Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 6, 1923 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

THE AVENGING SHEPHERD. “ He’s got a long drive ahead of him,” Thad said petulantly, indicating Angel. “Let him git started.” Together they walked to the rig, and Joseph placed the lamb in it. The light streaming through the open door revealed Slippy-foot, the coyote, and Grimm, the crow, standing side by side, an oddly assort- ed pair of sentinels, so still that it was hard to believe they lived. Necia glanced at them and saw their eyes shine as the light struck them. The crow was rolling his sinister orbs, alive to every movement of those before him. She tried to turn away, but Grimm held her fasci- nated. He looked for all the world like some high executioner come, not only to judge, but to punish those who were of- fensive to him. She caught her breath as she felt those ereat eyes resting momentarily upon her. Angel and Thad were caught up and held in turn, too. ‘Will you ride with me?” the old Basque asked Joseph, his voice betraying his un- easiness. He addressed the boy, but his question was really put to Grimm, and as he waited for Joseph to answer he did not take his eyes off the crow. It appeared to Necia that Joseph hesi- tated as if expecting the somber bird to answer Angel. Suddenly she saw the crow spread his wings. A piercing, raging ‘“C-a-w-w-w, Caw-w-w-w!”? shattered the stillness, and with a sweeping rush Grimm sailed into the air. Necia threw up her arm to shield her face as she saw him pause on high and drop 899 like a plummet. But it was down on Angel that the cawing fury swooped. The old Basque cowered in his rig, ap- parently unable to reach out for his whip. His team, however, had heard that rush of angry wings, and with a wild snort the horses lowered their heads and dashed away. Necia saw Angel awaken from his trance and grasp the reins. A few seconds later, man and team were lost in the night. Old Thad was still searching the sky for a sight of Grimm. The crow’s cries were rapidly growing faint in the distance, Thad listened, straining his ears until that wild cawing no longer reached him. He looked for Joseph, but the boy and Slippy-foot had gone. He turned to Necia, then, and they stood and stared at each other almost as if expecting to find that that strange trinity—Joseph, Slippy-foot and Grimm—had left some visible mark on them. Without speaking they entered the house. Thad threw open the doors and windows. Necia followed him with her eyes, wonder growing in them as she saw her grandfather give way to his rising anger. ‘“T want air! Air—do you hear? Open up everythin’! Git the smell of them things out of here,” he raged. The plate that Grimm had touched with his bill in salvaging the bread crust caught Thad’s eyes. With an oath he picked it up and hurled it to the floor. ‘“ Grandfather!” Necia protested. “ He ate out of it—that damned crow!” Thad shouted. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK U U U J THE 168TH NOVEL, ORIGINALLY PRINTED IN THIS MAGAZINE, TO BE PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM IS BRASS COMMANDMENTS By CHARLES ALDEN SELTZER Author of “ Riddle Gawne,”’ ‘‘ Beau Rand,” ete. (Arcosy-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, May 20 to June 24, 1922.) Published in book form by The Century Company, New York. Price $1.90. GOmiGdoo (©