Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

296 get me! They'll string me up! Get me out o’ this, Turner! Get me out o’ this, an’ there ain’t nothin’ that I won’t—”’ “Keep cool, Blake!” snapped Turner. “JT thought you didn’t have it in' you to be afraid. I thought you were the kind to face death without a whimper. would always keep your mouth shut.” “ But—they’ll string me up!” choked Paprika, his fingers still entwined about his throat. “ They’ll—” Turner ignored him, continuing his thoughtful pacing. Suddenly he stopped, wheeled about, his face lifted as with in- spiration. ‘“* Gad!” he cried softly. ‘I believe I’ve got it!” “Turner! You—” _ ‘“‘ Listen!”” -He came to Paprika’s side, placing a comforting arm about the man’s drooping shoulders. ‘“ We’ve got but one chance, Blake, and I think we can do it. There are only five men out there in the hall now, including the sheriff. Every one of them are men who always do exactly what I say and agree with any plan I sug- gest. “You've seen how I’ve got that sheriff under my thumb. You remember that, all right. What I say will go with any of ’em. Now, here’s the idea—and it’s our only chance: They think I came in here to persuade you to give yourself up. Well, we’ll make out that I succeeded. I'll take you out of here, covering you with your own gun—”’ ' © Never!” cried Paprika, drawing back. “* They ll—” “ Now, wait! Ill take you out there, and T’ll tell them that you gave yourself up on the promise that you’d be taken to the jail before the mob showed up and got hold of you. Then [’ll arrange to slip out with you, and take you to the jail mysel/f—get me?— myself. The sheriff and his men are to Stay here until the rest of the posse gets here, and they’re to hold them here till I get vou safely locked up. See? That’s to avoid a lynching.” ~“ But—they’ll get me out o’ that jail,” said Paprika, trembling. ‘‘ They’ll—” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. The kind that “ They won’t; because you aren’t going to be in that jail. You're going to get free on the way and hop that five o’clock train that comes through Selma. Get me? You'll break away from me and take my gun from me! That five o’clock train goes through to Kansas City. That’s where I want you to go. “T’ve got an object in wanting you to get out of this, Blake, other than my feeling of friendship for you. Before you leave me, I'll give you an address to go to in Kansas City; and I’m coming to meet you there in a few days. I’ll have work for you to do. You know you promised to help me—?’”’ “Anything, Turner! So help me God, whatever you say, I’ll:do!” said Paprika, a violent trembling coming upon him. “ Ill never forget, Turner!” ‘“T believe you, Blake. Here’s fifty dol- lars. Put it in your pocket. It ‘Il see you through till I meet you in Kansas City. Now let me have your gun, and you walk out ahead of me. And keep your mouth shut! Don’t say a word, or they might get wise.” Paprika handed his revolver to his friend, holding out a shaking hand. -Turner took the cold, moist palm in his hand, and gripped it silently. . “God bless you, Turner!” said Paprika, a sob laying over his words. ‘‘ God—bless you!” ‘' Brace up, old man,” said Turner, kind- “You'll need your nerve now!” — The men’s hands fell apart, and Paprika, at a nod from Turner, walked hesitatingly to the door. When the man’s back was toward. him, a@ great change came over Turner’s. face. His eyes, a moment before glazed with ly. sympathetic emotion, now glittered with a light of triumph. His nostrils widened, and the corners of his mouth drew down- ward in a sinister sneer that immediately shaped itself-into a smile that was quite as sinister. With a steady hand he raised Paprika’s revolver, took deliberate aim at the broad back before him—and _ fired. This story will be continued in next week's issue of the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, the consolidated title under which both magazines will appear hereafter as one. COUMIUC DOOIX COlni