Adventure Magazine Cover, February 3, 1921 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

The Road to El Dorado do you go? I’m afraid to have you go.” “Am I a child, little one? Look for me when I come. It will be ver’ soon.” “Fell be back, miss, inside o’ three hours,” spoke up California Joe. ‘Don’t fret any.” “Say nothing to the miners. There is no danger for me. Tell Natchez I order him to stay here with you,” completed Laramie, swinging into the saddle. “He will stay,” she quietly assured them, allowing her dark eyes to dwell on the mummy shape beyond the coals of the camp-fire. ‘Kiss me, mon pére.” The men rode swiftly to the spot where Laramie had been held up. He could ob- serve no signs, but Joe and Reason dis- mounted and cast about on their hands and knees like two shaggy dogs. They made circles about the spot, and at last rose and spat out some oaths. And Joe said: “No signs of his havin’ a hoss here. Must ’a’ cached his hoss back near th’ town. I find where he sneaked in atween them two little hills. He went back th’ same way after givin’ ye that crack on th’. head. But th’ trail soon hits th’ Injun path leadin’ to th’ crick, an’ it’s that trod down ye can’t make out nothin’. “No doubt but what he’s doubled back to some o’ th’ cafions. He may have stopped at Hell-on-Wheels for grub. That’s as far as ye can go with us anyway.” “T believe he’s there now. Nest 0’ skunks,”’ said Reason. “M’sieu Reasong, you speak ver’ much truth. The white-haired man will know. We will go there.” “Don’t meddle with my plans. try to boss things,’”’ warned Joe. yer medicine workin, Tommy?” “Tt says there’s blood on this day,” mumbled Reason. “Don’t say whose blood.” “Wal, if they don’t draw off more’n a quart o’ mine I won’t kick,” said Joe. “Now we'll strike for Hell-on-Wheels an’ see if we can pick up a trail.” “First I will find Left Hand,” said the trader. “He must know I am away. He will look after the little one.” California Joe did not believe that any such guardianship was necessary as no harm could come to the girl during their absence. He suspected that the trader was planning to extend his search beyond the Don’t ““How’s 67 wagon camp and insist on accompanying them into the mountains. However, he voiced none of these thoughts but urged the trader to make haste and meet them at the liquor tent. “‘Tom ’n’ me will be waitin’ for ye there,” he added. “I want to have a word with Kitts.” THE trader rode toward the Arap- aho village, and the trappers gal- loped to town. Joe was pleased to find Durgin in front of his shack, laboriously fitting a new handle to his pick. The Vermont man had made an excellent im- pression on the trapper. Swinging from the saddle, Joe said: “We'll be much obleeged to ye, Burgin, if ye’ll whisper to Kitts that Half-Mask robbed Laramie Pete last night an’ that we’re after him. Laramie’s askin’ th’ ’Rapahoes to keep watch over his gal while we're gone. Reckon she won’t need any guardin’. I’d ruther know that Kitts an’ ye are keepin’ a eye on th’ wagons. Young Natchez will be there; but he’s hot-headed, ye know.” “Tf that don’t beat all git-out!’”’ exclaimed Durgin. “Robbed, eh? Held up Laramie Pete! Won’t there be some tall hootin’ when th’ Parson hears it! Killed Denham and then robs Laramie almost inside the town! Wait a minute till I wake up Kitts.” California Joe demurred, insisting it was not necessary to bring any of the miners into the affair. But Durgin was already running to a shack. In two minutes he reappeared, closely followed by Kitts, who finished strapping on his sagging belt as he came. While Durgin went to secure a horse for Kitts the latter asked for the details of the robbery, and after Joe had finished he vehemently declared: “TDyenham’s murder was enough to close that particular game. This fellow must be run down and finished. Inside of an- other six months we'll see the greatest gathering along this crick of outlaws and desperadoes that gold-mining was _ ever responsible for. It’ll be a greater rush than forty-nine. All sensible men know it’s on the way now. The only way to keep an even balance is to act now, and quick. : “Durgin says you’re riding first to Hell- on-Wheels. Good! I don’t believe Half- Mask is there, but he must have passed COMICLMOOOkKS (C@