Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

| I2 “All right; go to it!”? she cried with sud- den heat. “I said it was a.free country, didn’t I? Only you can burn this in your next wheat-straw; once you go to riding herd with that gang you needn’t come around here again. And you can take Blenham a message for me: Phil Packard knifed dad and doubled-crossed him and made him pretty nearly what he is now; old Hell-Fire Packard finished the job. But just the same the Temple Ranch is still on the map and Terry Temple had rather scrap a scoundrel to the finish than shake hands with one. And one of these days dad’s going to come alive yet; you'll see. “T believe,” he said as much to himself as to her, “that Dll have to have a word with old man Packard.” She stared at him incredulously. Then she put her head back and laughed in high amusement. “‘Nobody’d miss guessing that you had your nerve with you, Mr. Lanky Stranger,” she cried mirthfully. ‘But when it comes to tackling Hell-Fire Packard with a mouth- ful of fool questions— Look here; who are you anyway?” i “Nobody much,” he answered quietly and just a trifle bitterly. named me a while ago. Steve Packard.” She flipped from her place on the table ‘to stand erect, twin spots of red leaping ‘ into her cheeks, startling him with the man- ner in which all mirth fled from her eyes, which narrowed and grew hard. Or, if you prefer, “That would mean old Hell-Fire’s grand- . son?”’ she asked sharply. He merely nodded, watching her specula- tively. Her head went still higher. Pack- ard heard her father rise hurriedly and shuffle across the floor toward the kitchen. * “Yow re a worthy chip off the old stump,” Terry was saying contemptuously. “Sneak!” “Terry!”’ admonished Temple warningly. Her still little figure remained motionless a moment, never an eyelid stirring. Then she whirled and went out of the room, - banging the door after her. “She’s high-strung, Mr. Packard, ” said Temple, slow and heavy and a bit uncer- tain in his articulation. ‘“‘High-strung like her mother, and at times apt to be un- reasonable. Come in with me and have a drink and we'll talk.things over.” Packard hesitated. Then he turned and followed his host back to the fireplace. “Tom Fool you. 2 : Adventure Suddenly he found himself without further enthusiasm for conversation. : IV AD Steve Packard ridden straight- way back to Ranch Number Ten he would have arrived at the ranch headquarters long before noon. But the next day, once out in the still dawn, he rode slowly. His mind, when he could detach it from that irritating Terry Pert, was given over to a searching consideration of those conditions which were begininng to dawn on bim. It was clear that his destiny. was offering him a new trail to blaze, one which drew him on with its lure, tempted him with its vague promises. There was nothing to cause surprize in the fact that the ranch was his to have and to hold if he had the skill and the will for the job; nor yet in the other fact that the outfit was mortgaged to his grandfather; nor, again, was it to be won- dered at that the old man was already acting as actual owner. For never had the eldest Packard had any use for the subtleties and niceties and con- fusing technicalities of the law. It was his way to see clearly what he wanted, to make up his mind definitely as to a desired result and then to go after it the shortest way. And that way never led yet through the law-courts. These matters were clear. But as he dwelt upon them they were made complex by other considerations hingeing upon him. Most of all he had to take stock of what lay in his mind and soul, of_all that dwelt behind his present purpose. Riding back to Ranch Number Ten, saying, “It is mine and I mean to have it,” was simple enough. But for him actually to commit himself to the line of action which this step would entail would very obviously connote a distinct departure from the familiar, aimless responsibility- free career of Steve Packard. If he once sat into the game he’d want*to stick for a showdown; if he started out now bucking old man Packard he would per- ps wind up in the scrap heap. It was just as well to think things over before he plunged in—which set him musing upon Terry again. Swerving from yesterday’s path he fol- lowed a new trail leading about the edge of CORMELOOC (C <S (E@)