Adventure Magazine Cover — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

sun-Dog Trails There is no denying the fact that Brick was beautifully drunk—if such an adjective may be used to describe his present condi- tion. He was also very joyful. He loved all the world, and made it publicly known that his soul was fairly reeking with milk and honey. He insisted that Topaz Tyler was as near perfect as any human being could be— and still live. He dilated on the virtues of Topaz. Then he eulogized King Cleeve, whom he pronounced a “pup-pup-prince.”’ Brick did not stammer over any other words but King Cleeve didn’t mind. Brick was staggering drunk when he entered the Dollar Down and cast his bleared eyes around the place. Bunty Blair was there, but Bunty did_not linger. Brick was not yet drunk enough to disturb the peace, and Bunty knew that when Brick got drunk enough to be safely handled he would be too drunk to disturb any one. But Brick was not mean. Oh, far from it. He even said, “Thank you,” when King Cleeve said, ‘‘Well, here’s regards.” Brick grew confidential with King Cleeve. Did Cleeve have any idea who held up the stage? King Cleeve did not. Brick hinted darkly that he did. In fact, he had a docu- ment that would clear up the mystery. “What do you mean?” asked Cleeve. “T never shed,” grinned Brick drunkenly, patting a pocket of his vest, “I got shome evidence; y’ understand?” King Cleeve patted Brick on the back and wished him luck. He told Brick that there was nobody he would sooner see win . the thousand dollars. Then came Topaz Tyler, and King in- vited him to join them. For a man who was already drunk Brick stood an amazing lot of liquor. Topaz and Cleeve mourned over the fact that they could not drink liquor as Brick could. It wasa gift. They boasted over his ability, and Brick’s chest swelled. Brick admitted that he was a wonder. But finally a glass of liquor eluded him. Then he stalked it, cautiously. King ‘Cleeve’s foot was elevated on the bar-rail, his leg encased in a very expensive, pearl- colored trouser. Brick threw caution to the winds and scooped the glass off the bar, and its contents splashed on Cleeve’s_im- maculate knee. ~ Brick chuckled with glee and sat. down heavily on the floor, while King Cleeve _his inside vest pocket. 19 swore at the ruination of his new trousers. A swamper volunteered to remove Brick, but Cleeve and Topaz declined his assis- tance. Wasn’t Brick their friend? They lifted him to his unstable feet and piloted him out of the back door, where they propped him up on some empty kegs, afterward removing the folded note from Then they stag- gered up to Cleeve’s room over the saloon and sat down on the bed. It had been a mighty job to anesthetize Brick Davidson with whisky, but they were sure, judging from their own condition, that the job had been thoroughly done. King Cleeve read the note with both eyes, and then read it with one eye shut. Topaz nodded over it and stared at King Cleeve. Then they both went to sleep. and Harp tied _ their horses to the saloon rack and came ¥ inside. Silent approached the bar and asked the bartender if he had seen Brick Davidson lately. The bartender grinned. “Went out the back door a while ago, but I don’t reckon he went far.”’ “Drunk?” asked Silent. “Well—” the bartender did not want to reflect any discredit on Brick’s ability— “well, I—I hope so.” “Why hope so?” inquired Harp. “T’ll tell yuh; Davidson was seven-eighths drunk when he came here, and he drank enough here to float a canoe.” “Son of a gun!” breathed Silent, and headed for the back door with Harp on his heels. 2 Yes, Brick was there. His head jerked sidewise as they came out of the door, and he looked up at them with streaming, agonized eyes. Tears coursed down his cheeks and dripped off his chin. “May I herd sheep if he ain’t bawlin’!”’ gasped Silent. ‘“What’s the matter, cow- boy?” Brick shook his head and handed the little bottle which he held in his hand to Silent. “Sm-smell it,” he choked. Silent put the bottle to his nose .and sniffed. Like a flash his head jerked back and he dropped the bottle. ““Uh-h-h-h—woosh!”’ Silent’s choking wheeze was very em- phatic. Brick sobbed with joy. CoOTpmicooolkkSse©