Adventure Magazine Cover — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

24 “Tt’s a fine system,” ‘“How long will it last?” “Till outsiders start comin’ in.” Tom thought of his mining-company. “Why?” he asked. ‘Do you mean to say you'll oppose new settlers or new observed Tom. capital?” “Sure. Why not? I'm gettin’ along all right. Look at my point of view. Why should I want conditions to change?” “T see,” nodded Tom. ‘“I understand you perfectly.” THE forty-mile journey ended be- fore nightfall. They turned into the cafion amid numerous signs of human traffic. Horses champed bits or munched hay from bags. Blankets and camp-litter lay scattered around. There were men all over the place. old solitude was broken. On Tom’s hillock sat a red-shirted, red- haired giant with hunched shoulders and a rifle. He had taken full possession. Hill rode up to him. “This your claim?” demanded Hill. “IT dunno. Mebbe it is.” “It ain’t. Get off.” “But——” “Get off!” The giant started away sulkily. lookers guffawed. “IT knew it wouldn’t work,” chuckled a lanky citizen, coming up with several others. “We all got other claims—see them monu- ments of ours?”’ He waved his hand toward many piles of boundaries and location-notices. . “Red couldn't jump this claim,” re- marked Hill. “Didn’t he know she was registered at the United States Land Office?”’ The other grinned. “The owners left, didn’t they?” The The on- “Veh. But one of ’em’s back.” Hill jerked a thumb at Tom. The lanky citizen appraised Tom. ‘Oh, all right,”’ he acquiesced carelessly. The lanky man was casual and cheerful; but Tom noted that when he looked at Hill his eyes were not entirely filled with dog-like devotion. The other men were about the same. The leader’s manner explained it. Power had gone to his head. He never let them forget who was master. Hill and Tom soon began to inspect the knoll and its rocky ledge. Specimens of Adventure rock made the gambler’s eyes glitter. He went over the ground almost inch by inch. At length he stood at the base of the knoll. ‘‘She’s sure a convenient mine,” he as- serted. “Look. We don’t have to sink no shaft. We'll run a tunnel straight in from here. If we pitch the tunnel down some she'll hit the vein about a hundred feet un- der the summit. Yes, we'll start the tunnel right here.” Hill’s easy assumption of ownership opened Tom’s eyes. “Aren’t you a little previous?” he chal- lenged. “As how?” “You don’t seem to have any doubts about sharing the mine.” Hill replied slowly. His armed men were all about. “No. I ain’t got many doubts. thing will work itself out, all right.” And Hill confidently resumed looking at the claim. : Tom wondered why Hill didn’t try to eliminate him entirely and “split” with the gang; but the answer was apparent. Hill preferred to divide with Tom and Pete. They were only two. There was more in it for Hill. Tom had no further illusions about the man. He was without honor, candor, gen- erosity or mercy. Tom noted that the other men looked on Hill the same way; but they were frankly afraid of him, in spite of their toughness. They were tough all nght, though some were milder than others, and perhaps went into the bandit business because it meant a living. ‘Their claims were as picturesque as the owners. Badly penciled signs announced the titles, such as “Tennessee,” ‘Fat Mary,” “Mike Jones,” “Blond Susie,” “Dirty Steve” or ‘Four Aces.”’ One was even named for a national celeb- rity. It was called the ‘‘Boy Orator.” Next day Tom returned to Escalante and killed time waiting for news from Pete. He avoided Hill as much as possible. Pete’s letter arrived; and when the two sharp-faced mining engineers came Tom Jed them to the mine. Hill was away. Hill’s crowd was curious but not aggressive, and Tom gave no explanations. While the ex- perts were examining the rock he chatted with the crowd. “Why don’t you fellows file your claims at the Land Office and make ’em regular?” That COmiclbook (CO