Adventure Magazine Cover — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

a iced. stowed it in a coat se i “You’re a dirty skunk of a card-sharp and a E ¢ heat,” roared Elbe, his eyes darting red. — And I’ve got the medicine for the likes of er The others in the place who had erowded -_ round the table drew back as Elbe’s right hand ___went to his hip. 33 “Don’t draw or you'll be sorry,” warned a = Coyote ina shrill voice. “Ask Henry Morton there if he thinks there was any cheating!” _ Henry started back as if he had been struck a blow in the face. 2 ee “Tell him, Henry,” rang Coyote’s voice; _ “did you see any cheating?” _ Dazed with the shock of Coyote’s utter __ brazen boldness, Henry turned toward Elbe oe ‘and muttered— 2 “Ye don’t think Coyote would cheat you, do _ you, Elbe?” a 2 _ But Elbe wasn’t looking at him nor listening ~ to him. “You’re a.skunk!” he shouted at Coyote, as 4 his hand flashed from his hip carrying the glint _ of metal. Leaping to an end of the table, Coyote threw the pack of cards into Elbe’s ‘face as three 3 ‘Ss P ichaots rang out and the pungent odor of pistol yi smoke filled the nostrils of the startled audience. cae _ Coyote grappled with Elbe. Another bullet 3 shattered the lamp overhead and the flaming 2 zs shot before Coyote could ‘knock the gun from ~ his adversary’s hand. ac ~<a ™~ = ae ay And then the men fought back and forth ross the floor; overturning the table and , dislodging the stovepipe and smashing e and again against the rocking bar. ae Comte s muscles were hard and firm from months and years of ceaseless toil in countless prospect holes that dotted the steep slopes of = 7 mn — the high hills. And there was something in ~ Sg eye, a grim, almost horrible determination in his face, that bespoke a mental stimulus ‘3 Be _ which more ‘than ofiset the few years’ difference in the ages of the men. “s a When they crashed to the floor Coyote was . on top. Grasping Elbe about his throat, ae Coyote shook him like a rat until his head _» rapped a tattoo on the rough pine floor, | 4 4 “Dang you, it’s a lesson,’ Coyote panted into the ear of the man beneath him. “A lesson— ee know what I mean—a lesson!” as _ Then Coyote leaped to his feet. ; “Get up an’ I’ll give you some more, Elbe; «get up—get up!” But the spectators stepped in. “He’s had enough,” said the proprietor of the saloon. ‘What’s the matter? You act like you wanted to kill him.” Henry Morton was regarding Coyote with a _ strange, puzzled, sorrowful expression. Cheat- Coyote Jim’s Code _ because he was detected! 139 ing a man at cards and then trying to kill him. And heretofore Coyote had always been square. And he had kept the money. It was the last straw in a friendship such as only the West can cement. Elbe was limping painfully toward the door, “Just a minute, Elbe,” rang Coyote’s voice. - “Here’s yore gun—only I’m goin’ to keep it through the doings tomorrer; and if you come in here Pu kill you sure as shooting. I'll be an waiting.” For a moment Elbe stood undecided looking into Coyote’s eyes; then without a word in reply he turned and went out into the night. iy SY ALL the day of the harvest ball @ Coyote Jim sat in an old armchair at a _ NS ad window of the Fashion saloon, greeting acquaintances, observing newcomers whom he did not know, watching both front and rear doors, and staring moodily at the vivid splotches of Indian Summer color in the valley below the — green of the everlasting pines. But one for whom he seemed to be watching did not come. And when the moon had crept up above the high-flung ridges and the hour past midnight brought the climax of convivial merry-making, he laid down upon a pile of sacks in a back room for a few hours of rest. Early in the morning of the next day he was at the rear of Henry Morton’s store with his horses. Silently he carried out the bulging pack-sacks and burdened his pack-animals with the supplies. Henry spoke no greeting; nor did he allow his glance to meet Coyote’s except once—in severe and silent accusation. When Coyote had finished his preparations for departure he laid a gun upon the counter. Then from inside his shirt he took an oilskin packet, opened it and laid an envelope beside the weapon. ; “There’s Elbe’s gun, Henry: see that he gets it. An’ you look after that. there envelope yourself. I’ll be goin’ back to Milestone now.’ He hesitated, as if waiting for Henry’s customary blustering farewell. But no words: came from Henry’s mouth and Coyote left. Henry looked at the envelope as if it were a coiled rattler. He was being paid with Coy- ote’s ill-gotten gains. He.wouldn’t take it! As the rear door closed on the back of the prospector, Elbe entered by the front way. “‘Here’s your gun, Elbe,’’ said Henry shortly. “Good thing I didn’t have it yesterday,” snarled Elbe. ‘“‘I tried to borrow one, but not a man would do it. Sick-as I was I’d got that crazy rat and I’ll get him yet! Suppose he thought he was entitled to get that money——” “TE he hadn’t got it somebody else would ave,” Henry broke in—not in defen> of. Coyote Jim but in disapproval \ of Elbe. “Maybe they would an’ maybe they woulin't, ” said Elbe in surly tones. ‘Maybe GCOMmiGcdoo (C cS