Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

bursts of laughter. 760 But Channing was paying no attention to Bassett at that moment. He did not hear the drumming of Bassett’s horse as the animal fled; he did not feel the in- quisitive muzzle of als own horse nudging his sleeve. _ He had turned his back to Warren’s cab- in and was standing loosely, his shoulders drooping, his chin on his chest. Thirty-seven. Too old. CHAPTER XXIV.. ‘SETTING THE TRAP, ASSETT rode slowly homeward, in- dulging his mirth. Recollection of _ Channing’s voice provoked him’ to But Bassett hadn’t been riding for more than half an hour when his mood changed and he fell to curs- ing Channing: © Channing had stuck a gun against his. ribs. Channing had ordered him away, had threatened to kill him. He had meant | it, too. That was the worst of it; Channing meant everything he said. Morosely, Bassett’s thoughts went to the past.. It had been this way from the be- ginning. From the very day of their first meeting Channing had dominated him. Now it had got unbearable. Bassett reached the ranch house, went ~ inside, and lit a lamp. He stood in the living room, scowling. No fire, no food; everything topsy-turvy. He stood swaying, ~ drunk with a rage that came upon him sud-- denly. This last insult of Channing’s had brought matters between them to a crisis. He had stood on the level. at the foot of: the slope with Channing’s gun against him and had felt no fear. It was the first time since he had known Channing that he had felt no fear in his presence. | Now he was conscious of no emotion ex- cept rage. At last his recreant courage had erown so strong that it could endure . thoughts of reprisal. He felt confidence surging through him. Tt hadn’t been so hard, after all, to stand there and feel contempt for Channing’s gun. For years he had shrank from thoughts of ( : o there to relieve you. That’s all. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. meeting Channing face to face in open en- mity; mentally and physically he had cringed from the man. © It was different now. He had recovered command of himself. He felt he could go through with his plans for his revenge, upon Channing. He went to bed, and did not sleep. He remained wide awake, planning, scheming, figuring, conjecturing, the details of his plan. He got up in the morning with the dawn and walked down the path to the foreman’s shanty. He opened the door and peered - within, to find Channing was not there. He closed the door and walked to the bunk- house. Ned Vallon was inside, sitting on the edge of his bunk arrayed in his undercloth- ing. Vallon was just putting on his shirt; he had both hands in the sleeves and was raising his arms to work the garment over his shoulders. Vallon’s head was tousled, his eyes were bleared from sleep. They widened in astonishment as they met Bas- Ssett’s. ‘* Where’s question. : “ He come in about meng ” answered Vallon. ‘He didn’t turn '.Said he was figurin’ on joinin’ the boys at Middle Fork.” “ When’s he comin’ back?” *““Seems he mentioned he’d be back to- morrow.” “Comes an’ goes when he pleases, eh?” said Bassett. It was as if this was the first time, to Bassett’s knowledge, that such a thing had ever happened. But Valion knew better, and there was amazement in his eyes as he studied Bassett’s face. He had never Channing?” was _ Bassett's Ss going over,and over seen Bassett’s eyes so bright; had never- seen him so assertive, as confident, as com- | manding. “Well,” he‘said, “‘ here’s some orders for Channing. Orders for you, too, Vallon. You ride to Middle Fork and tell Channing that I want to see him to-night. In my house. At nine o’clock. Tell him I’ll be there waitin’ for him. There’s somethin’ I want to talk with him about. An’ you stay at Middle Fork -until Channing gets back You hit Conn OO CO)