Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

900 Friday’ Pepper refolded the document and d it in his hip pocket. « Now, fer Gawd's sake,” the shout went “give us some water!” There was 8 rush to the hydrant. Those who bad not already equipped themselves entered the nearest buildings and returned with receptacles of all sorts. « Are we all set to do business now?” the yoice of Larry Wilpin boomed from the black horn. « All set, chief!” Friday briskly reported. « All right. Everybody stand back. Let the live stock drink first. I ain’t goin’ to be cruel to no dumb animals. Bring up them bosses one at a time.” Whines, oaths and shouts of protest filled the hot morning air. | “To hell with them hosses! They don’t even know they ain’t had any water!” . “ Drag up a tub,” Friday ordered. “ Tach and every hoss in Yumpa has got to have his thirst quenched afore you humans can have a drop. Them are th’ chief’s orders, and if they’re broken, there ain’t goin’ to be no water at all. “Stand back from that hydrant. Push that tub under. Now, lead up the fust o’ them hasses. And if anybody goes stealin’ water from any o’ them pore dumb beasts, th’ party’s over. All right, chief! Let down a leetle water. Jest enough ¢’ fill an ordinary sized tub.” And the loud speaker belched: “ All right, Margery! Give her a little whirl, Who-a-a —gal! Is she comin’, Friday?” “Not yit!” They waited. The bydrant began to hiss. A low spluttering noise issued from it. Then water gurgled forth and became a steady stream. When the tub was almost full, the flow ceased. “* All right, chief!” Friday yelled into the mouthpiece. ‘Jest a tubful, Remember that fer th’ next time. Now, folks, stand back from that tub. Stand away back. Mike, lead up that leetle blue roan and let her drink her fill!” The crowd, muttering, staring avidly at the tubful of sparkling water, reluctantly fell back. The blue roan was brought to the tub. She commenced drinking with a suck. ing, gurgling sound. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The crowd groaned. Then the blue roan placed her forefeet into the water and playfully splashed it about. “ Jest whut she’s 3, wastin’,” one miner declared with bulging eyes, ‘“‘ would quench th’ thirst of any five of us! Jest look at that!” The blue roan was pawing the water now, sending it into the air in glittering, sil- very globules and drops. One man, a cattle rustler, caught a few drops on the back of one hand, and avidly licked them off. More water was let down from the stand- pipe for the playful blue roan while strong men glared and nursed parched tongues. The blue roan drank its fill. The other horses, one by one, were led to the tub, and each was permitted to drink to repletion. Five men fainted. The crowd groaned and muttered. But there were those in the crowd who were not groaning and muttering; and in every assembly of human beings there will always be such men—shrewd and unscrupu- lous opportunists who hesitate at nothing to turn a dishonest dollar. The last horse, its belly bulging, was led away. Friday Pepper addressed the tran mitter. s “ Hello, chief! watered.” “ Sure there ain’t any thirsty dogs or cats around?” “ Don’t see nary a cat or a dog, chief.” ‘* Any hogs, cattle, or other quadrupeds?” “ Ain’t none in sight, chief.”’ “All right, then. Find out if there’s any- body in the crowd who wants a drink now.” A roar burst from the crowd. “Tt seems like they all want a drink,” Friday reported. ‘Have yore money ready, folks!” the loud speaker blared. Another roar was released by the crowd. “What in Sam Hill is the matter now?” Judge Oglethorpe came stamping over to the transmitter. “Look here, you robber!” he shouted. “ This outrage has been carried far enough. Water is free, and—’’ “No, it ain’t, judge, not ¢/s water!” “You'll suffer for this, you scoundrel!” The live stock has been GOMIGDOOo C SS Co