Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 13, 1920 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

322% “Tell me straight out what it is, an’ i”! tell you straight out what Vll do.” ‘““ Promise me you won’t drink any more until—until after you’ve seen Win.” “The Texan hesitated. “It’s only a couple of days. Yes, I’ll promise,” he an- swered. ‘ An’ now, what’s your plan?”’ Alice glanced toward the door and leaned closer. ‘It really isn’t my plan at all,” she whispered. ‘‘ But there’s a man out there with a big, drooping, faded-looking mustache; he said you did him a good turn by not shooting him, or something—” “Tke Stork,” grinned the Texan. Alice nodded. ‘“‘ Yes, that’s his name; and he said to tell you it was the best bet, whatever that is.” : “T get him. Go on,” “Well, he says there’s some kind of a chute that they slide the beer-kegs down into the cellar with, and for you to go down and climb up the chute. It will let you out into the alley between this building and the livery stable. The marshal hasn’t thought of posting any guards there, and Tke’s horse is tied in the alley, and you’re to take him and make a dash out of the front way, right through the crowd. . He says they’ll all fall over each other and be so scared that they won’t think to shoot till you’ve had a chance to get away.” As the girl talked she could see that the Texan’s eyes twinkled, and when she fin- ished his shoulders were shaking with silent mirth. “Good old Ike!” he chuckled. tell him I say he’s a bear!” “He said it would be fun to see them trample over each other getting out of the Way.” “ll sure see that he gets his money’s worth,” grinned the Texan. | A troubled look crept into the girl’s face. *“ You won’t durt any one?” she asked. The man shook his head. ‘ Not onless some of ’em don’t get out of the road. Might knock down a few with the horse, but that won’t hurt ’em to speak of. It wouldn’t pain me none to knock that mar- shal about half-ways down the street—not for anything he’s done to me, but because I’ve got a hunch he talked pretty rough to you.” ‘You ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Oh, I hope it’s all right,” whispered the girl. “ Do you really think it will work?” “Work! Of course it ll work! I’ve got it all pictured out right now. It’s a peach! Just you get off to one side far enough so’s not to get caught in the rush, an’ you'll see some fun. Tell Ike not to forget to put up an awful howl about loosin’ his cayuse, just to make the play good.” _ “ Are you sure he’s really sincere—that it isn’t just a trick to get you out where they can shoot you? How long have you known this Ike Stork?” ‘ Dead sure.” assuring. ‘‘ Known him a good half-hour. You ought to seen those eyes of his when he thought I was goin’ to shoot him—never flinched a hair. He’s a good man; told me to hurry up an’ make a good job of it.” The girl held out her hand. ‘“ Good-by, Tex—till day after to-morrow.” — The cowboy took the hand and pressed it fiercely. ‘‘ You’re goin’ to be there, too? That ’ll make it harder—but—all right.” “Remember,” smiled the girl, ‘ what I said about there being loads of other girls.” “Too bad you hadn’t been born in the West, so Win would never known you— then—maybe—” “What ‘shall I tell our friend the mar- shal?” interrupted the girl. The Texan grinned. “ Just tell him not to order any extra meals sent down to the jail on my account. An’, here, tell him the drinks are on the house.”’ He handed the girl a quart bottle of whisky. ‘ That ‘ll keep ’em from gettin’ restless before the show starts.” | Candle in one hand, bottle in the other, the girl made her way to the door. As she stepped out into the night she was hailed roughly by the marshal: “ Well, what ’d he say now?” ‘“ He said,” answered the girl scornfully, “that you were not to order any extra meals sent down to the jail on his account. And he sent you this and asked me to tell you that the drinks were on the house.” She extended the bottle, which the marshal eagerly grasped, despite the strenuous ob- jections of Pete Barras, who clamored for the return of his property. ‘“ Ain’t I had hell enough fer one day?” The Texan’s tone was re- | 3| (0 (6) (9) com cS (E)