Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

BING, BANG, BOOM! “Naw. Do you?” “Tt was the very fellow 1 wanted you to lick at the dance,’’ said Turner. Paprika tried to pucker his lips to whistle. <6 Go on! 7 ‘The very same. He’s the owner of this hotel.” He paused. ‘“ What the devil did you come here for? Why didn’t you keep traveling?” Paprika shrugged. ‘‘ When I heard that béll an’ seen all th’ lights go on, I knew th’ whole country ’d be flowin’ over with men after me. I couldn’t rustle up a horse no- wheres, an’ I knew they’d get me if I kep’ on walkin’. I was headed this way, an when I seen this empty joint I thought it ’d be a good place to lay low till, say, t’-mor- rew night, when I could make a sneak to th’ railroad an’ hop a freight or somethin’.” He paused. ‘ Damn it! I wisht I’d ’a’ left good enough alone. But the sight o’ that little filly jest—” “The thing is this,” said Turner, ds- entangling one of the three chairs from the heap on the floor, and seating himself: “They've got you cornered here like a rat in a trap. Men have gone out to get the rest of the posse, and there will soon be a hundred men or more swarming that door. They’ve got men stationed under the window in case you try to drop out that way—though chances are you’d break your neck on the pavement below, if you tried it. You see what a hopeless case it is for you, don’t you? All they have to do is to wait in shifts until hunger and thirst force you out of here.” Paprika paled, the bruises on his face springing out in blue vividness. ‘“ What— what ‘ll they do to me when they do get mer” “ String you up!” Turner replied tersely. - “ “ The sheriff couldn’t hold you from a mob like that—even if he wanted to; and he doesn’t.” _ For a while Papnka was s silent, his head bowed in thought. Then he looked at Tur- ner quickly. “Why did you want to come in here?” he asked. “ To tell me that? You got some idea, Turner!” You bet I have,” answered Turner. “ I came in to see if you and I couldn’t figure - gome way out of this. I don’t wantay see them get you, Blake. I feel partly re- sponsible for this—though, Ged knows, you got yourself into it alone.” “You mean that?” said Paprika, leaning forward, searching Turner’s face. ‘‘ You Mean that you really want to help me out 0’ this?” } ‘““T do,” said Turner, meeting the man’s eyes squarely. “‘ They’re not going to get you if I can help it, Blake. You and I en- tered into a kind of partnership, and I don’t consider it broken off yet. If I get you out of this, [ll expect you to show me undying gratitude, Blake.” ‘““T will,” said Paprika, breathing hard. ‘“ B’fore God, Turner—though th’ likes o’ me ain’t got no right to call on ’m—if you help me now, I'll steal an’ murder fer you, if you ask me!”’ ' “ The question is,” said Turner slowly, “how can it be done? Whatever we deo must be done quickly—before the rest of the posse gets bere. But what?” His hand went to his chin, and he rubbed it thought- fully. Paprika watched him with the burning eagerness of the alchemist who views the caldron of his precious concoction to await. the result of his experiment. The full real- ization of his impending fate was now upon him, and for the first time in his life he felt the chilling touch of terror. “T don’t see what we can do,’ said Turner, shaking his head hopelessly. ae | can’t see a way out!” Paprika slumped forward, his whole body loose with dejection, his arms falling limply to his sides, his revolver dangling from his — fingers. “Tm gone then,” he said huskily. They'll string me up! They'll lynch me, them’ rubes will! Ugh!” He raised a tremulous hand and clutched at his throat. Turner rose to his feet, and began te pace. the room slowly, his hands plunged deeply into his trousers’-pockets. “Gad!” he kept muttering. mess! What a mess!”’ “There must be a way, Turner!” cried Paprika, his mounting terror swelling in his throat. ‘‘ For God’s sake, Turner— some way! They'll string me up, if they COMIC OOOKS. CORT