Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

38 To Wilcox it sounded like a fantastic nightmare conceived in delirium. ‘There was fighting enough on the range, but this latest episode looked as though a lot of maniacs were loose. ‘Why should they fire the house?” he puzzled. | “T don’t know. Nobody knows. When Mister Minden saw the trick he was wild. He emptied his pistol at them. They ran to the barn, and set it on fire. He and the other man had to fight them alone. Every one else was away with the herds on the range. “Did Minden hit any one?” “T don’t think so. They just set fire to everything and left. It’s hard to tell what happened. Things came too quickly. I ran upstairs for Steve. Mister Minden and his man heard me calling. They came up and brought his cot down the stairway. We had a terrible time. The front of the house was ablaze and we had to fight through flame and smoke, with Steve’s blankets on fire. I’m afraid it hurt Steve’s lungs!” ‘“‘The devils!’ exploded Bennett. Wilcox looked at the girl. She was thinner than before and her face showed the awful strain of all she had been through. He patted her devoted shoulder. “Where is Minden?” he asked. “Over by the ditch. He’s with Mister Potts, the editor. Mister Minden has taken it mighty hard!” Wilcox ambled over toward the ditch where the famous gun-battle had taken place. Beyond the trees was a dark figure, splutting occasional profanity. The first terrific wave of rage had passed long ago. He was now walking up and down like a caged leopard while the editor stood beside a tree, smoking a pipe and watching him. The boss started toward Minden. The editor held out a warning hand. ‘Wilcox!’ he whispered. The boss stopped. “Listen. Take him away from here. Take him to your ranch.” “All right, if he’ll go.” Minden was easy to persuade. He shook the hand of Wilcox and later mounted a horse without comment, only asking that they go immediately. The boss made ar- rangements to bring Steve home next day and soon started off. Bennett did not go with him. To the Adventure amazement of Wilcox the editor objected to Bennett’s presence and so did Minden. It looked strange, almost as strange as the editor inviting himself to the Wilcox ranch ~ again, but the silent boss let them have their way. He was used to peculiar hap- penings by now. It was a queer ride over the dark plains and foot-hills that night. The three riders plodded silently onward without a sound save -the pattering of horses’ feet and the creaking of saddle-leather. It was half after two when they reached the ranch- house. Wilcox lit the lamps and seated his guests in front of the fireplace in the great room, under the big oil painting. Minden, travel- worn and with grime on his face, sat forward and stared at the floor. The editor smoked nervously. “You'll have to do it, Minden!” blurted the editor. ‘‘You might as well do it now!”’ Minden nodded. The editor turned to Wilcox. “Mister Wilcox, I’ve never got along with you very well, but truth is truth and you’re entitled to it.- Minden has something to say.” Grant Wilcox sat back and studied the tall, sandy-haired ranch-owner, his likable neighbor from the north. Minden looked thin, haggard and listless. He started to speak, halted, and started again. : “I’m the man that tried to ruin your ranch. I’m the man responsible for all the shootin’, killin’ and thievery on the range!” “ WILCOX stiffened. He looked in- credulous. Then his face became stern. “Go on,” he advised, quietly. “YT caused the killin’ of Hastings. I caused the shootin’ of Steve Adams. I caused your cattle to git stolen. I’ve caused every rotten thing that happened—me, the man that was goin’ to be king of the range!” “Co on!”’ Minden’s haggard eyes sought mercy. He saw a somber face and turned away, licking his lips. oo “Start at the beginning,” suggested the editor. Once Minden had started he seemed de- termined to finish it. He appeared to want it off his chest. “Yeh. The beginnin’. It seems like COmiclbooks Cc C@