Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

82 the real purpose of the dinner was to cele- brate the downfall of the Tumbling L out- fit. A cattleman on the outskirts of the Taurog domain who had been so rash as to offer to fight was chastised, Taurog ex- plained. His name was Ross Larkey——and his name would be remembered. His mark was the Tumbling L—an L leaning back- ward—and there would he lots of drags with the brand scattered about the country looking for “hospitable ” ranchers. “They'll talk of Ross Larkey in the days to come as the bird who wasn’t afraid of Smoo Taurog!”’ the big boss. proclaimed. ‘Maybe some of the Mule City reformers will raise a tombstone for him as a fallen hero.” The guests laughed, and one of them, the croupier, asked: ‘“‘ When ’Il the chastise- ment be finished?” “We ought to be hearin’ the returns pretty soon. I left the gang in charge of little Jug Trilles, tellin’ him to report to me here at Lava when he was through with what was to be performed. Jug Trilles will do the thing up right, I'll tell you. They ain’t no flies on that little ole renegado!” ‘Old Jug stops at nothin —women nor children not excepted!” ‘“‘Speakin’ of. women,” Taurog rejoined complacently as a barkeep brought in cigars and coffee and cigarets—‘ speakin’ of wo- men, I'll say this. They’s women at the Tumblin’ L. And I was give to understand they stuck by their poor ole fool of a rancher. Now I sent a certain Mexican gentleman by the name of Juan Scaly— knowin’ that he has a perticular fondness for lady folk. They’s no tellin’ what ’ll happen when Juan Scaly gets a few slugs of jackass brandy into his carcass!”’ The crowd roared its appreciation of Taurog’s method, and the celebration was growing to a hilarious climax when the barkeep stuck his head in the door to make an announcement that cast a particularly wet blanket over the spirit of the crowd. Juan Scaly, the Mexican, was at that moment outside, having fled from the fight at the Tumbling L. The barkeep added that Juan gave evidence of having been most brutally attacked. “His face was so busted up,” said the ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. barkeep, ‘‘ that I had to ax him who he was—me that’s knowed him for five years!” The Mexican was ushered into the little ‘‘banquet-room.” Yes, the barkeep was right. Juan Scaly’s high cheek-bones were cut and bleeding, his eyes swollen—one like a pulpy boiled beet with a slit for an eye. His lips, too, were puffed and split. ‘““What’s the matter, Scaly? Did you meet up with a puma?” ‘Damn right!” Juan admitted. “A gringo shows up to the Tumbling L just be- fore we fight. I climb into the rancho and find myself in the dark with wan wild ani- mal. Fists clawin’ at me from out the dark. But I git him for it. Don’t worry about that! I, Juan Scaly, will settle with him!” “‘ Looks as if you’d have to do somethin’ to him besides fist fightin’!” the croupier laughed. “Shut up!” Taurog snarled. He took the defeat of Juan Scaly as an insult of a personal sort. Scaly was his man—and whoever beat him up would have to pay. ‘Tell us about it, Scaly. You got caught in the dark—well, that don’t mean a guy can fight—if he pots outen the dark.” ‘““There’s no more to tell, senor,” Juan Scaly replied sulkily. ‘“ Jug Trilles makes very big mistake, that’s all! Trilles thinks only one man was at the rancho what could shoot. He sees another greaser riding into the rancho. So Jug waits till evening and orders me to ride around to the mesa and then climb down the cliffs that hang near the west side of the rancho. I did this, senor, while many guns are being fired and death is everywhere in the air. I got into the room—for Juan Scaly is afraid of noth- ing. I got inside, senor—”’ ‘““And you got something else!”’ the croupier said, and the guests laughed. ‘You got in, and this stranger you speak of beat you up?” “He makes very big fight—I fall—the light is Shining and I see him. The gringo is tall and with big fists—he is tall like you, senor. And he has wan look in his eye like the look of el diablo—clear and sharp he look at me and then he broke me and make me to vamose!”’ ‘““He broke you! You let him break you!” Taurog said disgustedly. comicloool C©