Adventure Magazine Cover — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheriff Lazy H, de—mos’ h’everybody, Breek, dey try to shoe cayuse.”’ “The Star Dot?” asked Brick. “Seldon nevair buy de horse-shoe from Le Blanc. Mebhe she’s buy from Wesson.” Brick nodded and walked back to the office.. There did not seem to be a thing to work on. Everything led into a blind corner. iS going to. Silverton after Doctor Winchell, and had him in Marlin City the next morning in time to send him out to the Weeping Tree with Doctor Meyers. Brick watched them drive away, and wondered if Doctor Winchell would be of any use. Winchell had added knowledge of human ills to his practise as veterinary. Doctor Meyers was also called in animal cases. Ordinarily, Brick would have laughed over the fact that two veterinaries were going to consult over a wounded human being, but humor seemed apart from Brick just now. Silent came to Brick and spoke disgustedly— “They’re talkin’ about askin’ you to resign, Brick.” “Whore” “T dunno. I heard it mentioned in the Dollar Down.” Brick turned away and walked slowly up the street. He suddenly made up his mind to ride out to the Weeping Tree and see Jean. At least he could tell her he didn’t fire that shot. He saddled his horse and rode away from town. Within a mile of the ranch house he met Mrs. Wesson. She drew up her team and looked up at him. “I—I was just goin’ out there,” stam- mered Brick, “‘goin’ out to see if there’s anythin’ I can do.” “Tt don’t think there is, Brick.” Mrs. Wesson shook her head. ‘Them two clumsy doctors are out there and if they can’t kill him, he’s a wonder. They didn’t tell me to vamoose—not in so many words, but I don’t have to git hit with a boulder. I’m goin’ home after some clean clothes.” ‘“‘Is he—has he said anythin’?” “Not a word. Doc Meyers thought he was conscious, but Doc Meyers knows a sight more about ringbone and spavin than he does about human ills. You know that Scott Martin was almost deaf anyway, and I reckon this bullet ruins what’s left. He couldn’t hear the crack 0’ doom. And here he comes out there with Doctor Win- LAFE FREEMAN lost no time in 153 chell. Where’d that horse doctor get any right to prognosticate on the human form, I’d admire to know?” ““How’s Jean?” “Well, she ain’t singin’, if that’s what yuh mean. I asked her if she didn’t think it was funny that you hadn’t been out, and she said she didn’t think so under the circum- stances. She thinks you shot him, I reckon.” “Don’t you, Mrs. Wesson?” ‘““Good ——!” Mrs. Wesson’s eyes bored into Brick’s face. “Brick Davidson, I’m plumb ashamed of yuh! Don’tcha think I’ve got any— giddap!”’ The ponies sprang forward and the buck- board rattled off down the road, with Mrs. Wesson humped up in the seat, while Brick sat on his horse beside the road watching her disappear. ‘Then the lines of his face relaxed and he patted his horse’s shoulder. “Button, we'll show ’em yet. Didja hear what she said? She was mad at me, ’cause T even thought she believed it. Lafe knows I didn’t, and Silent and Harp don’t believe it, and now Mrs. Wesson don’t. Button, we ain’t in the majority, not by a —— sight, but we’ve got a fightin’ nest-egg. Now watch our dust.” Brick headed into the hills. He had no desire to go to Weeping Tree—today. Mrs. Wesson’s indignant reply to his question had warmed his whole being. It seemed to clear his mind. He had thought of what Silent had told him, and had almost de- cided to resign his office, but this meeting with Mrs. Wesson had been like handing a loaded gun to a cornered fugitive. Brick gave no heed to his direction, and suddenly pulled up his horse at the top of a butte and looked down upon the rambling ranch-house and sprawling corrals of the Star Dot. A spirit of daredeviltry came to Brick. For the first time since he had found Scott Martin lying shot, he became normal. As far as he could see there was no one at the Star Dot. Several head of cattle browsed around inside one of the corrals, while in another were several horses. Brick shook up his horse and rode straight for the house. He rode past the front porch and around the corner, where he found Jeff Seldon, tilted back in a chair against the side of the building. Seldon had changed clothes and had evidently neglected to wear his belt and gun. of Sun-Dog GO 1INOO S Co iin