Adventure Magazine Cover — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

36 at Cleeve; but Cleeve seemed to evade his eyes. “Speakin’ of shoes,” said Brick, “you changed yours in a bad place, Topaz. Why didn’t yuh keep on them high-heels until yuh got out of the sand?” _ Topaz seemed to stiffen at the question. “That cut yuh got on your forearm when the stage was upset never did heal good; did it, Topaz?” Like a flash Topaz lifted his arm and glanced down at it. Brick’s sudden question had taken Topaz off his guard, and he had trapped himself. Topaz realized it, and his eyes shifted like the eyes of a trapped animal, but he was afraid of the consequences of any sudden break. Brick smiled and began: “Cleeve, you and Mohr and Tyler waited a long time to get even with Scott Martin for that day he busted up your party and didn’t have that big shipment of gold. You framed that note to implicate Scott Mar- tin, Jack Oliver and Martin’s daughter. Yes, yuh did.” “Now, looky here,” growled Cleeve, slid- ing off his chair, “‘you’ve accused” “Stand still!’ snapped Brick. ‘Hands where they are, Cleeve! I'll tell yuh when to move. The prosecution ain’t through yet. You three framed that robbery with Limpy Squires, and yuh killed him for double-crossin’ yuh. You wanted to kill him just like yuh wanted to kill Scott Mar- tin that time. I’m bettin’ that Limpy knew you was the ones what pulled off that Idaho job, and he was Scott Martin’s friend, and when yuh opened that treasure-box——” Brick stopped. Not a man moved. It might have been a painting or a group of lay figures for all the movement. Every man in the room was tensed—nerves taut as fiddle-strings; waiting for the inevitable crash. Then Silent Slade’s voice snapped like a whip— “King Cleeve was the man they wanted to lynch!” King Cleeve threw himself sidewise, claw- ing at his gun; but he never reached it. Scott Martin had sprung—sprung like a panther, clear of the floor, circling King Cleeve with those long, muscular arms, and they crashed out of sight behind the rou- lette outfit. The crowd broke for the front and rear Adventure door—anywhere to get out of line. Mohr’s gun came out like a flash; but Brick’s gun spouted lead before Mohr’s. gun left its holster, and Mohr fell sidewise out of his chair, shot through the shoulder. As Brick whirled around, the powder from Topaz Tyler’s gun burned his cheek, but the bullet went into the bar-mirror. Silent and Harp fired at the same time that Brick did, and Topaz Tyler spun on his heel and went down. From the doorway came the whang of a” shot, and Brick felt the sharp sting of a bul- let as it burned across his shoulder. Brick whirled to meet this new menace just in time to see Three Star Hennessey hurl a heavy chair through the doorway, crashing it into Bunty Blair’s head and shoulders. Bunty went backward off the sidewalk, and Three Star, following the thrown chair, landed all in a heap on the stunned sheriff. Zell Mohr, recovering from the shock of Brick’s bullet, managed to get his pistol into his left hand. Bangl 3 From under the card-table came the re- port of a pistol, and the bullet passed through the high crown of Brick’s hat, lift- ing it off his head. Harp Harris sprang across the room, jumped high and came down upon the card-table, crashing it down upon Zell Mohr, pinning him to the floor. Brick glanced out of the door, where Three Star was shaking Bunty back to life and talking fast. Three Star was telling Bunty in a few words what a foolish sheriff he was. Out from the tangle of broken furniture came Scott Martin. His gun still hung in its holster. He looked very tired as he passed his hand wearily across his forehead and looked at Brick. , An outflung hand and a protruding foot were all that showed from the wreckage, but the incoming crowd did not seem to think it worth while to inquire about King Cleeve. Scott Martin held out his hand to Brick and their hands met. “Thank yuh, Davidson,’ said Martin softly. ‘I’ve waited a long time-for this.” ‘“You’re plumb welcome,” smiled Brick. “Had quite a party while it lasted; didn’t we?” The crowd stood around Brick and Mar- tin, but no one seemed to have anything to say. Silent and Harp lifted the table off COPMicooolKSye)