Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

22 He had been surprized into disclosing his identity. But the disclosure had no effect upon Lang, and Condon breathed easier as he watched the preparations for supper. “Lucky for you I did some cooking today,” remarked Lang. ‘‘Here’s beans that have boiled ever since morning; guess they’re done— they’re limas. Takes longer to boil beans up here——” He halted in consternation. “When you keep lettin’ the fire go out,” he added. ‘“I’d just started her up again afore you come; that’s how you saw the smoke.” “T see,” said Condon, ‘‘Guess I’m lucky.” He watched Lang with a gleam of satisfac- tion in his eyes. He was lucky. To stumble upon him like this after he had lost the trail and all he had gone through! Lang apparently didn’t remember passing him as he sat his horse outside the saloon in Muddy the day of the shooting. That was good. Did Lang know there was a thousand dollars reward out for him and that the amount might be doubled and trebled when the posses returned empty-handed? Probably not. Burt Condon could do a lot of things with a thousand dollars. It would more than make up the little stake he had lost in the Milk River homestead venture; it would clean up that little bad-check affair he had left behind in Chicago; it would mean a new fling. A thou- sand doilars! And he had the game all to him- self. Lang put the beans before Condon in the coffee-can in which he had boiled them. “You'll have to use the cover of that can for a plate,” he apologized. ‘I lost most of my plates and fixings coming up here from the South.” “Tough luck,” grinned Condon. here long?” “Just arrived, like yourself,” answered Lang. “T prospect every Summer.” He felt that Nixon’s idea that he had a claim in the draw was a good hunch. “T was aiming to do some prospectin’ myself,” said Condon; “but I—I guess I’ll go to work if I can find a job.” “Ain’t been ““Ain’t there plenty of work down in the Flat- - head?” “T like the mountains.” “VYou’re travelin’ pretty light,” pointedly. , “T left in a hurry,” said Condon simply, de- voting his attention to the food. He might better let Lang suspect that he, too, was a fugitive, than to permit his suspicions to rove in another and more dangerous direction. Lang raised his brows. So that wasit. The fellow had run away from the authorities like himself. Yet he couldn’t get out of his head - the impression that he had seen this man at said Lang - Adventure some previous time. - Still there was nothing in particular to stamp him as coming from the prairie country; although he felt that the man was lying when he said he came from the Flat- head, which was west of the Rockies, across the range from the scene of Lang’s exploits. When Condon had finished he asked for tobacco, which Lang gave him. . “I’m sure much obliged for that meal,” said Condon, who was genuinely thankful. “Any man’s welcome to share my grub as long as I’ve got any,” said Lang, eying the other narrowly. “And how far is it to the first settlement?” inquired Condon anxiously. “Singing River’s about five miles down,” answered Lang. “Going there tonight?” “Yes,” said Condon; “an’ I believe I'll be starting.” When Condon had gone Lang climbed the ridge south of the draw where he had a good view down the valley. The stars had come out in the heavens and the mountains were bathed in a soft glow. He saw Condon turn from the trail and enter some timber about a mile below. ““Now what ws Lang cut his puzzled exclamation short. “Pll be going down to Singing River myself in the morning,” he concluded aloud. AXIIT BURT CONDON, with the thousand- dollar reward offered for Lang spurring Mg him on, was nevertheless in a hard situ- He did not fancy taking any one — e a ann. in on the deal and splitting the proceeds. had misdirected the first posse for that reason. Nevertheless he had no supplies, he had no money and he had no weapon. He had been penniless for weeks. He knew he could not capture Lang unless he got the drop on him. Even then he might have to wound him or even kill him, for he knew Lang was desperate and would fight regardless of odds. After a night spent in the timber he decided the best thing to do was to go on to the town and endeavor to obtain some kind of employment or . at least find a place to live temporarily until he could formulate and successfully carry out a plan to turn Lang over to the authorities with- out likelihood of losing any part of the reward money. He might go over the divide and make the long trip for the sheriff; but there was a proba- bility that the officer would demand a share of the money, and it was not unreasonable to assume that Lang might move in the mean time. Condon didn’t know that Lang’s saddle- horse was injured and that the fugitive had con- cluded the isolated Singing River country was as good a hiding-place as any for the present. So in the early morning Condon made his CORNICE OOOKS (E@)