The Argosy, Vol. 82, No. 3 — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

560 The Forty-Niners looked on the captured pair with varying emotions. Colonel Chet Hungerford was savagely for reprisal; he demanded two ropes, a tree and a party of determined men—which party, by gad, he would cheerfully lead. Smedders allowed the colonel was a heap stronger in talk than he ever was in action, and that he wasn’t really so mad in his feelings as he let on with his voice. Now Smedders had been tied up by the prisoners and robbed, and otherwise humiliated, but he wasn’t so set on a hanging. Speaking personal, if Gentleman Jim and the don told them where to find the horses and the lost ammunition, he was for turning them loose. Between these extremes as represented by Hungerford and Smedders, suggestions for punishment ran the gamut. While Gen- tleman Jim listened, he evidently evolved an idea. “Robbins,” he called out, “the judge and the rest of you have the whip-hand. I’m not asking a thing for myself, but the don here is entitled to your consideration. Give him another chance, and I'll tell about the horses and the ammunition, and recite a few facts on another matter that will be highly appreciated by Brand. You see, I got the don into. this, and it seems as though I could settle the bill for the two of us. .What do you say, Robbins? Judge, how does it appeal to you?” : Castle and Robbins, with occasional sug- gestions from the judge, were busy parcel- ing out the recovered gold among the many claimants. The task called for tact and dis- cretion. Those persons with hazy notions as to the money in their pockets were making their requisitions large enough to cover any lapses of memory. As a result, the total amount recovered fell short of the demands by several hundred dollars. Robbins knew exactly how much re- mained in his chest, and his first move was to make sure of that. The only bank notes in the collection belonged to the judge, so he was easily indemnified. Old Jack’s coins were identified by the tooth marks with which he had tested them, so there was no difficulty in settling with him. All the others got as near what was coming as seemed just and reasonable, and they had perforce to be satisfied. “Now,” said the judge, moving toward Rayner When the distribution was finished, THE ARGOSY. ‘what was the proposition that you made just now?” The gambler repeated the proposal. ‘All right,” returned the judge promptly, “tell what you know, Rayner, and we'll re- lease your son—but not for a day or two. Reeves must have a chance to reach Pen- yan and file on that claim.” “Let it go that way, then,” agreed Gen- tleman Jim, with visible satisfaction. “The rest of the horses will be found a mile the other side of Middling’s cabin, penned in a notch of the gulch wall—a sort of natural corral closed with two riatas.” “Go after them, Smedders,” said Rob- bins to the cowboy, and the latter started at once. “The ammunition,” continued the gam- bler, “‘is in a canvas bag in the bushes just back of Golshaw’s office.” “Tl look after that,’ declared the mar- shal, and hurriedly left the hotel. “How did you and the don manage to secure the cartridges so easily?” asked the judge. ‘They were kept in the room where Gol- shaw, Robbins and Castle sleep,’ was the answer, ‘‘and I went in by a window last night, while the three in the house were playing seven-up in Golshaw’s office. Your guns troubled us most, judge. I hooked them out through an open window and drew the charges.” “Very clever,” remarked Brand. else have you got to tell me?” “Do you want that before everybody? It’s about Lorena Adams.” “Jest a minute!” Ezra Bobbett did the speaking. He came into the hotel office at that moment, with Mrs. Bobbett and Lady Ann. Every eye in the room turned inquiringly on Ezra. ‘When it comes to talkin’ about Loreeny Adams,” proceeded Bobbett, “I reckon I got the first right to be heard. Some time ago, jedge, I made statements before all the Forty-Niners in the honkatonk; and it’s only just and squar’ that I should make “What some more statements so’st the whole camp can hear. Ain’t that right?” “You are the best judge as to whether it is right or not,” said Brand. “T stand to it,” put in Ma Bobbett firm- ly, ‘that what Ezra has to say is to be said in public. It’ll be hard on Liddy, because it’s as much news to her as to anybody, but right is right. Go on, Ezra.” Bobbett was worried, but determined. It (e(0) DOOKS mie (E@)