Adventure Magazine Cover — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

88 found the guns inside the shirt. He pulled them out and tossed them to one side, and remarked: “You carry good guns. If we wasn’t already outfitted with the same brand we’d have to take ’em. You must be a dangerous sort of a cuss. Walk behind them trees.” Hale advanced into the ambush, the mare following at his heels. Behind the junipers were several heavily armed men, all masked. Their horses were cropping the bunch grass close by. One of them exclaimed— “We got him.” “Looks that way. When Jem Helm goes for to git a man, let him be Lucky Tom the miner, or who he will, that man is usually bagged.” As he spoke he ran his hand inside Hale’s shirt and pulled out a small bag of dust. He continued his search and at last angrily declared, ‘“‘You’ve got more dust than this. You’re sober, so you couldn’t ’a’ thrown it all away at the Tusk saloon.” “What dust he carries with him ain’t no account alongside of the gulch where he gits it,” said one of the men. “S’pose we git to work on the one prime idee. A little fire will make him lead us to it, or tell us where it is.” Hale laughed softly. ‘You fellows are barking up the wrong tree,” he told them. “If you’re after Lucky Tom you’ve missed him. He must have passed here several hours ago. At least, he left Boise City that much ahead of me. Killed a gambler in the Tusk when the gang there was trying to learn his secret. Vm Shoshoni Hale from Oro Fino way. Do I look like a pros- pector?”’ The man who proclaimed himself to be the notorious Jem Helm examined him closely in the fading light and seemed especi- ally impressed by the moccasins. He swore softly as he weighed the chances of having made a mistake. Then he said: “We've heard of Shoshoni Hale. But how do we know you’re him?” “He’s the crazy miner. Lucky Tom started this way. This is the only horseman that comes anywhere near filling the bill. Toast his feet till he admits it.” “Shet up!’ commanded Helm. To Hale, “How do we know you're Shoshoni Hale? Wouldn’t a little fire make you sing an- other tune?” | “It certainly would. Burn my feet and Ill say anything you want me to. I'll Adventure say I’m President of the United States. But if I say I’m not Shoshoni Hale ’m a liar. In my inside pocket is a writing from Hill Beachy. I used it in gitting back my mare that was stolen from me and hid up in Boise.” The writing was quickly produced and read by Helm aloud. “Enough to make a thousand devils mad!” fumed Helm. ‘Boys, he ain’t the cuss we're looking for. He talks according to book.” “He knows too much to be turned loose,” some one insisted. “T was told by Ben Riply to git up north and stay there,” said Hale. “Best way is to take no chances, then we won't be sorry.” Helm called for silence, and said: “Queer yarns are told about Shoshoni Hale. I’ve often thought you’d make a good man for my gang.” Hale replied: “No; I’d want to be boss and we’d fight and one of us would be killed. That would be a foolish waste of material. You’re welcome to this country. I always stay north of the Clearwater.” This frankness did not displease Helm. He accepted the statement for face value. “Prick up your ears like a coyote. Wolf didn’t ought to eat wolf. I won’t take your guns, nor mare. You can go back to the road and find your guns and clear out. We'll keep your dust, but if you catch any of us on your stamping grounds you can return the favor.” “All right. Vl remember. But I stand a small chance of paying you off as I’ve never seen any of you unmasked.” “And you never will,” chuckled Helm. “Every one talks about Helm but he can go into Idaho City under a different name and no vigilant would know him. Now go, but don’t try any games. Just ride away. And remember this; don’t travel these parts again unless you're carrying plenty of dust. It makes the boys mad.” “T’ll try and do better next time. Trouble is some robbers in Boise City got at me- first.” “Don’t say anything about this in Idaho City. My men will be there, and you can’t yip but what some of them will hear you.” “T shall say nothing in Idaho City. Do I go now?” Helm nodded and Hale leisurely returned GOMIIGoOO S (©