Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

THE “Maybe, that is best, eh senor?” Angel argued. This was unexpected. Thad whirled on him in fine dudgeon. “You a-goin’ to take sides agin me, too?” he gasped. ‘‘ Necia don’t need no help. She bosses me to death now. I tell you, young folks has got too much imag- ination. They’ve got things all figured out in advance. Makes me feel obsolete.” “Oh, poor grandfather,” Necia said mockingly as she perched herself upon the arm of his chair. “See?” Thad protested. ‘‘ The tyran- ny of the female—it’s awful! You can’t make them take you seriously. If you don’t agree with them, they laugh at you. Why, for three weeks she’s been tryin’ to make believe there’s a ragged, half starved, no good—”’ “T did not say he was a ‘ no-good,’ ” Necia objected. “No, you didn’t. But if there was such a person, what else could he be—hidin’ out on a mountain goin’ around without shoes; hair down his back—playin’ around with a handful of crippled sheep that he’s picked up, God knows where! Bah! Do you think I’m mad?” ‘“‘Qh, so you’ve heard those tales, too, senor?”? Angel inquired. ‘‘Hain’t heard nothin’ else!’’ Thad ex- claimed. ‘‘ My boys don’t talk about any- thin’ else. They say he’s got a coyote herdin’ his flock! D’you ever hear of any- thin’ so downright foolish? Grown up men ought to know better. If they’re out at night and a coyote shuts up all of a sud- den or a bob-cat quits his squawlin’, they nudge each other and mutter, ‘ Joseph!’ It makes me sick.”’ “And the crow, grandfather,” Necia said tauntingly; “‘ don’t forget it.” “ That’s beyond me, that crow stuff,” Thad declared helplessly. “I ain’t even goin’ to repeat that.” Necia smiled, but Angel’s eyes were mirthless. “My friend,” he said after a moment’s hesitation, ‘“‘ the tales you scoff at are true —even the crow.” “ What?” Thad brought his chair down with a thud. Angel nodded. AVENGING SHEPHERD. 893 “They are true,” he repeated. There was a convincing quality in the old Basque’s voice. ‘Thad knew he had heard the truth, and his mouth sagged as he stared speechlessly at the old Basque. Necia was less surprised, but her face grew sober as she and her grandfather waited for Angel to speak. ‘“‘ He has been living on the mountain for months,” their visitor went on after some deliberation. “Have you seen him?” Thad demanded. ‘“‘T have seen his fires at night. One of my young men has seen him.” Thad whistled softly. ‘So that is why your boys went around by way of the spring, eh?” “That is why, senor,’ Angel answered, somewhat disconcerted. ‘“ You know Peter Organ—he has talked with this man.” “ What did he have to say?” Angel scowled and got up and reached for his hat. Suddenly turning and con- fronting Necia and her grandfather, he ex- claimed excitedly: *‘ He threatens us with famine! He says our crops will fail, our herds die for want of water! Mal rayo la parta! (May an evil stroke of lightning smother him.) He says that the seven lean years are upon this valley as they were upon Egypt!” Thad laughed loudly at this. ‘The seven lean years, eh?” he queried sarcastically. ‘‘ I guess you and me know that there’s been lean years right along for those who look for them. Year in and year out we been here. We ain’t done so bad. I reckon we'll git by. Lean years for lean heads! Quotin’ the Bible to Peter, eh? I might a-known he was a religion- struck fool.” “¢ Well—do you condemn him for warn- ing you?” Necia asked. “ Condemn him?” Thad _ questioned. “ Humph! What; a fool?” Angel was standing at the window, star- ing out into the soft night. “ But, senor,’ he murmured without turning, “ this is the last day of May. It has not rained this month.” “Just a dry spring,” Thad retorted. “You don’t mean to tell me you take any stock in this wild talk?” COMmiclboo (©