Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

I22 “Old Home Week,” grins Scenery. “What do you think?” “Go ahead—we'll bite,” says I. ‘Whatever it is it won’t last no week,” says Magpie, prophetic-like. “The big celebration ‘is all in one da, All the old-timers will be there; sabe? This is going to be a hyiu time, if you’ asks me, and she’s going to be full of brotherly love and peace on earth, good will to all menkind.” “In Piperock?’’ I asks, and he nods. “Brotherly love?” asks Magpie, and he nods again. “Well,” says I, “if you was a big man, Scenery, or could pull a gun real fast, I’d say you’re mistaken, but being whom you are I'll say you are either a danged fool or a liar.” “Quit that now!” he squeaks. “Quit it! Dog-gone you, Ike, I’ve got a lot of power I didn’t used to have.” “All the old-timers?” inquires Magpie, “You heard me say it, didn’t you?” “Floss-thieves, et cettery?” | “Immune for a week, Magpie. I has issued my proclamation.” Magpie looks at me sort of sad-like. “What do you think, Ike?” “When does the battle begin ?” “The celebration will be on Tuesday.” “This is Sunday,” says I, “which gives one whole day to dig ourselves in and two whole nights to spend in prayer. Go ahead, Magpie, and may the Lord have mercy on the children ’cause there won’t be no old folks next year.” Piperock ain’t changed none to speak about. As we pilgrims into the main street we sees “Tellurium” Woods gallop out of Buck’s place, and just as he skids into Pete Gonyer’s blacksmith shop we hears the bang of a gun. the saloon comes He peers all around. “Whyfor the salute, Tombstone?” asks “Tombstone” Todd. Magpie. “Salute 1! Think I’m shooting blanks? Tellurium argued that I ain’t eligible to stay here for Old Home Week. Said the only time I ever was here a delegation comes from Paradise, decorates me plentiful with tar and feathers and rides. me off on a fail. Dang Tellurium’s hide!” “Don’t you remember the incident, Tombstone?” asks Magpie. Then out of © Adventure “Don’t I? Sufferin’ snakes, I didn’t moult for two months! Scenery said I could stay here as long as I dwelt in harmony and brotherly love, and, by cripes, I’m going to foller the recipe if I has to decimate the whole danged village.” Me and Magpie nods and pilgrims on to our shack. “Brotherly love seems to have come upon them,” says Magpie. “This town appears mild and full of loving thoughts. Next thing we know, Ike, these snake- hunters will be carrying autygraph al- bums and wish us to write— If you love me as I love you No knife can cut our love in two. “And the bunk-house walls will be decorated with ‘Let Us Love Each Other’ mottoes. I wouldn’t be surprized to see ‘Hassayampa’ Harris kissing ‘Doughgod’ Smith.” “That’s a fact,’ I agrees. “She sure is a sweet-cider atmosphere. Next thing we know they’ll be decorating horse- thieves’ graves. Do I seem to hear joy bells ringing, Magpie?” “That’s “Dirty Shirt’ Jones, [ll bet a dobie dollar,” says Magpie. “One, two, three! Nope, he ain’t drunk yet, Ike.” Magpie was counting the clangs of a bell. Dirty Shirt uses that bell as a ba- rometer. It hangs on the corner of the Mint Hall, about sixty yards from the — door of Buck’s place, and the bell is a little bigger than a cow-bell. Any time Dirty misses one out of three shots with his Colt he’s drunk enough to quit. As long as he can ring her three times in a row he keeps on until he can’t. Me and Magpie don’t no more than get settled when here comes old Judge Steele. The old pelican is full of enthu- siasm mixed with a certain percentage of alcohol and he welcomes us home again. “You gents sure came back for the crowning e-vent of our lives,” says he. “We welcome you home and likely we can use you.” “Use Magpie,” order.” “Huh!” ‘snorts the judge. “Ornery as ever, eh, Ike? You ain’t got as much Civic pride asa cat!” ‘Maybe not,” says I, “and I’ve got eight less lives. I may die when my says I. “I’m out of CORNICE 200 S Se OI, Cee, oe ana ee OO ES Ey AT eee ee. a ((o) im e Se 2h. OP tLe