Adventure Magazine Cover — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

160 yeah! Whatcha reckon he took them horseshoes for?” “Well, what'll we dor” asked the big man. “Stand here and argue?” Brick had sneaked to the corner of -the cabin and he answered the big man’s question— “Stand still and hold up your hands!” The big man dropped his rifle and they both put up their hands. The small man took a deep breath and expelled it slowly#-an audible sigh of relief. His face plainly showed that he would rather be a prisoner than a fugitive. “Now what do we do?” asked the big man. “You’re full of questions, ain’t yuh?” grinned Brick. “I reckon I ought to give yuh both a hundred yards runnin’ start and then fan yuh with lead.” “Yuh won’t though, will yuh?” ‘small man was still apprehensive. ‘“‘No-o-o, I reckon not-——not unless yuh deserve it, but yuh never can tell what I think about a man who misses an easy shot like you did.”’ Brick’s face was serious, but he knew that the little man was a good shat. He had grown panicky when he found that he had missed, and the distance was at least three hundred yards. “Whatcha goin’ to do with us?” asked the big man. “Well, Mr. Question Mark, I reckon I'll ask you two Jaspers to hoof it to Marlin City ahead of me. It’s only about twelve miles. I’ve got a nice little house to put yuh in and I’ve got her fixed so that nobody can The bust in and hurt yuh. Like the idea? No? - Tell me what the little game was—the one I didn’t fall for, and I might let yuh go your own way.”’ The two men seemed surprized, but their surprize was not genuine. The small man acted as though he thought Brick was jok- ing. Brick smiled and pointed across the hills. forward march!” “Twelve miles; Es} THE two men turned and plodded ‘ES %) ahead of him, while Brick rolled a cigaret and smiled to himself. His idea was working out slowly, but Brick did not mind the slowness. He really held no animosity against the two sheep-herders for attempting his life. A few days in jail wouldn't hurt them. Brick did not believe Adventure in jailing a man for missing his she’, but he felt that jailing the two sheep-herders might make a change tat would expose something he wished to find out. It was hard traveling, but neither of the men complained. Brick herded them across the hills and struck the road near the spot - where Brick had left the Hereford yearlings. They had followed the road about a mile, when a body of horsemen swung around a curve and rode up to them. The two sheep- herders crowded to the side of the road and sat down. It was a representative group, Bill Voorhies and Lynn Barnhardt, of the Lazy H, Jeff Seldon, of the Star Dot, Dal Melchior, Barney O’Mera, and “Slim” Hoskins, of the Bar M, and Lafe Freeman, of the Nine Bar Nine. Voorhies reined up beside Brick and looked at the two tired sheepmen. ‘Who yuh got there?” he asked. ‘Couple of sheep-herders.”’ Brick’s veice was just as belligerent as Voorhies’. He was not going to let Voorhies get away with any bluff talk. ‘“Sheep-herders, eh?”’ Jeff Seldon urged his horse forward and looked at the two men. ‘Puttin’ them in jail for herdin’ sheep?” ‘‘No-o-0,” drawled Brick. in for makin’ a mistake.” ‘‘How many sheep did they have?” asked Lafe Freeman. ‘Said they had two hundred. I don’t reckon they’ve got more than that, Lafe.”’ ‘““Mistake?’”’ asked Voorhies. “Uh-huh,” nodded Brick. and missed.” “Thought you’d run ’em out all by your lonesome, eh?” sneered Seldon. “What did they shoot at yuh for, Brick?” asked Lafe. “For money, I reckon.” ‘““Money?”’ Voorhies seemed amused, and “Puttin’ ’em “Shot at me -his amusement was shared by Seldon, who laughed in a rasping manner. Brick’s eyes narrowed and the freckles showed like rust splotches on his white skin. “Hold her, Brick!’ cautioned Lafe. ‘Don’t git sore, old-timer. I’m glad vuh arrested the herders. It makes things easier for us. We'll just razoo that herd of sheep so far they’ll smother to death in wool before they ever find a man to clip ’em.”’ ‘Goin’ to jail ’em for shootin’ at yuh?” asked Seldon. He emphasized ‘‘shootin’,”’ and the tone of the question was sarcastic. GOMIIGoOO S © inn