Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

38 “Where is this man—and what’s his name?” Kirbie asked. ‘““If you love me,”. Smoo Taurog said, ‘“‘T’m goin’ to let you do me a good turn— no shootin’ or anything like that. But you can help me wipe this here score out. The man’s name is Jim Quade. He’s probably down to Lava right now, huntin’ for some more fight. Now, this is what you can do. It ain’t much, but it ‘ll repay me for what I’ve done for you the past years—brigin’ you up like as if you was my own gal.” ‘What shall I do, father?” “‘Go down to Lava to-night. Search out this hell-bender, Quade, and usin’ any methods you wish to employ—entice this here bird up into the crater. When he gets here we'll treat him like he deserves.” ‘“‘ Why can’t I just have him brought here in handcuffs?” “No, no!” Taurog objected. “If I had a man abducted like that it would be hard for me to explain. Mule City is watchin’ for such things—it’s too much like out- laws and Mexican renegados. There’d be a lynching party and we’d all be wearin’ rawhide neckties. But if you get this bird interested in you and follerin’ you up here —then nobody can say nothin’. I can an- nounce that he was chasin’ you and didn’t act gentlemanlike when you told him to go home.” “Tl bring him here, father,” the girl said resolutely. “But, remember, no shooting: I’d hang for it!” “ ‘You'd hang!” “‘ He’s got to be brought alive. Even if somebody in Lava potted him in a fight at cards they’d say at Mule City I framed it. They’re perticular eager to get the goods on me. Any stranger killed in Lava is blamed on me. It’s here to the crater you got to bring this bird and then I'll attend to him.” “ You'll attend to him—with your fists?” the girl asked, proudly fondling Taurog’s tremendous hand. ‘“Maybe., I ain’t promising. But I’ll get him.” The girl and her foster-father went down ito the stables where Kirbie’s horse, the Shooting Star, was being saddled. As they ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. stepped out onto the winding path which led down from the house, they heard a buck-wagon clattering up from the gorge road. “It’s Cow McGinnis,” Taurog explained. ‘“‘T had him sent up here from Lava.” The girl seemed not to have heard Tau- rog’s statement. ‘‘I was thinking,” she said as they waited for the buckboard to drive up “ what if this man, Jim Quade, is not the gunman you think he is? How about justice?” “They ain’t no ‘ if’s’ about Jim Quade. He’s a killer.” ‘*But you are only going on the word of other men,” the girl objected. “If it is your own word I would not doubt. But—”’ “Wait,” Taurog said. ‘“ You can see for yourself.” The buck-wagon was driven up by one of Taurog’s half-breeds, Pedro. Lying in a pile of blankets was Cow McGinnis, his face drawn and gray. Kirbie drew back shocked, and then called to her Hopi servant to -bring water. “We'll ’tend to Cow,” Taurog said. T’ll get Nell Gamble to bandage him up agin and get him a little supper.” ‘“I’m feelin’ better, chief,”” Cow McGin- nis said. ‘‘ Now that I’m in the crater I’m feelin’ all right, because I’m feelin’ safe.” ‘* Tell this here gal who hit you,” Taurog said. “Who hit me? It was a bird by the name of Jim Quade, gal, and he’s after our chief! I’m advisin’ you, chief. Don’t leave the crater to-night.”’ “ The gal’s goin’ after him,” Taurog said quietly. Cow let out a long, low whistle as he was being carried out of the buck-wagon. “ If the gal pots him, chief,” he said, “ it will be plain that it was you as sent her. And I’m thinkin’ you'll have to go easy on gun- shootin’ for a avhile. Mule City’s goin’ to be on your trail after that thar raid to- night at the Tumbling L.”’ “* She ain’t goin’ to shoot him,” said Tau- rog._ j She’s goin’ to bring him here.” Cow McGinnis stared out of his blood- less eyes. ‘‘ If she’s goin’ to play that sort of a game—enticin’ him and all that—ain’t you a bit afeered of her own safety, chief?” COMmiclboo SS C©