Adventure Magazine Cover — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheriff of Sun-Dog its teeth; half-knelt and felt of: its forelegs; and then grinned up at Brick. “You feel, Breek—here. De leetle cayuse got plenty scar from de toe-calk. All heal up now, but she be dere for sure.” “Is that the mare?” asked Brick. “T’m bet you my life,” Le Blanc was positive. Silent touched Brick on the arm and pointed across the street. Mrs. Wesson and Jean were just coming out of the hall entrance. They did not look toward the hitch-rack, but turned and went around the corner toward Wesson’s home. Brick watched them disappear. He turned back to Le Blanc, who was still looking at the brown mare. “Did you know anything about the man who owned this mare?” Le Blanc puffed on his cigar and shook his head. “No, I’m no t’ink so, Breek. She’s jus’ have de job for me.” “You’ve see the cowboy with Pete Kane?” “De black wan? Ba gar—” Le Blanc removed his cigar and stared at Brick. “Ba gar, I’m t’ink I see dat face be-fore.”’ Brick took out the piece of paper which he had cut from the office wall, and let Le Blanc see it. For a moment the black- smith stared at it and then laughed. ‘She’s de man, Breek—sure t’ing. Wat. de paper say, Breek? I’m can’t read de English.”’ 7 3 “Come on and [’ll show yuh,” replied Brick, and hurried for the hall entrance, with the three men trailing at his heels. At the bottom of the steps he stopped. “Boys, there’s liable to be turned loose for noon. I’m tellin’ yuh in time.” “Hurrah for crime!’ grunted Silent. “If you disappoints me, Brick, Pll massacree yuh. Let’s start the dance.” ‘“‘She’s beeg day for me,” grinned Le Blanc. ‘‘See—I smoke de see-gar.”’ Harp did not make any statement; merely shifted his holster and started up the stairs. “Take things easy,” cautioned Brick. “Remember they’re most all against us, but don’t spill any lead without yuh got a good reason. Watch me.” “T hope somebody gits brave,” said Silent. ‘I do hope that much, ’cause I’m gittin’ rusty.” Neither of the cowboys had seen what 167 Brick cut off the wall of the office, but they knew that Brick had a reason. The hall was about sixty feet long by thirty feet wide. At.the front of the hall was a slightly raised platform, which held the judge’s table and chair. Just in front of this platform stood a table, for the use of the lawyers. The seats were, in the most part, made by placing a board between two backless chairs or between boxes. On the left side of the hall, as you came in, the seats ex- tended against the wall. Down the center was a narrow aisle, and between the next row of seats and the opposite wall was another aisle. On the platform sat Judge Grayson, the local justice of the peace, a dignified per- sonage, but lacking any great amount of judicial knowledge. His pudgy hands were clasped around his flowered waistcoat and his florid countenance was cocked upward and sidewise above an all-too-high collar, as he followed the proceedings. About fifteen feet in front of him was the first row of seats. To his right, as he sat facing the door, was another row of seats, pre- sumably placed at that angle for the use of a jury. Behind this row of seats was the doorway to a small ante-room. As Brick led his men inside the hail, six men were just coming out of this ante- room. It was the coroner’s jury, bringing in their verdict on the death of Scott Martin. Every available seat was taken and standing room was at a premium. Women did not attend court in Marlin City— probably for the reason that nobody knew just what might happen in a Sun-Dog -court room. Mrs. Wesson and Jean had left, after giving their evidence. Every eye in the room was focused on this jury, and none saw Brick Davidson moving softly up the outside aisle, going to the front of the room. Silent, Harp and Le Blanc separated and followed over half-way up the aisles, attracting no atten- tion. Brick moved up the room until he — was near the table in front of the judge, and facing the jury. On the front row of seats sat Lafe Freeman, sitting between Bun Partner and Barney O’ Mera. On a chair, which had been moved out beyond the front row, and near the jury seat, sat Pete Kane, the newly appointed sheriff. On the second row of seats Brick GO 1INOO S CO@ iin