Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

MYSTERY LAND. veranda. oné hand against a column. Bassett was sitting in a big chair. He had been grin- ning over something that had been said, and when he saw Channing the grin changed to a sullen scowl. Green reddened, paled; his shoulders drooped. The deputy turned his head and stared into distance. “Youre still here, eh?” said Channing. Green cleared his throat. “ We intend to stay here until we find Evangeline Winthrop,” he stated. “Yes,” said Channing quietly; ‘“ you’re stayin’. Ten minutes. If you ain’t hittin’ the breeze pretty medium by that time you're due to stay here considerable longer. Now get goin’, -you settin’ doves! Scat! Vamose! Run along home an’ take your damned Jaw with you!” Bassett got to his feet. Green likewise stood.up. Green’s face had suddenly turned ashen; his mouth was open, his lips work- ing, though no sound came from them. The deputy seemed to drift down. from the ve- randa. But Bassett’s face was swollen with . fury, and his gaze was malignant. Hell’s fire!” Bassett almost. screamed. “Tt’s come to a pretty pass when a man can pull off—” “Open your trap for another. word an’ T’ll knock it off!” said Channing. ‘ What I’ve said, goes. If you’ve got any objectin’ to do you'll do it after these guys have ~ gone. Losin’ your.temper in front of com- pany ain’t manners. If these sufferin’ short- horns have got real authority to take Eve away they’ll get Jim Hale to serve their papers!” He stood watching the men. When they disappeared around a corner of the house he stepped down from the veranda and noted the direction they took. They went to the stable, emerged, leading their horses. Vallon was standing near, his hands on his hips, also watching them. Vallon grinned as they mounted; said something to them. So far as Channing could see, they made no answer. A few minutes later - they were riding away,:toward Red Mesa. ' Twice within a mile they looked back to see Channing standing near the edge of the veranda, watching them. : SA The deputy was standing, resting of the rear windows. time. 4 (es Channing did not look again toward the veranda. He entirely ignored Bassett. And Bassett said nothing. He was sitting in a chair, muttering unintelligibly to himself when Channing walked away. . After Channing went, Bassett strede into the house. He stood for some time in the doorway between the living room and the kitchen, keenly feeling the desolation and Joneliness of the big house. Curiously, he never thought of blaming himself for the condition; a twisting phase of his malady always placed the responsibility for his mis- fortunes elsewhere. . He was convinced that Channing was at the bottom of it all. He knew that; had known it. But.always, when anything hap- pened, he lacked the courage to face Chan- ning squarely and. have it out with the man. But Channing couldn’t fool him. He had kept his eyes open: During different times of the day, when Green and the deputy had been there, he had: found time to look. out He had seen that Val- lon appeared to be on guard, and that Channing made several trips eastward. © That had been over a period of three days. Channing always went the same way— eastward. Moreover,. he always rode straight eastward until he reached the base of the hill where the east trail led to Red Mesa. At the base of the hill Channing -always turned south. Channing came back that way, too, every Bassett divined, had He had Eve concealed Channing’s ess, taken him to Eve. ' somewhere, to: hide her from: Green and. the . deputy. Maybe Eve was staying in that Warren man’s cabin! _ It was not until after Chan- ning had left after sending Green and the deputy away that Bassett thought of War- ren. His’ memory had been prodded by a thought of his hatred of Warren, a hatred which had been provoked by Warren’s testi- mony: against him on the day the sheriff had held the inquest over Krell, the gun- fighter. It was Bassett’s conviction that Warren would become a party to a scheme like that —to keep Eve away from her rightful pro- tector. COMiIcooe