Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 25, 1924 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

VALOR. ered with dust and armed with knife and low strapped gun. ‘Gimme some water!” His voice came hoarse from a parched throat. There was a bucket on the sideboard with a dipper in it. David motioned to it and watched the man as he gulped down the gratifying draught. “ What’s new?” asked Aleck cheerfully. The man grinned at him. “ Where’s the old man?” he demanded. *‘ Snorin’,” explained Aleck. “ Tell him we got Harvey Preest down at the Bitter Creek water hole. Tell him he swings to-night!” He made immedi- ately for the door. “Wait a minute!” David’s command rang out with amazing clearness. It startled both the men, and the messenger stopped short. “ Huh?” he cried. “When’re you— the boy. ‘““ Now,” snapped the rider. “ They was headin’ for the water hole when I left ’em. It’s the likeliest tree around. They'll get there right soon.” He turned to the door again. “Ef I don’t ride fairst I'll miss the party,” he explained politely, and was gone. They heard the clatter of his horse’s hoof beats on the clay. David turned upon Aleck with his eyes ablaze. ‘“‘ Saddle up the ponies, Aleck!” he cried. “We got to be there.” “How’s that?” Aleck founded. David took him by one arm. “ Quick!” he cried. ‘‘ You heard what my father said! He said I was to draw the rope!” His teeth were tight shut, and he spoke through them with an effect of desperate resolution. Aleck had never seen a man’s eyes burn so brightly. ‘“ Saddle ’em quick!” he cried, and waiting to see Aleck off to obey a command he could not resist, David dashed from the room and hurrying down a narrow passage, plunged into his father’s bedroom. He opened the door quickly, and as quickly closed it after him. The room was filled with light which poured in through a window near the door. It was moonlight and the color of moonlight, but having ac- ZA When?” demanded stood dum- 17 customed his eyes to it, David seemed at once to discern his objective, and strode to the head of the great wooden bed where his father lay stiffly. on his back, asleep. From a hook in the wall beside the bed- head hung suspended a cartridge belt which carried in a well worn holster the glittering body of a loaded forty-five. This David took deftly from its hook and turned to the door as he strapped it about his waist. ‘“‘ What’re you up to?” The harsh voice of his father tore the darkness, and David whirled on his heel to see his father sitting up peering through the moonlight at him. “ Yore gun!” he cried with a queer, hard lilt in his voice. ‘I’m usin’ it!” “Yo’re crazy!” The old man leaned forward, one hand clutching the bedclothes before him, the other supporting him be- hind. “‘ Come back! Where you goin?—” His eyes fought the baffling light as the door slammed shut and the boy disappeared from the room. With a great cry the man sprang from his bed. He stood with the bedclothes about his limbs, and then stag- gered to the door. ‘‘ Come back!” he yelled. “ Back! You blasted fool! Come back!” He tore open the door and fell to his knees in the passage. He staggered to his feet again and groped wildly for the wall. He found it, and felt the blood rush to his head blinding him to direction, blackening his mind. ““ What’re you up to?” he cried into the darkness. Then he remembered that his chicken-hearted son had come into his room. He took a step forward, meeting the solid wall. ‘‘ Come back!” he roared, as though he would dominate all the world by the weight of his voice, the crash and clamor of it as it rang in the narrow passage. He found himself facing his empty room again. “What're you up to?” he roared. “ Come back!” And there came to his ears the sound of hoof beats, the rattle of hoofs which thundered on the hard baked clay, which rang on the stone and beat in confu- sion on the grass; hoof beats which re- treated and grew faint; hoof beats which left him in darkness, all alone. “Come back!” he muttered. “ You blasted fool! You, David!” And the bed- Gomichdooks (E@)