Adventure Magazine Cover — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheriff of Sun-Dog down to the corral to get his horse and Brick observed that the old man was wearing his gun and belt. Old Lafe patted the gun and grinned foolishly. “Feelin’ kinda chipper,” he chuckled. “Ain’t got a speck of old age in my system. Look!” Came a snap of a palm against leather, and the old Colt seemed to hop from its holster into the old man’s hand. “Trained that gun myself,” grinned Lafe, flipping it back into the holster with a twist of his wrist. ‘Could teach some of you young fellers a trick or two if I tried, y’ betcha. I’m goin’ to town now, and I reckon I’ll go heeled. Feller feels free to prognosticate when he’s got somethin’ on his hip besides the weight of his overalls.” Brick slapped the old man on the shoulder and mounted his horse. Lafe did not ask where they were going; merely observed that they went across the hills toward the Weeping Tree instead of going around the road. He caught his horse, threw on a sad- dle and galloped down the road _ toward Marlin City. The trio rodé slowly into the mesquite-covered hills, with Brick leading the way. Finally he broke the silence. “Did either of you fellers ever see that Jack Smith before?”’ “Not me,”’ said Silent. “Nor me,” added Harp. ‘“He’s buyin’ horses for the British Government.” “Has he bought any?” asked Brick. “T ain’t heard of none. Whatcha know about him, Brick?”’ ‘Somewhere I’ve seen him, Harp. Where -was it? I’ve been wonderin’ and wonderin’, and I can’t place him. If I had any brains I’d get a headache wonderin’ about him.” “What does he amount to?” inquired Silent. ‘Forget him.” “That’s why he amounts to something,” complained Brick. “I can’t forget him. That hombre amounts to somethin’, Silent. He didn’t stumble into my ankle that day accidental. He went plumb out of his way to walk on me, and he hit the floor so hard he forgot what he was to do next. Jeff Seldon called hima quitter. I wonder if— if he was tryin’ to pick a quarrel with me.” Silent turned and looked at Brick’s grinning face. ‘“‘Now he’s happy, Harp. He’s happy to think that this horse-buyer wanted to pick a fight. It don’t take much to please our pink-topped friend.” 165 Brick humped over his saddle horn and frowned under his low-pulled hat. He con- centrated on Jack Smith. Feature by feature he analyzed that face; trying to remember where he had seen it, but in vain. Recognition was just beyond his grasp. There was no sign of life at the Weeping Tree ranch-house, but when they rode into the quadrangle of the old buildings they saw Jeff Seldon coming from the door to his horse, which was tied at the old willow, which gave the ranch its name. :They rode up to him and he looked up. Seldon resembled an old buzzard more than ever, with his old faded Prince Albert coat which flapped around his thin shoul- ders and the once-white celluloid collar surmounting a dirty shirt. ‘“‘Lookin’ fer somebody?” he asked, and added, before they could reply, ‘“There ain’t nobody home—but me.” “You ain’t home,” said Brick. Seldon bobbed his lean head. “Yes, 1 amtoo. This here ranch belongs to me, if anybody asks yuh.” ‘‘Where’s Miss Martin?” asked Brick. “T dunno. She went home with Mrs. Wesson last night. Reckon she’s down- town. Goin’ to have the inquest today, yuh know.” Brick’s face hardened as he looked down at Seldon. He noticed that Seldon wore a holstered gun under his flopping coat. For a few moments Brick looked at Seldon, then turned his horse and rode away, followed by Silent and Harp. They rode straight away from the ranch, into the hills, while Seldon mounted his horse and rode the other way— toward Marlin City. » BRICK pulled up and looked back at the ranch-house. Far down the | " road he could see a tiny dust cloud kicked up by Seldon’s horse, as its owner raced to town. He would lose no time telling which way Brick had gone, and a posse would be on his trail as soon as the coroner’s jury brought in a verdict. Brick was positive there could be but one verdict. Harp and Silent watched Brick sitting | silently on his horse, gazing back. Finally Brick shook his head sadly. “T reckon I’m due for trouble, boys. You fellers better go back now. It won’t be long before you'll be reading reward notices——”’ GOMIIGHOO S © inn