Adventure Magazine Cover — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

30 but they fell sidewise with neither man on top. A pistol flashed almost in Skeeter’s face and the powder seared his cheek, but he broke Leeds’ hold and plowed forward on his hands and knees. Men were kicking at him and more than one landed, but he managed to block them from his face. Above the yells of the attack came the slow pop- po p-pop of a pistol, as if some one were shoot- ing deliberately. Skeeter fought his way to his feet, crash- ing a man against the wall and securing his gun by main strength. He dashed the blood from his forehead, where he had cut it in the struggle for the gun, and whirled. Against the side of the platform stood sandy McClain, leaning on his injured arm, and as Skeeter looked he fired his last shot. A man slid against the wall, clawing for support and went down. From the packed crowd came a shot and McClain dropped his gun. He swayed for a moment, looked over toward Skeeter and spoke clearly: “‘Go after Leeds, Sarg! He’s got it framed to steal the girl for himself and then lead the vigilantes to hang you for it. You’ve spoiled his game, but he’s tryin’ to get her anyway.” ‘ Skeeter Bill shoved away from the wall, covering the remains of the crowd. “Why do you tell me this, McClain?” asked Skeeter. McClain laughed tonelessly, swaying on his feet. “Go and get her, man. don’t let Tug x He swayed to his knees and sat flat on the floor. Skeeter backed to the door and sprang into the night. He had no idea of where to go. Blindly he ran to the Porter shack and flung the door open. Mrs. Porter, re- splendent in a new hat, which was half- twisted on her head, her dress torn and soiled, as if she had been in a battle, was sitting rigidly in a home-made rocking- chair, staring into space. “Where is that girl?’ asked Skeeter breathlessly. Mrs. Porter looked at him trance-like, and he went over and shook her roughly. “Where is that girl?” he repeated. “The stable!’’ Mrs. Porter’s vocal cords suddenly came to life. ‘Tug Leeds’ stable! I was near the door of the saloon when they came out. Two men grabbed her. I tried to stop them but they knocked me down.” For——’s sake Adventure Mrs. Porter shook as if she had a chill, but continued. “Then Tug Leeds came running and helped them. I—I—they struck me when I screamed, but I saw them go to Tug’s stable.”’ Skeeter Bill whirled and ran out. It was about three hundred yards to Leeds’ stable and corral, but Skeeter covered the distance as if running for his life. Around the corral fence he ran and stopped just in time to keep from crashing into several saddled horses. Muffled voices came from inside the barn, and he could hear Tug Leeds’ voice cursing harshly. The door was flung open and the three came out, carrying a muffled figure. Skee- ter was standing on the right side of the horse, motionless as a statue. The men came up to the left side of the animal. ‘Is this the right horse?” asked Tug. “Uh-huh,” growled one of the men. “Well, rope her on good,” ordered Tug. “Tie her feet to the stirrups and under the horse’s belly and then tie her to cantle and horn. I hope to that somebody killed Sarg. He busted up a good thing for me, him! Now, we’ve all got to leave. Anyway, I got that old booze fightin’ law- yer. Not a sound came from the muffled figure as they hoisted it to the saddle. “Go around and rope the other side, Allen,” said Leeds. Skeeter stepped in close to the horse, and as Allen came up from under the horse’s neck Skeeter brought the barrel of his six- shooter down across his head. Allen dropped without a sound. “What in was that?” asked Leeds. Skeeter reached out, picked up the reins and with a swift spring swung on behind the saddle. As his left leg whirled across he felt the toe of his boot strike a man in the head. Came a muffled curse, and the flash of a pistol lit up the scene. The horse whirled sidewise, snorting with fear, and bucked viciously. It was probably its first experi- ence in carrying double and it resented it with every muscle in its body. Skeeter grasped the swaying figure in both arms, locked his heels into the animal’s flanks and rode as he had never ridden be- fore. They crashed into the corral fence and the horse stumbled to its knees, but floundered back into its stride and pitched straight ahead in the dark, while behind them came curses and pistol shots. COMmicooo S (©