. “Keep tab on the hold-up men, Reeves. Tell me when they stop at the hotel.” ‘“They’re there now,”’ Reeves announced. “Rayner has gone inside and the don is waiting with the horses.” “Then it’s up to us to cut loose,” said the fiery old judge. ‘Make for the Penyan road, Amos, you and Castle. You come with me, Reeves!” In silence the four made their way into the kitchen, followed by the despairing Sing Lee. CHAPTER XI, AMBUSHED. ‘TO all appearances Judge Brand was de- lighted with the turn of events. A camp of so-called old-timers had been sud- denly thrown into spasms by a real and very comprehensive hold-up. The judge was as wiry and energetic as any man half his years, and he led the way along the creek’s edge with all the wariness JOOKS CCOLMMUCE (E@)