Adventure Magazine Cover — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

The Sheriff of Sun-Dog Pete Kane’s right hand slipped slowly off his knee. “Don’t mind me, Kane,” smiled Brick. “TI don’t want all the best of it.” Kane slowly brought his hand back to his knee. “The main idea was to make a sheep ranch of the Weepin’ Tree,” explained Brick. “That’s a lie!’ shrieked Seldon, starting to his feet, but Voorhies pulled him back. “They shot Martin in the back with a .41. Yuh see, I shoot a .41. My, my, but they sure did frame me nice! Accordin’ to their view of it, I didn’t have a chance on earth. Gents, they sure did frame me to a fare- thee-well, but they overlooked one of the big points. “Their scheme was_ horse-high, bull- strong, and sheep-tight, but they didn’t know that the big gate was wide open. They sure did leave a hole that yuh could drive a team through. “Zell Mohr got Scott Martin to come to Marlin City. He knowed that Scott didn’t have much money; so he let Scott have the Weepin’ Tree ranch. He wrote out a paper, which showed that nobody but Zell Mohr could make Martin move off the ranch. ‘“‘Zell Mohr, bein’ dead, and not havin’ any relations—well, it kinda lets Scott Martin stay on the Weepin’ Tree, don’t it? Scott Martin had that paper with him the day he was shot, and the man or men who shot him took the paper. They wanted to get a sample of Zell Mohr’s writin’ and also his signature, which no man could make without a copy, and he had to be some hand- writer to do it at all. Judge Grayson has the deed that was made thataway.” ‘“‘What’s this?” gasped the judge. forged deed?” cA REE ad BRICK did not turn, merely nodded ‘ak his head as he leaned forward, hook- ing his thumb over the belt above his gun. Lafe Freeman leaned forward, hunching low over his folded hands. Silent stepped:a little closer, while Harp shoved away from the wall and rubbed his hands on his hips. “Ves, it was forged, judge,” replied Brick evenly. “I don’t blame yuh for mistaking it for the real thing.” Seldon got to his feet and pe con- temptuously. “How do yuh make out a thing ie that? 171 That’s Zell Mohr’s writin’ and his signature. You’re cinched, Davidson; and you’re framin’ a cock and bull story to try and clear yourself. Who in could write like Zell Mohr? Eh? Tell me that, will yuh?” “No Sun-Dogger,”’ smiled Brick. ‘We ain’t educated enough for that, Seldon.” Brick was looking at Smith as he talked to Seldon, but now he spoke directly to Smith. “Smith, you’re a clever man.” Brick’s tone was merely conversational, with a tinge of admiration. “Education sure done things for you. Now, if you was plumb ignorant like the rest of us you’d be safe and happy, don’t yuh know it?” Smith tried to smile and barely managed to contort: his features. He was getting more uncomfortable each minute. “Vuh made a mistake in Dakota, Smith,” stated Brick. Smith’s head jerked up and into his black eyes came a hunted look, but he did not blink. ‘You kinda had me up a tree,” continued Brick slowly. ‘That deed kinda had me wonderin’ a few things, too. I knowed I had seen your face somewhere, but [’ll be danged if I could place yuh. No, T never met yuh, Smith. “T didn’t know yuh—not personally, but IT sure did need yuh. Did yuh ever set into a game of poker, with a bob-tail straight in your hand? Yuh had everything, except the one card, to make a bettin’ hand. You was the filler for my bob-tail. “Vessir, I needed you—bad. Fact of the matter is, I needed yuh as bad as Seldon did. My, my, but you was a handy man, Smith.” Brick grinned. Every man in the house knew things were drawing to a climax. Lafe Freeman had hunched to the very edge of his chair, and was watching Voorhies and Seldon like a hawk. Brick’s eyes shifted from Smith and he appeared to be talking to every one now. “Gents, do yuh remember that I got a thousand dollars for cleanin’ up Zell Mohr and his gang? Well, before Zell was sent on his way to the penitentiary, me and him had a talk. He was kinda sorry about his end of the deal—what he done to Martin. Zell didn’t have nobody to leave his property to, and he didn’t have no use a-tall for the Weepin’ Tree ranch; so me and him GOMIIGoOO S Co inn