Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

ze 28 Condon couldn’t resist a smile at this. “That’s the main reason, ain’t it?” “Maybe it is,” said Lang. “But a good many use it to drown their troubles in and for- get the things they did when they were drunk before by getting drunk again.” Condon now was regarding Lang with indu- bitable attention. “There’s just two questions I want to ask you, Condon,” said Lang earnestly. ‘You don’t have to answer them, but I’d rather you would. The worst you can get is fired.” Condon stirred uneasily. The candle-light flickered against the rough, partly chinked log walls of the cabin. Live coals glowed in the narrow grate. Outside the wind was stirring in the pines and the cold light of the stars bathed the far-flung ridges in silver. Inside was a home-like, luxurious comfort. Condon watched Lang’s features as the man from the ranges looked out the window. A thousand dollars! But even as he thought of it Condon shuddered. - “What is it you want to ask me?” he nae wetting his dry lips. “You’re not a horse-thief or a rustler, are you?” “No!” cried Condon in quick relief. Lang had expected this answer. It had nothing to do with his idea in offering Condon employment. He was naturally suspicious of the newcomer, and had that morning suddenly decided to test the latter’s statement that he was looking for work. If he was other than he purported to be, Lang wanted him where’ he could watch him. And he had still another reason, which he himself was not sure he could analyze. “Condon,” said Lang, leaning his elbows on the table and peering intently at the man, “IT don’t suppose the law would come into this country looking for anybody without taking the precaution to bring along a gun, eh?” “Tt have no gun,” said Condon quickly. “That ain’t just what I’m a-tryin’ to get at,” said Lang dryly. “And I ain’t an officer,” fully. “That’ s as much as I’d expect you to ask of me an’ get any answer, so we'll let it go at that,” said Lang. He rose, went to the door and looked out. Turning back into the room, he said: nf here's a tarp over there in the corner; that an’ my slicker an’ mackinaw an’ saddle- blankets will have to do you fora bed. J’ll use the blanket in my outfit. That, on top of the pine mattress we’ve built, ought to do us. It ain’t going to be very cold in here. Take this butter out to the sprifig, will you?” While Condon was gone on this errand Lang deftly ejected the cartridges from the magazine of the rifle. said Condon truth- Adventure “Condon,” said Lang when the other re- turned, “do you know anything about powder?” ‘Not a thing except not to pet it with a sledge-hammer or anything like that.” “Well, you can use a pick and shovel and maybe drill a few holes,” Lang reflected aloud. “We'll start work on my prospect tomorrow.’ Condon began the task of washing the sup- per dishes. They arranged their beds and Lang blew out. the candles. When he -rolled up in his blanket his six-shooter pressed hard and cold against his side. From the bunk on the other side of the cabin near the stove Condon lay with his head pil- lowed upon his right arm and watched the wavering gleams of the dying coals where they flickered on the dull metal of the rifle in the corner. One thousand dollars! the price upon his own h matter who collected it? An the money. : XVII . “WE’LL start in right here,” said Lang the next morning when the two Well, Lang had set ; why should it Condon needed ae f] ve by the head of the draw. ; “Somebody once dug in a ways here,” he pointed out; and sure enough a prospect-hole, partly filled with rock and earth, showed plainly at the base of the high cliff. “Dig that out while I take a look around and tomorrow we’ll put in a shot of dynamite,” Lang continued. “Might as well let °em know we mean business up here.” Condon started to work with pick and shovel, cleaning out the old prospect-hole as directed. Lang walked half-way down the draw and then climbed the steep slope which formed the south side. He disappeared in the timber. Condon worked for about an hour with the sweat running off his face in streams. His hands and arms were shaking as if with ague were inspecting the apex of the tri- when he finally dropped the shovel and straight- — ened his aching back. Already the blisters were raising in his palms. e wiped his face and swore. “This is earning it, him,” he muttered. *“‘He’s going to pay better wages than he thinks for this.” He went to the spring for a drink. On the -moss beside the cool well of water formed by a deep depression in solid rock he sat and a cun- ning light came into his eyes. He rolled a cigaret and then went to the cabin. Instinc- tively he reached for the rifle in the corner and threw down the lever, at the same time cover- ing the top of the breach with his hand to catch the cartridge which should be ejected. He intended to see that the gun was in good work- ing order. ECORNICLOO© (E@)