Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 4, 1922 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

328 Stifling an unmistakable sob this time, the girl bent low over the neck of the black mare, urging her to the limit of her speed. The lines of barbed wire gleaming in the last rays of the setting sun flashed past her on either hand like streaks of fire, and the dust rose in spiral whirls behind. She neared the State road, and then all at once above the rhythmic beat of Moon- lady’s flying feet there came to the girl’s ears the humming roar of a high-powered _car, still subdued by distance, but rapidly approaching. With a light touch she slowed the black mare into a loping stride and rode out upon the highway, where she halt- ed squarely in its center with one hand up- raised. But the huge, oncoming car showed no disposition to stop. It advanced upon her with undiminished speed, while its driver and the figure beside him waved peremp- tory arms and a masculine shout was lost in the roar of the engine. ‘The girl did not move nor lower her hand, but the other crept to her holster and came away with something leveled and gleaming. The car careened suddenly with a shriek of out- raged brakes and came to a jarring stop not two lengths from Moonlady’s tense but im- movable figure. “Sorry, but Tl have to borrow your car.” The girl’s tones rang out clearly and firmly above the imprecations of the man beside the chauffeur on the front seat. ‘** There’s a man hurt—” ‘A hold-up!» The hysterical scream came in a high feminine voice from the tonneau. ‘“ Briggs,, why did you stop? Why didn’t you run the wretch down?” ‘“Tt’s a—a woman!” the chauffeur be- gan apologetically. But the girl on the black mare was al- ready returning her pistol to its holster. ‘““T didn’t mean to frighten anybody, but you wouldn’t slow up, and I've got to have your car,” she explained. “ There has been an accident—”’ . “Drive on, Briggs!” A bulky form, swathed in veils and a silk duster, rose suddenly in the rear of the car. ‘“ Dacon, are vou a worm? Briggs, drive on, I say! If that creature doesn’t get out of the road—”’ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Two hands flew to the girl’s belt this time, there was a quick turn of the slender wrists, and twin muzzles gleamed straight from her hips at the occupants of the car. “Get out.” She spoke low, but very distinctly. ‘‘ This is a hold-up, if you like, but it is a matter of life and death. There is a wounded man out there on the range, and I have got to reach him. Get out, all of you except the driver.’’ The large woman had shrunk back with a second horrified shriek at sight of the guns, but now a taller, more slender figure rose beside her, and a cold, languid, in- finitely contemptuous voice drawled: “Father, are you going to permit us to be despoiled of our car and forced out upon this road by any such flimsy ex- cuse as that? The woman wouldn’t dare to fire—”’ The sharp bark of a single shot cleaving straight upward into the air caught the word from her lips, and the black mare’s ears twitched, but she gave no other sign. Not so the occupants of the car. The chauffeur settled matters for himself by promptly sitting back and elevating both hands above his head. The large lady shrieked once more and covered her eyes. The second man beside the driver opened the door and stepped spryly down into the road, sweeping off his goggles and cap as he did so to reveal a head sparsely covered with grizzled hair. “We are at your service, madam,” he remarked with grim humor and turned to the tonneau door. ‘“ My dear, you should know by experience that I never take is- sue with a woman, much less one who has so convincing an argument on her side. The tall, feminine figure alone had re- mained unmoved, and now, disdaining his hand, it descended and stood waiting while the elderly man assisted the stouter occu- pant of the tonneau to alight. Meanwhile, still covering them, the girl had slipped from her saddle. Replacing one pistol, she turned.the black mare and then touched her lightly on the flank. ‘“Go home, Moonlady!”’ she commanded as she had Bull’s-eye. ‘ They'll know I’ve gone for Lee!”’ The mare gave one questioning glance COMmMiCMooks.CGonmn