Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

62 “They say 1t would be very bad if the Arapahoes should be followed to this place by the Utes and should lose their women and children,’ continued the trapper. ‘The white man talks like a fool. The Arapahoes follow no war-path. When they do, they come home singing and bringing scalps for their squaws to dance.” The chief turned from them and stalked back into the center of the village. Cali- fornia Joe insisted to Laramie: “He’s a liar. They’re plannin’ a fight ag’in’ th’ Utes. If th’ Utes win they’ll be pilin’ in here, an’ there’ll be white sculps mixed with the red.” “Tf the Utes win it would be bad for my little girl,” murmured Laramie. V4 (HE remainder of the day passed Bx quietly as the majority of the miners were busy seeking gold. Laramie kept busy with arranging his stock of goods. Natchez in a repentant mood for the previous night’s folly kept close to the wagons, seeking a chance to make love to Miss June, who saw fit to ignore him until he was reduced—as California Joe phrased it—to a “‘ten-thousand-foot level.” Reason drew apart and smoked as he oiled the snakeskin. He had a vague belief that this attention would propitiate the efficiency of his medicine. Two hours before sunset Kitts rode over to the wagons and informed Laramie: “Oakes won’t open his game tonight un- less we convince him your friend is not bringing a fight to him. He knows about you people, and one of the boys says he won’t come here so long as he thinks Cali- fornia Joe is gunning for him. If he doesn’t show up his man Shirley won’t come. “You and me had better take his word that so-long as he and Joe are in this town there will be no trouble between them. He has lots of influence with the Hell-on- Wheels crowd, and we can work on Shirley through him.” “You are ver’ kind,” cried Laramie, his eyes brightening at the prospect of recover- ing some of his stolen gold. ‘You say it is three miles. We will go. M’sieu Joe will send a peace-smoke by us.”’ Joe, standing by, grimaced, then caught a glimpse of the girl’s happy face. She had compelled Natchez to sue for forgiveness and make innumerable promises. “T never reckoned on havin’ any truck Adventure with that feller ‘cept over th’ barrel of a gun,” growled Joe. ‘‘Howsomever, if it’s for th’ good o’ th’ gal an’ her paw I ’low I can’t be low-down ’nough to bust up th’ game. “Go ahead, Mr. Kitts. I know ye won’t put any mealy words into my mouth. Jest tell th’ white-head that our guns stay in our belts so long as we’re on Cherry Crick. An’ if Red Shirley don’t hand over th’ most o’ that-coin Tom ’n’ me will pay him a visit he’ll never git over.” The trapper did not like the notion of the two men going alone, however, and insisted they were packing two few guns for their errand. Kitts patiently assured him there would be no trouble, but that a show of force could easily provoke a fight. He further explained that while the men at Hell-on-Wheels were rough and _ fiery- tempered they were honest and hard-work- ing. Appeal to their sense of justice with- out using threats and they would be very reasonable, he said. ‘Tom Reason quieted his old friend’s qualms by gravely inform- ing him: “This snake medicine shows up mighty strong for us. We're playin’ our luck, or every one of ’em scales is a liar. It’ll be settled very quiet-like. If I lowed there was any chance for fun I’d tag after ’em, Kitts or no Kitts.” While the two rode toward the little col- ony with the lurid name Kitts explained many things to Laramie. He dwelt at some length on the mystery surrounding the sudden coups made by Half-Mask, and this recital included the killing of Denham and the legend of the lost mine. Gold dust was the magnet that could draw Laramie against any odds. His slim frame straightened and his luminous eyes flashed greedily. ‘Such a man as you tell about couldn’t or wouldn’t do much gulch mining,” he shrewdly observed. ‘He came to town and drank that miserable Taos stuff. His nerves were broken down when he went back to his gold. Then, flop! Behold! Before you know it he was in town again with more dust. “T should say he has found a large cache of gold dust. He stayed away from town just long enough to get to his hidden gold and back again. Sometimes he went in a roundabout way, to throw the men off the track. “You say he took a different trail each CORMMICLOOOKS (C@