Adventure Magazine Cover — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

Pay Gravel me into the discard the minute she takes the notion. To get back to your case. Old Pyrites starts in a day or so on one of his fool trips. Why not go along with him. I'll pretend I’m tired of grub-staking him and you can take my place and let on you believe all his yarns.”’ “Thanks. That might be good medicine. Will he agree?” 3 “‘He’d take a grub-stake from the devil and old Satan for a pard if no other way was open to him. Where are you stopping?’ “Bed Rock. Chicken fixings and flour doings.”’ The gambler smiled whimsically and ap- plauded: “Good nerve. Need any money?” “You didn’t clean me, Joe.”’ And Dins- dale tapped his breast-pocket. ‘The man Curly did something I didn’t like in picking a chip from the floor. I felt I was your guest, so I quit before going to a showdown with him. Then again the fellow is three- fourths dead alreadv.” “By ——! Dinsdale, I like you. Curly seldom is awkward. But you’re after my own style. So you don’t need money. Breast-pocket. Must be more greenbacks.” ‘“Easier to pack around than dust.” San Juan’s black eyes sparkled in keen appreciation of the other’s bearing. He opened his lips, then thought better of it and clamped them together. He knew Dinsdale could not be inveigled into im- parting confidence. He finally said: “Words aren’t necessary between us, Pete. If it wasn’t for that woman! It’s in the cards that I’ll make a fool of myself. I'll have a talk with Mayor Farnum. Acci- dental-like. I'll find out if Kitty has passed a bad word to him, or the city council. Wild Bill’s death makes the situation ticklish.”’ “But folks are saying the gamblers planned that. I’m done out of three thousand my first game in town. Can’t brand me as much of a gambler.” “T drop,” surrendered San Juan. “But I feel that you and I ought to have another talk—one that might lead to you getting some work—highly paid work.” ‘The only kind that would interest me, Joe. li think over the prospecting propo- sition. Perhaps I’ve made a mistake in being too free with greenbacks and in not going to work. But work hates me.” “You'll make no mistake in listening to my next talk. It’s work that'll suit you fine.” 105 This ended their conversation. Each had refused to speak plainly, yet each was working toward the point where he could talk plainly. San Juan returned to the card-room and Dinsdale passed out into the the big tent. With the exception of a long narrow lane behind the patrons at the bar the place was crowded. Keeping close to the canvas wall Dinsdale avoided the congestion around the different games and gained the open space. He glanced over the assemblage and finally focused’ his gaze on the bar. Then he advanced to the side of Horseshoe Webb and invited— “Have another little touch of trouble?” ‘Who - the are you?” viciously growled Webb. It was plain he had en- tered the dangerous stage in his drinks. “T’m the galoot that’s just been done for three thousand in greenbacks, and yet has something left for the bottle,’ Dinsdale murmured. Webb’s drunken malevolence slowly died out and he stared thoughtfully at Dinsdale. “Huh. Ill drink with you,” he mumbled. Aiter bolting his drink Webb-slyly re- marked— “You tote a likely lot of paper money round with you, I reckon.” “Always like to be well heeled—with money and guns.” Webb tugged at his mustache and fur- tively studied Dinsdale’s profile. “Have another,” he grunted. “Thanks. But not tonight. We’ll make it on demand. I must be going.” As he strode to the exit he could feel Webb’s gaze boring into his back. As he stepped into the darkness of the street a hand touched his arm and caused his own hand to closeona gun. Two round yellow eyes were blazing at him. The voice of Scissors addressed him, and he knew the eyes belonged to the big owl. ) “Got my two ounces,” exultingly whis- pered Scissors. “That satisfies me some of the Ogalala gang is in the tent tonight. Either them or some of the road-agents.” “You'd better keep that talk to yourself,” shortly warned Dinsdale. “And keep away from that man Webb. He’s feeling ugly.” “Oh, I know when to catch him. He gave me a dollar first card out of the box. Scissors knows when to get them. He’s wakan witshasha. Old Sitting Bull here knows more’n most humans. I can tell by COMMICLOOOKS (C@