Adventure Magazine Cover — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

30 “That’s right, girl, whiskers.” Brick rolled a cigaret slowly, and then looked up with a smile. “Martin, did yuh ever see a hound catch a coyote?” Martin frowned over the seemingly ir- relevant question. le “Why, I—uh—yes, I have.” “Could three greyhounds catch a coyote and not get cut up a bit?” Martin smiled and shook his head. “No, I don’t reckon they could, but they might.” “Could three greyhounds catch four coy- otes on the same day and not show a mark?” ‘ENiol** Martin’s reply was very decisive. “The coyote would cut some of them, that’s a cinch.” “What have hounds and coyotes to do with it?” asked Jean. “T dunno,” admitted Brick; “but some- thin’, I think. Did yuh ever know a crip- pled feller by the name of Limpy Squires?” Martin stared at Brick. ‘“Limpy Squires? Where is he?” “He’s dead. He was drivin’ the stage that got held up, and later on he starts out with a ridin’-horse and pack-animal, and somebody plugged him in the back.” Martin stared down at the floor and his lips twitched. ‘The fellers that robbed that stage likely killed him,” said Brick. Martin looked up: “Limpy Squires was-‘my best friend, Dav- idson, but I did not know he was in this country. He was one of the old gang, and got his limp when he stepped between me and a bullet from one of our own gang. He had to quit the gang on account of that in- jury. But why did anybody kill him?” ‘““Mebbe,”’ suggested Brick, ‘“‘mebbe some- body was afraid you two might meet.” Martin leaned closer to Brick and his voice was tense. “Do you think that some of the gang— somebody wanted to get me? Did they plant that note—and they killed Limpy?”’ “Yooks kinda like it,’”’ nodded Brick; and then he told Martin of what happened at the hold-up, the finding of the note, and of the baffling footprints. ‘What I want to know is this; where did that woman gor She didn’t jist evaporate.” Martin shook his head and glanced at the He did used to wear Adventure connecting door between the living-room and the empty room where the prisoners had been placed. “Can they hear, do yuh think?” asked Brick. Jean walked across the room and opened the door. She glanced inside and turned quickly. “They’re gone!”’ she exclaimed. , Brick sprang across to the door and looked inside. On the floor were Three Star’s hat and several pieces of cut rope. “Kinda complicates things, pardner,” ob- served Brick soberly. ‘Wonder how much they heard?” , “Too much, if anything,” replied Martin. “What will we do now?” “Meet ’em half-way,” grinned Brick, going to the door. At the corner was Bunty’s horse and buggy, and coming around that was another horse and buggy. On the seat was a tall, raw-boned woman, handling the lines like a veteran. She jumped out and tied her horse and came toward the door. “Howdy, Mrs. Wesson,” greeted Brick. ‘Well, well, if it ain’t ol’ man Davidson’s prodigal son!” 7 Mrs. Wesson threw back her head and laughed. ‘Well, Brickie, ain’t yuh goin’ to intro- duce me? Where’s your manners?” Brick managed to introduce her to Jean and Martin. Mrs. Wesson beamed upon Jean and patted her shoulder. “Honey, I jist found out that there was a girl at the old Weepin’ Tree. Cale Wesson has knowed it several days, but he ain’t never told me. I gave him for it, too, and you know what he said? He said I’d talk the limb off a yucca-tree, and he was sparin’ yuh. Ha, ha, ha! I told him I had the closest tongue in the world, and he said, “Yes—closes’ to words.’ ‘“‘Ain’t men the dangdest things? Look at Brick Davidson, will yuh? Wild-ridin’, good-for-nothin’ cowpuncher, but some day some girl will up and marry him. Fact. Oh, I’ve seen girls make some awful mis- takes. “Brick’s handsome—I’ll say that much for him; but, honey, them handsome men don’t always provide hot cakes for your breakfast. But Brick won’t cuss a woman. I hate a man who cusses at women. I’m goin’ to bend a gun over Bunty Blair’s head some of these bright afternoons, y’betcha. EoOmichbooks:co