Adventure Magazine Cover — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

Lost Diggings be a cruel injustice to charge the same against Mr. Patterson, who is already a sufferer from his bargain.” Hale drew a deep breath and seemed to expand. Ruiply spoke up and inquired: ‘May I ask your honor why the thief is not requested to settle for the stable board? Or does he remain unknown despite the fact that Kolb and Patterson both met him?” Before the court could answer Patterson replied: “I met him. He isastranger tome. He told a likely story. It was I who took the mare to the stable.” Curks gravely announced: “This court will be only too happy to deal with the thief once he is taken into custody. I assume our sheriff is searching for him now.” “Four men hunting for him. I got the word while sitting here,’’ spoke up Swanger. Hale glanced down into Riply’s solemn face and laughed. Pulling out a bag of gold dust he curtly inquired— ‘“‘What are the stable charges?”’ Kolb coughed apologetically and “al- lowed”’ that thirty dollars would be about right. The court nodded an acceptance of these figures. Hale threw back his head and laughed raucously. Fortunately for himself and for the assemblage he had not lost his sense of humor. Luckily for Swanger and his henchmen he had come to town ignorant of the intolerable condition of affairs. And possibly it was well for the judge and his tools that something ex- tremely ludicrous was found by the man in the proposition that he could have his stolen property back after paying its worth. Riply’s thin face grew sober as the sten- torian laughter rang out over his head. Swanger and Patterson made ready to draw, while Curks pushed back his chair and thrust a hand between his long coat-tails to grasp the handle of a bowie- knife. “. Riply seized Hale’s arm and shook it impatiently and whispered: “Pay up. Take your mare and get out! I say it in a friendly spirit. If you try anything desperate I shall probably see you hang. I’m here to help Boise City clean up.” Hale suddenly ceased laughing, but it was not because of Riply’s warning. A ce man was hurriedly working his way through ; 85 the crowd to the judge’s table. He carried a slip of paper in his hand. Obviously his errand must be connected with the case just decided; and Shoshoni Hale was now convinced there were grave potentialities in anything the townsmen might say or do. His gaze followed the’ man to the table and saw the judge receive and read the paper. He noted the bewilderment on the bony face. He saw Curks stare to the back of the room as if seeking the author of the communication. Instantly Hale’s gaze swung about on the same business; and his mouth opened as if to cry out. It was only a glimpse, the finish of what Curks had seen in its entirety, a bearded face raised above the’level of the crowd and a hand pressed against the right cheek and shoved sharply upward. ae Siu jumped up on a chair to further observe this man. But there were many bearded faces there, one looking much like another. ‘Are you crazy? Or have you lost your nerve?” demanded Riply. Dropping to the floor, Hale rubbed his hand across His forehead and brought it away wet with sweat. ; “Perhaps a little of both,” he muttered. “T must git out of this quick.” “Scared?” incredulously whispered Riply. “Not of anything I can face. Not of anything I can see coming. But of a knife thrust out from the darkness, or a hunk of lead shot at me from behind and by a man I wouldn’t know if I met him a thou- sand times—yes; I’m afraid.” With that he walked to the table and threw down a bag of dust and curtly said: “Two hundred dollars’ worth. Keep the change for any one you’ve overlooked. And I’m in a hurry.” And as he spoke he turned his head and watched the door. “In connection with the fine for aiming a mortal weapon I must ask you where you are from,” announced Curks, savagely staring up at the set profile. ‘Lewiston and Oro Fino.” “Before that?” “Oregon. From ’Fifty-nine to the end of ’Sixty-two I worked for the Mullan road party.” “Before going to Oregon?” “Why do you dig into my life when I WITH the growl of an animal Hale COMicaoo® S (© in