Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLOOD-CALL. his knee, but he felt that this fatherly intimacy would make it harder for im to say what he wanted to say. Instead he told her to sit down while he got up and paced the room. “Why are you so worried?” the girl finally asked. “JT ain’t worried—except there’s been a fight.” | “And you were in it, father?” Kirbie said apprehensively. “Yes, but it’s all over, so don’t get scairt. It was up to the Tumbling L—old Ross Larkey—I wish him and his folks and his whole ranch was burt up!” ‘“‘ Tf you wish that it must be that they’ve wronged you. fight except fights that are just—that’s»what I’ve always heard about you.” “T’m glad you understand it thataway, gal. They was a just cause here—as al- ways. Ross Larkey said he’d pot any of our men that set foot on his ranch. He got into a argyment with Jug Trilles, who was ridin’ up that way with nine of my men. Jug naturally tears in for a fight. Well, they was a stranger turned up who helped Ross Larkey fight my men. Our men was licked—and for the first time in the history of this here range.” “Tf you had been there, father, they wouldn’t have been licked,” the girt cried. “You kind of like the way I fight my fights—aye?”’ ‘“‘ Every one says that there is no man sO great and strong and invincible as you!” Kirbie went on. ‘“‘ And what else do they say?” Taurog asked cajolingly. ““ They say that all men are afraid of you—-that there is no man who is brave enough to stand up and tell you to your face that he will fight you!” (7 And—”’ ‘And that you never need to use your six-gun. They are afraid of your fists. Your fists alone can rule this range! When I marry a man he must be like you—tall and invincible and a fighter—”’ “You’re pretty proud of me then, and you think I been about as good as a real dad in the years past—sendin’ you to school to Dallas and all that stuff?’ You have never fought any: “Why, of course.” “And you love me?” “¥ said I loved: you. You’ve never doubted that. I love and honor you as if you were a real father. I would do any- thmg in the world for you! That is how much I love you!” ‘“And if some one come along and stretched me what yould you do?” | “Yd kill him!” the girl said, her eyes flashing in the candlelight. | “ Now that’s talkin’!” Taurog laughed. ‘“ There’s the Spanish blood a-talkin’ in you now. Your ma used to talk thataway. Black-eyed senora that she was! You was too young to remember her. But damme she’d say that! She’d pick up a feud and fight it to the end—worse’n any man!”’ ‘“‘ But how absurd to talk of that,’’ the girl laughed. ‘‘ There is no man who would dare to fight you! They are all afraid.” “Up till now they ain’t been a man liv- in’ who would stand up to me and say, ‘'Faurog, I ain’t afeered of your eye nor your hand! I’m goin’ to fight you!’ ” ‘What do you mean by saying -‘ up till now ’?” ‘The stranger what beat off ten of my men up to the Tumbling L—he’s gunnin’ for me.” ‘For you!”’ Kirbie gasped. ‘“He’s got some grudge—ten years cold. But he’s heatin’ it up and swearin’ he'll pot me on sight. Says I killed his: brother. Like as not his brother was some brand-blotter— or outlaw!” “Tf I ever meet him, father, IH pay him for so much as threatening you.”’ ‘“‘ There, there, now, gal! You ain’t the one to be tatkin’ of killin’.” “But he’s a man who dared say he will fight you—you, Smoo Taurog, when no man has ever dared before!” the girl cried passionately. ‘It simply can’t be! He must be afraid of you. He will be afraid— as alt the others. I'll make him afraid myself!” ‘‘T ain’t goin’ to let you soil your hands doin’ any gun-shootin’,” Tavurog said. ‘“‘ They’s grease-fat on them guns that gets in your nails. Look at these here hands of mine—and look at yourn. No, lady. You ain’t goin’ to ever kill nobody!” comicloool C©