Adventure Magazine Cover — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

162 He noticed that Kane and Silent much interest. Smith were among those present. stood in the doorway of the office and grinned expansively. At least it meant that he would have company. “Lo, Sharpshooter,”’ called Harp Harris. The smaller of the prisoners turned his head and gave Harp a sharp glance, but did not speak. “Know him, Harp?” asked Brick. “Yeah. Used to was up around Fort Benton. Heard he deserted from the cav- alry. He sure did clean up their best shots in that country, and they calls him the ‘‘Sharpshooter.”’ The Sharpshooter did not seem interested in Harp’s description of him. “Shall I put ’em in the little wickiup?” asked Silent. Brick nodded and the two sheep-herders filed in ahead of Silent. Kane stepped over to Brick. “WHAT did yuh do with the sheep?”’ Kane asked. Brick elevated his eyebrows at Kane’s question. “Sheep? Did I mention sheep?” ‘“‘Well—uh—they’re—uh—”’ Kane stam- mered in his confusion. “Funny that you thought they was sheep- herders,” grinned Brick. Kane turned away to hide his confusion, as several men laughed. “Ba gar, I’m bet dat Breek—”’ began Le Blanc, but broke off his exclamation to examine the Horseshoes tied to Brick’s saddle. Others stepped in to see what the blacksmith had discovered. Kane and Smith turned and walked back to the saloon paying no further attention, but Brick saw Le Blanc look from the horseshoes to the retreating Smith, with a quizzical expression on his face. Brick picked up his reins and led his horse to the stable, while the curious crowd went back across the street. Silent was jubilant. He did not know why Brick had arrested the two men, nor did he care. It meant something to talk about and a possibility of action. He was overflowing with curiosity, but did not ask any questions of his prisoners. Neither of the prisoners made any comment when Silent generously supplied them with to- bacco and cigaret papers. This was Silent’s idea of true hospitality. They were pris- oners, it is true, but their coming broke what Silent termed ‘‘a terribul lonesome Adventure year,” and he was willing to entertain them as much as possible. Harp separated himself from the crowd as they dispersed, and proceeded to jack- knife himself into the doorway, where he began to regale the jail and office with sonorous strains. “May lightnin’ strike yuh in two places to oncet!”’ swore Silent disgustedly. “Every time I gets to feelin’ glad, you comes along and sinks my feelin’s. Can’tcha never do nothin’ but hong, hong, hong? My ——, that ain’t music!”’ Harp wiped the back of his hand across his lips and looked up at Brick, who had come up to the door. Brick motioned to Silent, who had to step over Harp to get outside. ‘Them two are the shepherds,” exclaimed Brick. “I had a wau-wau with them, and when I was pullin’ out they took a shot at me—the short one done the shootin’.”’ ‘““You’re lucky to be tellin’ of it,’’ drawled Harp. “IT noticed the notch in your saddle,” nodded Silent. ‘What kind of a rooster is the Sharp- shooter, Harp?”’ “They runs him out of Dry Lake,” said Harp. “Dead shot with a rifle. Yuh hadn’t ort to put him in jail, Brick. His kind belongs in Boot Hill.”’ Brick grinned and told them what hap- pened after the shot was fired, but Silent and Harp could see no humor in Sharp- shooter’s predicament when he found that Brick had not been hit. Brick described it with a wealth of humor, but the two cow- boys failed to see anything funny about the incident. “And yuh let him get away with it,” wailed Silent. ‘‘Wouldn’t that rasp yuh, Harp? Brick, you ought to have a job as mish’nary to the Pecan Islands. Lettin’ that pop-eyed murderer run circles in plain sight, fall down, git up—all in plain sight. Huh!”’ Silent was disgusted. There was nothing savage nor hard-hearted about Silent, but he had his own ideas of visiting judgment on men who shot from ambush. “Whatcha arrest ’em for?” asked Harp. “Moral éffect,” grinned Brick. ‘Killin’ ’em would ’a’ put me in bad, don’t yuh know it? They ain’t so much to blame, cause they just work with their hands.” “I know what yuh said,”’ nodded Harp; GOMIIGooOoO S (©