Adventure Magazine Cover — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

SELDON stared at Brick, as though i Brick were a ghost. His thin face seemed to grow thinner and the parchment-colored skin seemed fairly to crack. For the space of ten seconds neither of them spoke; then Seldon exploded a curse and swung his chair away from the wall. “Nice afternoon,’ ously. “Nice !”? choked Seldon. His hand dropped to his hip, but there was nothing there except sagging overalls. He swallowed with difficulty. “You spoke about two Herefords what had been mavericked,” remarked Brick. ‘“You’re right I did! Don’tcha be- lieve me?” “Like to see ’em, Seldon, if it ain’t too much trouble.” Seldon got to his feet and led the way to the corral, with Brick riding behind him. There were several head of cattle in the corral, all Herefords. Seldon pointed out the two mavericks, or which had been mavericks until the Weeping Tree had been run on their right shoulder. They were nearly full-blooded Herefords. “You could swear that they belonged to you, Seldon?” “Swear? ’Course I could swear. Any jury in the country would give ’em to me. The Weepin’ Tree ain’t got no Herefords.” “They were mavericks,” observed Brick. “Must be nearly yearlin’s.” “Uh-huh. Fellows found ’em way back in the breaks of Piny Crick. They was mavericks, but they’re mine, y’betcha. Danged nice pair of animals.”’ “Tf you’ll open the gate, Pll cut ’em out,” offered Brick. ? observed Brick seri- “Cut ’em out?” Seldon was plainly sur-— prized. ‘‘What for—cut ’em out?” “Take ’em back with me. You swear that they belong to you, Seldon, but your brand ain’t on ’em. You swear that the Weepin’ Tree ain’t never had no Herefords. I reckon we'll turn ’em over to the associ- ation and let ’em decide whether either outfit owns ’em.” Seldon leaned against the corral fence and grew incoherent. _Would he stand for anything like this? Not by several adjec- tive sights. He’d see Brick Davidson skating in a mythical region, where heat is — said to be excessive, first. In fact, Seldon exhausted his extensive vocabulary of “nots and won’ts,” while Brick grinned in silent Adventure wonder that any human being could think of so many curses and have them all fit the situation. Seldon started for the house, but Brick swung his horse across Seldon’s path and asked Seldon where he was going. Seldon informed him that he was going to town, but first he must get his coat. Brick grinned and shook his head. “From that window up there you could salivate me with lead, old-timer. No, I can’t let yuh go into the house—not today.” - yuh, I don’t want to go into the house!” Seldon’s voice was high-pitched in spots, like a youngster, whose voice is changing. ‘My coat is right there around the corner from the lMtchen door.” Brick glanced at the kitchen door. He could watch Seldon get the coat, but what would prevent Seldon from jumping around out of sight? Brick shook his head. “You stay here, old-timer, and I’ll get the coat for yuh.” Brick got off his horse and walked to the corner, keeping an eye on Seldon. Just around the corner, leaning against the wall, was a Winchester rifle. There was no coat. Seldon said nothing, when Brick came back, but his eyes narrowed. He was caught with the goods, and he knew better than to try to lie out of it. “You’ve got a good tailor,” said Brick, examining the rifle, “but I reckon we’ll kinda spoil the fit.” He levered all the cartridges out of the magazine and then motioned for Seldon to go back to the corral. Brick took the rifle in both hands and swung it across the top of a post. After three swings there was neither stock, magazine lever nor mechan- ism left. Brick threw it aside and motioned for Seldon to open the gate. It was but a moment’s work for Brick ta send the two yearlings out of the gate. Seldon was beyond words. His skinny jaws were set, but he did not look at Brick as he rode past, and followed the two maverick animals. Brick headed them straight to- ward Marlin City. Where the road swung around a high point, about half a mile from the Star Dot, he looked back, and saw two horsemen riding in from another di- rection. Brick let the yearlings drift, while he watched the ranch-house. Few loose animals will follow a road, unless carefully herded, and these two Herefords were no exception. GOMIIGooOO S C@