Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

. PRAIRIE FLOWERS. - B21 tween his lips and jerked his head in the direction of the saloon. ‘ Y’ ain’t helpin’ his case none by draggin’ Y Bar into it,” he opined. ‘‘ Hod hates Y Bar on account he trades over to Claggett. Hod, he runs the main store here besides bein’ marshal.” “Oh, what shall I do?” Making sure they were out of ear-shot, the man spoke rapidly: “They ain’t only one way to work it. You hustle back an’ tell him to slip down cellar an’ climb up the chute where they slide the beer-kaigs down. It opens onto the alley between the livery barn an’ the store. Hod ain’t thought of that yet, an’ my horse is tied in the alley. Tell him to take the horse an’ beat it.” For an instant the girl peered into the man’s eyes as if to fathom his sincerity. “But why should you sacrifice your horse?” “The man cut her short.- “ Vil claim his’n, an’ it’s about an even trade. Be- sides, he done me a good turn by not shoot- in’ me in there when he had the chanst, after I tried to help Barras hold him. An’ I’m one of these here parties that b’lieves one good turn deserves another.” “But,” hesitated the girl, “ you were shooting into the saloon at him. I saw you.” ‘Yup, I was shootin’, all right,” he grinned. ‘“ But he’d of had to been ten foot tall fer me to hit him. It wouldn’t of looked right fer me not to of been a shoot- in’.” ‘““ But won’t they shoot him when he tries to get away?”’ The grin widened. ‘“ They won’t. Tell him to come bustin’ right out the front way on the high lope, right into the middle of 7em. I know them ombres, an’ believe me, it’s goin’ to be fun to see ’em trompin’ over one another a gitten’ out of the road. By the time they git in shootin’ shape, he’ll be in the dark.” ‘But, theyll follow him.” “Yes, mom. But they ain’t goin’ to ketch him. That horse of mine kin run rings around anything they’ve got. Better hurry now, ‘fore Hod thinks about that beer-kaig chute.” 3A “Oh, how can I thank you?” ‘Well, you might set up a brass statoo of me acrost from the post-office—when the sun hit it right it would show up clean from the top of the divide.” Alice giggled, as the man extended his hand and said: matches. You better run along now. Jest tell that there Texas cyclone that Ike Stork says this here play is the best bet, bein’ as they’ll starve him out if a stray bullet don’t find its way between them kaigs an’ git him first.” ‘““ Here’s a couple more © She took the matches, and once more — paused in the doorway and lighted her can- dle. As she disappeared into the imterior, Ike saw Stork shifted his position upon the edge of the horse trough and grinned broad- ly as his eyes rested upon the men huddled together in front of the saloon. The girl crossed to the bar, and, reading the question in the Texan’s eyes, shook her head. ; : ‘He won’t do it,” she said. ‘‘ He’s just as mean, and stubborn, and self-important and as rude as he can be. He says he’s going to arrest you, and he’s going to hold you for a few days in jail to see if there isn’t a reward offered for you somewhere. He thinks, or pretends to think, that you’re some terrible desperado.” The cynical smile twisted the Texan’s lips. “ He'll be sure of it before he gets through.” ‘No, no, Tex! Don’t shoot anybody— please! Listen! I’ve got a plan that will get you out of here. But first you’ve got to promise that you will see Win. We've set our hearts on it, and you must.” ‘“What’s the good?” ‘“ Please, for my sake, promise me!” The man’s eyes devoured her. ‘I'd do anything in the world for your sake,” he said simply. ‘Tl promise. Tell Win to driit over to Claggett day after to-morrow, an’ I’ll meet him somewhere along the trail.” “Surely? You won’t disappoint us?” The man regarded her reproachfully. “You don’t think I’d lie to you?” ‘“No—forgive me. I—” She paused and looked straight into his eyes. ‘“ And, will you promise me one thing more?” Gomichbook co