Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

‘146 a boy, was accustomed to enjoy thoroughly the pastime of pulling wings from living flies and drowning a helpless kitten by inches. Now he nodded his head and grinned anew and put up a satisfied hand and rubbed his stubbly chin. to kick him. It was shameful that Molly should be compelled to bandy wordsewith this reptile. Racey stepped forward de- terminedly and slid past Molly. Promptly shé-caught him by the sleeve. ‘Don’t mix in, Racey,” she commanded with set face. “It’s all right. It’s all right, I tell you.” “Course it’s all right,’’ Lanpher hastened to say, more than a hint of worriment in his little black eyes. One could never be sure of these Bar S boys. They were un- certain propositions, every measly one of them. ‘“Shofe it’s all right,” went on the 88 manager. “I ain’t meanin’ no harm. Yo’re takin’ a lot for granted, Racey, a whole lot for granted.” “New mine what I’m takin’ for granted,”’ flung back Racey. “I get along with takin’ only what’s mine anyway.” ‘Which was equivalent to saying that Lanpher was a thief. But Lanpher over- looked the poorly veiled insult and switched his gaze to Molly Dale. “T just rid over to say,” he told her, “that if yore paw is still set on renewin’ the mortgage when he comes back from Marysville he’ll have to see me an’ Luke Tweezy at the 88. We done: bought that mortgage from the bank.” Molly Dale said nothing. Racey felt that if he held his tongue another second he would incontinently burst. He _ side- stepped past the girl. “You've said yore li'l piece,” he told Lanpher, ‘an’ for a feller who was belly- achin’ so loud about keepin’ out o’ this deal it strikes me yo’re a-gettin’ in good an’ deep—buyin’ up mortgages an’ all. Dunno what I mean, huh? Yep, you do. Shore you do. an’ itll céme to you. Jack Harpe. - You know him. Bossy-lookin’; .jigger, seemed like. Has he been a-bearin?;down on yuh lately, Lanpher? Mustn’t‘lét him run yuh thataway. Bad business. Might be ex- pensive. You can’t tell. You be careful, Lanpher. You go slow—a mite slow. Yep. Well, don’t lemme keep you._ This way out.” Racey -yearned ° - between. Think back. Think way back, — Adventure He flicked a thumb westward and stared at Lanpher with bright eyes. Lanpher’s eyes dropped, lifted, then veered toward Alicran Skeel, that appreciative observer, who continued to sit his horse as good as gold and silent as a clam. LANPHER turned to his horse without another word, slid the reins , over the animal’s neck and crossed them slackly. He stuck toe in stirrup and swung up. He looked down at Molly where she stood dumbly, her troubled eyes gazing at nothing and the fingers of one hand slowly plaiting and unplaiting a corner of her apron. Lanpher opened his mouth as if to speak but no words issued, for Racey had coughed a peremptory cough. Lanpher turned his horse’s head toward the creek. ; “Lookit here, Alicran,” the peevish Lanpher burst forth when he and his hench- man had forded the creek and were riding westward, “whatsa matter with you any- way?” E “With me?” Alicran tilted a question- ing head. “I dunno. I don’t feel a mite sick.’” “What do you think I hired you for?” Heatedly. as he knows.” Business of rolling a cigaret. ‘“‘Yo’re supposed to be a two-legged man with a gun.” “Yeah?” Indifferently. “Yeah, but I got my doubts—now. s bells! wasn’t you off to one side there when Racey pulled? Wasn’t you?” “Wasn’t you listenin’ to what Racey said at the time? Wasn’t you?” “After! [I mean after! His gun was back huggin’ his leg after the girl slid in What more of a chance didja want?”’ “So that’s it, huh?” “That’s—it.” Between the two words was a perceptible pause. “T ain’t shootin’ nobody in the back. I never have yet, an’ I ain’t beginnin’ now, not for you or any other man.”’ ““Say—’” began Lanpher threateningly. Alicran Skeel turned a grim face on his employer’ so suddenly and sharply that Lanpher almost dodged. “Lookit here, Lanpher,” said he quietly, “don’t you try to start nothin’ that Ill have to finish. I know you from way back, = - COMICLOOOKS (C@