Adventure Magazine Cover — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

32 I get through with her she can blame you for it all, and I want you to die knowin’ that I’m doin’ this—not because I want the girl, but because I want to get even with you.” Skeeter looked down at the terrified eyes s Mary Leeds and back at Tug’s grinning ace. “You can’t take her, Tug.” Skeeter’s voice was cold as ice. ‘You can kill me, but yuh can’t take her.”’ “Can’t I?” laughed Tug. “Who will stop me?” ‘You will,’ said Skeeter wearily. Tug leaned closer, his knuckles white around the butt of the heavy caliber pistol. “T will? Whatcha mean?” Tug’s voice was barely above a whisper. ‘“Talk— can’tcha?”’ Skeeter Bill looked at Mary Leeds. “Tve gotta do it, ma’am. I don’t want no hurt to come to yuh, but I reckon the hurt is less this way. “He lifted his eyes and stared at Tug Leeds for a moment, and then: “Tug, you —— near made a big mistake. This gir 4 The shack seemed to shake with a muffled explosion. Skeeter whirled toward the bed, where a cloud of smoke eddied from under the corner of the blanket and a tiny spiral mounted from a torn, smudgy spot just over where the judge’s hand would be. Beyond a slight jerk, Tug Leeds did not move for a moment. His hand unclasped from the butt of his pistol, which had covered Skeeter, and it fell to the floor. The other pistol dropped from his left hand and he looked foolishly around. ‘“‘Well,”’ he whispered, as if in agreement, “‘well—that—is—finished—’”’ and fell slowly, as a tree falls. Skeeter swept the two guns from the floor, looked down at Tug Leeds and then stepped quickly over to the bed, smothering out the fire from Judge Tareyton’s pistol. He looked down at the judge, who was try- ing to speak. ‘Skeeter Bill,’? he whispered painfully, “T had to do it to save you both. Keep smiling, son, and don’t forget that God put a spark in you—a spark that will flare up and build a big flame for you—if you let it. I never gave mine a chance, but - He tried to lift himself a trifle, but sank back. “Skeeter Bill, the preacher was right, Adventure when he said it was a dim place. Yes, by gad, it’s getting awful dim.” He smiled up at Skeeter and his voice was barely audible. ae ee ee oil.” Skeeter turned away, his eyes blurred. A man stumbled though the door and stopped near the middle of the room. It was Sandy McClain, hatless, almost shirtless, with a smear of blood across his face and chest. His eyes stared vacantly around the room and came to rest on the prone figure of Tug Leeds. Mary Leeds stepped in close to Skeeter and grasped him by the arm. ‘“‘What—who is that man,” she asked, pointing to Tug. “What were you going to tell him? Who is he?” ‘Somebody beat me to it,’”’ said McClain in a hollow voice, shaking his head sadly. “T kinda wanted to kill Tug Leeds myself. I—I wanted to—honestly.” “Tug Leeds?” asked Mary foolishly, look- ing up at Skeeter. ‘“Tug Leeds?” Skeeter nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I reckon you’ve got to know it sometime.” “My father?” Mary Leeds moved forward, staring down at the body of Tug Leeds. Sandy McClain stared at her, open-mouthed, vacantly. He looked at Skeeter Bill and back at her. Mary turned to Skeeter. ‘“Why—why didn’t somebody tell me that he was my father?” McClain stepped closer to her, peering at her face. “What is your name?” he asked slowly. “Your name?”’ “Mary Leeds.” Sandy McClain stared at her—stared at her as if she was a ghost. A look of won- derment flashed across his face and he glanced quickly around the room. His lips twitched for a moment and he turned back to the girl. “What was your mother’s name?” “Jane.” ‘Jane Holden.” “Ves,” said Mary Leeds wonderingly. ‘““My father’s name was James Leeds.” “He was a thief,”’ said McClain slowly. “He was sent West to buy a lot of cattle, but he—” McClain stopped and looked around. ‘That was years ago and the West was a long ways from the East. He went COMicaoo® S (©