Adventure Magazine Cover — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

114 knowledge,” replied the gambler regret- fully. “I mever heard him called anything but ‘Jim -Omaha.’ Union Pacific blood- hound. As to his name, names don’t count. He’d be just as deadly if he went by anumber, He’d never come up here except on big business. Railroad business.” “Then it’s the Ogalala affair, all right,” tersely declared Dinsdale. ‘‘Wonder if he’s struck the gulch yet?” “Small chance. I know pretty well who comes in on the stage.” Then thoughtfully: “But if he has sneaked in he’s got a fine line on you. Why the —— have you kept away from me? The town’s boiling over with fool talk about your doings. “Even Cheyenne City must have heard by this time that you’re called the ‘Green- back man.’ ”’ “T’ve been a fool,” morosely admitted Dinsdale. “I ought to have come here. Maybe I was afraid you’d preach against my fun if I called.” “And lots of good it would have done. You’ve got Kitty against you, also Keno Frank, F rench Curly, and no knowing how many others.” “Mayor Farnum doesn’t feel just likea brother to me. And don’t forget Bandy Allen.” “T wish you wouldn’t try to be funny when things may be very serious,” pro- tested the gambler. “But [I’m not joking. Why, I’ve re- ceived a dozen warnings today against Bandy Allen.”’ “Bah! French Curly trying to be cun- ning. I'll dress him for that.” “Then there’s the mayor; tried to order me out of town this morning,” added Dinsdale. “Well, you have made a mess of it. Take the mayor’s advice and get out fora few days anyway.” “Fine to say. Just ride my horse up over a hill and into the woods,” mocked Dinsdale. San Juan pondered a moment, then urged: “Make that prospecting trip with Iron Pyrites. Start in the morning. Be in Rapid City this day week, or send Pyrites in. Tl have a talk waiting for you at Calvin’s eating-house.”’ “T don’t fancy running away just because this Omaha is said to be coming here.” “Prospecting, not running. You know Adventure better than I whether it means a running should: he recognize you.” “When it comes to gun-play——” boldly began Dinsdale. “Discard! Discard!’ snapped San Juan. “T ain’t gunning for your confidence. But I met Pyrites right after getting the mes- sage, and I told him I wouldn’t stake him _and that you probably would. If you say the word he’ll call for you early in the morning. He’ll have your outfit all ready. All you’ll have to do is to take your guns and stay out till you get my word at Rapid City a week from today.” | But Dinsdale grew more defiant, and sullenly insisted: “T ain’t afraid of Jim Omaha. doesn’t know me, or else he does. If I’m a stranger to him there’s no hurry in taking cover. If he does know me—well, he isn’t called the ‘bloodhound’ for nothing; and I might as well have it out here as to have him chasing me over into Montana.” “T was looking farther ahead than that,” said the gambler. “If he comes and goes, and the coast remains clear, you can return and sit into a game that’ll make your ever- lasting pile. It’ll make the Ogalala job look like a two-bit limit game. It’ll be as quick as it is big.” “T don’t know anything about the Ogalala job,” said Dinsdale stolidly. “Of course you don’t; and you may not fancy the game I’m proposing. But I know you well enough to believe you won’t spoil a game just because you decide not to sit in on it.” With scowling brows Dinsdale declared: “T don’t know anything about the Ogalala job. Let Omaha come and try to nail it on me. He'll have his hands full to make it stick. Nothing at all to hook me up to that business.”’ San Juan Joe smiled cynically and softly reminded him: “Nothing at all except the talk about you being the ‘Greenback man.’ But undoubt- edly you could explain when and where you got hold of so much paper money new money at that.” Dinsdale’s face lengthened; then grew ugly, as he muttered: “Tt’ll be up to him and the Union Pacific to show down, not me. Maybe I won it at gambling.” San Juan chuckled heartily and agreed. “T think you did, but I'll swear you never COMMICLO® SJ He either (C@)