Adventure Magazine Cover — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheriff of Sun-Dog cattleman an edge over an honest one, and also was an inducement for a dishonest cow- puncher to overlook his employer’s young stock until such a time as he could ‘“maver- ick” a few for himself and get astart. Sun- Dog County was not without its rustling troubles. Brick knew that he had work cut out for him—if he upheld his oath of office. Brick knew every inch of the Sun-Dog ranges, knew the cattle business from “dally to hondo” as Lafe Freeman had said, and un- der ordinary circumstances would be an ideal peace officer for the county, but Sun- Dog did not seem to want Brick Davidson’s protection—as was witnessed by seven votes including Brick’s own vote. Brick got up from his desk, put the paper inside his vest, and picked up his hat. “Vuh ain’t goin’ out in the heat, are yuh?” asked Silent. Brick nodded. ; “Veah. I’ve got to pass around the bad news.” ““What’s the hurry?” “This here office is runnin’ today—not manana,’ smiled Brick. ‘You stay here and don’t let anybody bust the jail. If any outlaws come along with a price on their heads, jew ’em down, Silent. Get ’em as cheap ee “AW-w-w, ’? srunted Silent. ‘Lemme go along.” ‘And shut up the office?” Brick appeared very indignant. ‘“‘ "Member them old Pink- erton books we had at the ranch? ’Member they had a eye painted on the cover, and the words ‘We Never Sleep’? Do yuh? That’s us, sabe?”’ “All right, all right,” grunted Silent. “While you’re gone I’!] paint a eye on the door.” “Make it a mouth,” grinned Brick. “And above it put, ‘We Never Shut Up.’” OLD Jeff Seldon owned the Star Dot, horse and cattle outfit, and also owned a grudge against hu- manity. Although only about fifty-five years of age, he looked seventy-five. He was below average height. His skin was like yellow parchment, his nose hooked; his mouth so thin-lipped that he appeared to have only a slit, inside of which were a motley collection of misfit teeth and ancient gold fillmgs. His eyes were deep-set and savage, as they peered out past the thin, high bridge of his nose—peered out with 143 disfavor upon every one and every thing. Jeff Seldon had come from Dakota, and bought out the Bar Dot outfit a year before, bringing his five cowboys with him. It is doubtful whether Seldon could have hired a cowboy in Sun-Dog County, for Seldon’s reputation was known. He had practically been driven from Da- kota for an unpardonable offence. In cow- land a cowboy is welcome at any cow-man’s table. His bunk-house 1s always big enough to sleep one more. It was merely range etiquette. If the owner was not at home, the visitor was welcome to enter the prem- ises, cook his meals and occupy the beds. Two cowboys, tired, hungry, stopped at Jeff Seldon’s ranch. They stabled their horses, and started for the ranch-house, when Seldon met them. “The town is just fourteen miles down that road,” stated Seldon. “I am not runnin’ a hotel.” “Much obliged,” said one of the cowboys, and they traveled on. From that day on, Seldon was a man apart from the range-folk. His stock was never picked up in a round-up. No man spoke to him. His cows never brought in calves, and the range country ate beef that did not bear the diner’s brand. Seldon had plenty of money, and stood the loss as long as possible, but eventually sold out and traveled north. If Seldon was crabbed before this mistake, he was a hundred times more soured on the world afterward. | He mixed little with Sun-Dog folks. He was a bachelor. His five men, Pete Kane, the foreman, Frank Fellows, “Bun” Partner, Jim Malone and Hal Breamer, were hard riders, hard drinkers, and close mouthed, even in their cups. The Star Dot ranch- house was seven miles from Marlin City, and adjoined the Weeping Tree range. The ownership of the Weeping Tree had never been settled. Zell Mohr had owned it, but Zell was dead. Before his arrest and conviction he had given Scott Martin the right to occupy the old Weeping Tree ranch- house and to use the land. Zell had sold his Silverton property, but no one knew of any disposition having been made of the Weeping Tree. Brick rode straight for the Star Dot ranch. There was no reason for passing the order to the Star Dot oufit first, but it happened that the Star Dot was so located COmiclbook S (© iin