Adventure Magazine Cover — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

The Heart of the Range “T thought I heard somethin’,” persisted Jack Harpe. “You oe rats,” chuckled fat Jakey. “You’re nervous, that’s what’s the matter, ~ or else you ain’t able to open the safe.” “T can open the safe all right,” grow! led Jack Harpe, bending again to his work. “T wonder what he did hear,” Racey ~ said to himself. “I thought I heard some- thin’ too.” Whatever it was-he did not hear it again. “There she is,” said Jack Harpe suddenly, and threw open the safe door. It was at this precise juncture ‘that a voice from the darkness ae fat Jakey said, “Hands up!” ~ Oh, it was then that seierite began to move with celerity. Fat Jakey Pooley ducked and leaped. Jack Harpe kicked the tin can, the candle fell out and rolled guttering in a quarter-circle only to be extinguished by one of fat Jakey’s flying feet. ES the blankets across the window were ripped down, followed by as craping and a heaving and a grunting as two large people endeavored to make their egress through the same window at the same time. “So that window was open alla time,” THERE was a slithering sound as thought Racey as he prudently waited for. the owner of the voice in the other room to discover himself. But this the voice’s owner did not immediately do. Racey could not understand why he did not shoot . while the two men were struggling through the window. Lord knows he had plenty of time and opportunity. - Even after Jack Harpe and fat Jakey had reached the outer air and presumably, gone elsewhere swiftly, there was no sound ‘from the other room. Racey, his gun: ~ ready, waited. At first his impulse had been to flee incontinently from the premises as Jack and Jake had done. But a saving second thought held him where he was. It was more than possible that the mysterious fourth man had designs on the contents of the safe. In which event—— Racey stood pat. He heard no sound for at least a minute ‘after Jack and Jake had left, then he heard a soft swish, and a few stars which had been visible through the upper half of the win- dow were blotted out. The blankets were being readjusted. 77 A match was struck and a figure stooped for the candle that had been dashed out by the foot of fat Jakey Pooley. A table shielded the figure from Racey. Then the figure straightened and set the flaring match to the candle end. And the face that bent above the light was the face of one he knew. “Molly!” he whispered, and slipped from his ambush. At which Molly dropped candle and match and squeaked in affright. But her scare did not prevent her from drawing a six-shooter. hammer and whispered desperately: . “Molly! Molly! It’s me! Racey!” He struck a match and retrieved the candle and lighted it quickly. By its light he saw her staring at him uncertainly. Her; eyes were bright with conflicting emotions. Her six-shooter still pointed in his general direction. “Put yore gun away,” he advised her. “We got no time to lose. Hold the*candle forme! Put it in the can first!” Automatically’ she obeyed the several commands. He knelt before the open safe and, begin- ning at the top shelf, he stuffed into <his 3 bran sack every piece of paper the safe contained. Besides papers there were two six-shooters and a bowies These he did not take. When the safe was clean of papers Racey tied the mouth of the bran sack, took Molly by the hand and blew out the candle. ‘“C’mon,” he said shortly. ‘“‘We’ll be leavin’ here now.” Towing her behind him he led her to the window of the rear room. Holding his hat by the brim, he shoved it out through the window. No blow or shot followed the action. He clapped the hat on his head and looked out cautiously. He satisfied himself that the coast was clear and flung a leg over the sill. When he had helped out Molly he gave her the sack to hold and pulled on his boots. “‘Where’s vore hoss?” he whispered. “T tied him at the corner of the nearest corral,’ was the answer. “C’mon,” said he and took her again by the hand. _ They had not gone ten steps when she stumbled and fell against him. “Whatsa matter?” - He heard the click of the _ Gomichbooks (E@)