Adventure Magazine Cover — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

144 that Brick could easily return past the Weep- ing Tree ranch in time for supper. Brick was a biscuit fiend, and he knew that Jean Martin was the best biscuit builder in the world. Therefore Brick hummed a little range song and totally ignored the heat. Some day he was going to get up nerve enough to ask Jean to marry him—some day, maybe tomorrow. Brick was a lot like a Mexican, in that respect. Tomorrow looked like the very best day to speak to her about it—always tomorrow. Pete Kane and Jimmy Malone were just coming out of the ranch-house door as Brick rode up. Kane was undeniably hand- some of face and there was a wild, free grace to his figure, a dash and swing that denoted plenty of animal vigor. His tiny brown mustache was waxed to needle points, and his insolent brown eyes stared at Brick in mock terror. “Well, if it ain’t the policeman claimed. Jimmy Malone, a short, stocky cowboy, square of features, stared at Brick, and a frown centered above his eyes. Jimmy Ma- lone did not like officers of the law. Brick ignored Kane’s sarcasm, although he felt it keenly. It was not like Brick to ignore a gibe, but Brick was representing the law now. “Jeff Seldon to home?” he asked. “He is!’ snapped a voice and Brick glanced at the door, where Seldon was standing, half dressed and with a boot in his hand. “Whatcha want?” ey) Brick, but Brick merely grinned at ==) him. Seldon stepped out to the edge of the porch, one sock half-on and flop- ping from his foot. “Can’tcha talk?” he rasped. ‘Whatcha want here, Davidson?”’ “Just passin’ out word that the cattle association is goin’ to take charge of all mavericks from now on.” Seldon stared at him and then at Kane. Kane sneered. Brick’s _ state- ment was perhaps an insinuation that the Star Dot dealt strongly in mavericked stock, but Brick did not mean it to sound as such.. “Y’m startin’ out to pass the word,” con- tinued Brick. “Got a letter——” “Hol on! Hol’ on!” Seldon fairly ex- ploded with wrath, and took two steps down 17) he ex- SELDON was plainly hostile to Adventure from the porch. ‘You accusin’ me of mav- erickin’?”’ “Hold on you’self!” snapped Brick. ‘‘No- body’s accusin’ you of anythin’.” “Whatcha talkin’ thataway to me fer?” Seldon’s voice rasped and broke in righteous indignation. “T ain’t accusin’ anybody,” soothed Brick. “The cattle association is goin’ to take charge of all unbranded stock from now on, and I = ‘the association!’ roared Seldon. “TI don’t belong to no association. I hope that the sheep run ’em out of the range!’ “Don’t yelp,” laughed Brick. “Talk natural, Seldon.” “T’ll talk as I —— please! No penny-ante sheriff can come out here se “Whoa, Blaze!” gritted Brick. “Don’t get personal, Seldon. I don’t care if you don’t belong to the association. I’ve been ordered to protect their interests, and I reckon I?ll foller out them orders.” , “You'd make a good protector for a calf,” observed Kane, and Malone laughed out- right. “Vuh may find that out,” agreed Brick easily. “Protect ——!” roared Seldon. ‘They wouldn’t elect yuh sheriff, but yuh run a blazer on Bunty Blair and S “YT wouldn’t talk thataway if I was you,” interrupted Brick. “I ain’t never done you no harm, Seldon. I’m out here to pass out an order that was given to me.” ‘“‘Who made that order?” demanded Sel- don. ‘Tell me that, will yuh?” “The association made it, Seldon; but I suggested it, if yuh must know.” “The you did!” Seldon’s parch- ment-like face seemed to wrinkle with wrath and he groped for words. “VYou—you think you’re a little —— on wheels, don’tcha? Mebbe yuh think that Sun-Dog is goin’ to put yuh on a pedestal and worship yuh, but you’vée got the wrong hunch, lemme tell yuh that. [ll run my ranch to suit myself, and I don’t want no —— sheriff ridin’ up to my door and tellin’ me that I can’t do this and I can’t do that. Sabe?” “Bust a blood-vessel, if yuh don’t watch out,” observed Brick. ‘I knowed a feller like you, Seldon. He had a nasty tongue, too. Got mad at a dog one day and fell dead kickin’ at it. Seldon leaned back against a porch-post, You better be careful.’ COMmicaoo® S ©