Argosy All-Story Weekly, 4 February 1922 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

Daisy spoke suddenly. “She also men- tioned a town with a hotel further along if we preferred that to the ranch. Who is _ she, Garry? She was quite a remarkable looking young person, who sat her horse like a man and issued orders as though she were accustomed to being obeyed. I believe that you know her!” “T don’t!” he exclaimed. ‘I never saw her in my life, but if it is the young woman curl, close-cropped though it was, and — was a boyish jauntiness to the set of hs broad shoulders, as if instead of being cowed | by this adventure he was thoroughly enjoy-— ing it. SEs “Was the man hurt bad, ma’am?” Briggs did not take his eyes from the road ahead © as he asked the question, but the friendly interest in his tone was disarming after the strain of the last few minutes, and the girl I think it may be, I should feel inclined to believe that she had some very urgent reason which justified her, in her own mind at least, for commandeering your car even at the point of a gun—two guns! This road leads to the Circle Six ranch, and I have met the chap who owns it. Let me show you the way and I am sure that you will be received with all the hospitality in the world!” “ And it is actually your opinion that my car and the hand luggage will be returned to me intact, to say nothing of Briggs?”’ Acheson demanded. The ghost of a smile flickered in Garry’s eyes, but he responded gravely: “Tf I were you I should feel quite as assured of both Briggs and the car as though they were in the garage at home.” replied frankly: S “T don’t know. I’mafraidso. His horse — was making for home, shot in the shoulder.” _ “ T thought as much, when I see the other _ one lyin’ there. I says to myself that — there’d been some sort of a scrap and I would have stopped right then, only—well, — you saw the kind of folks I’m workin’ for, — ma’am. Don’t you think I’d have run you .- down, though; I’d have ditched this bus — first!” He spoke with an honest sincerity — there was no mistaking, and the girl relaxed — her tense vigilance with a sigh ofrelief. “TJ wasn’t afraid, and whatever trouble ~ there has been here, your people won’t be | molested. They’ll reach the ranch I spoke _ of safely and be well cared for if the old lady can walk a few miles.” a The shoulders beside her heaved slightly and a chuckle came from Briggs’s lips. “It would be worth a month’s pay to have Mrs. Acheson hear you call her thats <. ma’am, and I guess she can make it, though — I don't believe she has walked a block i mS ten years!” He added abruptly in ae changed, sobered tone, “ We're gettin’ near there now, and you needn’t keep that gun trained on me, for I’m with you! You — may want both of yours if there’s likely to be any little mix-up, and I guess from what = I just seen that you’re able to handle ‘em, — Nia ANd pn; ike CHAPTER III. AN UNEXPECTED ALLY. HE heart of the girl in the car had given a wild leap of exultation when Briggs spoke of the dead “ calico pony ” lying by the road where the wires were down. Lee had been able to put up a fight, at least, and an examination of the pinto’s body might reveal how far he could have run before he dropped so that she might calculate the approximate dis- tance to where Lee must be lying. She did not even glance back at the trio left stranded in the road, but covertly stud- ied the part of the chauffeur’s face which was visible beneath his visored cap and gog- gles. His nose was short and impudently upturned, but the smooth-shaven lips were firm and the square jaw lean and pugna- cious and healthily tanned. The red-brown = : z a beneath the cap showed a tendency to ~~ 7 one Ay - oe ee " © oll ca —_ : 7 - . ( | | | <p > = ey 4 ma’am, but if you feel you could trust me with my own it’s right under your seat — there. Of course, you’ve got only my word for it that I won’t double-cross you—” = He turned then for an instant to face — her and the girl looked into a pair of deep brown eyes as confident of being accepted — on good faith as those of a friendly, nen dog. oe Accustomed to quick decisions the gir nodded and slipped her ss back on e more into its holster. mete ee ee Se ~o =“? . - =~ (e\(o) _— tS ig _—~ = e . aie : 8 0 SLL