Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

250 _— THE ARGOSY, The outlaw’s eyes glowed with swift sus- picion. . “He knowed me, eh?” he said. He glanced keenly over the level floor of the desert, Dimly, im the dusk, he could see Lawler riding near the herd. For an instant Antrim hesitated, plainly debating the wisdom of leaving his men; then he smiled with whimsical recklessness, and his move- ments became rapid, jerky. ‘ Slade,” he said, addressing a rider near him, “ you’re running things till I get back.” He wheeled his horse and sent him into the dusk toward the herd, riding cautiously, evidently not entirely convineed of the peaceableness of Lawler’s intentions. He rode a quarter of a mile before he came upon Lawler; and though the light was fading he could plainly see Lawler’s face; set, expressionless. The outlaw brought his horse to a halt within three or four paces of Red King. Antrim’s manner exuded the insolent toler- ance ef the master, who has the confidence that comes from thoughts of overwhelming advantage. He knew Lawler; knew him as perhaps: no other man in the section knew him. For he had seen Lawler using his gun. It had been some years before, when Lawler had been proving himsel{f—proving that he had a right to the respect and consideration of his fellowmen; proving that no man could trifle with him. Antrim had been a witness to the shoot- ing. He had marked Lawler’s coolness, the evenness of his temper; and had noted the deadly swiftness and precision of his move- ments when he had drawr his pistol. Law- ler had not been the ageressor—a dozen other men had testified to that. _ Antrim had not seen Lawler since, until now. And as he looked at him he saw that the years had brought a change in the man. He had been a tall, bold, reckless-looking youth then, with a certain wild wayward- ness in fis manner that might have de- stroyed him, had he yielded to it. Now he was cold, calm, deliberate, imperturbable. The recklessness had disappeared from his eyes; they were now aglow with quiet deter- mination. The waywardness had gone— ironlike resolution marked his manner. And yet behind it all, Antrim could see the threat of those youthful passions; the lurking eagerness for violent action; the hint _ of preparedness, of readiness. Antrim was startled, uneasy. He saw now that he should not have left his men; that he had made a mistake in coming alone to meet Lawler. He was certain of it when he heard Law- ler’s voice, saw the cold, smiling light in “Youre wanting my cattle, Antrim. Your men have been trailing me for two weeks. You don’t get thenr. You've got thirty-nine men, and there are only twenty- three Circle L men over there. I’m not get- ting any of them killed. This thing is be- tween you and myself. Get your hand away from your gun or I'll bore you!” He moved his hand where it had been— seemingly—lymng on Red King’s neck, un- der the mane, and Antrim saw the dark muzzle of a pistol showing in the hand. “ Pm not taking any chances, Antrim— you can see that. I’m not going te take any. If you doe anything to attract the at- tention of your men, Il kill you. Drop your guns, using your thumbs and fore- fingers.”” 3 He waited, watching keenly until the out- law had complied with the demand, the two big pistols thudding dully into the sand be- side his horse. Then Lawler resumed, his voice low and even, as before: © New we're riding back to the fire, An- trim. Listen hard, fer this means life or death to you: “We're going back to the fire. You're going to act as though nothing had hap- pened; and you are to tell your men that you have changed your mind about the cat- tle—you are to tell them that you are going with me to Red Rock; and you are sending them oe to where you came from, to wait for you.” Antrim stiffened, and his face bloated poisonously. But he did not answer, for there was that in Lawler’s eyes that con- vinced him of the futility of attempting re- sistance. “You're going to Red Rock with me,” went on Lawler. “I’m going to be per- boo Le a fetces eae AS aii G88 a eboo - com (€(0) m