Adventure Magazine Cover — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

sun-Dog Trails: 7 Limpy ignored this pleasantry “Get anything?” asked Bunty. “Somethin’,” nodded Limpy. “One man?” inquired Three Star. “Two men,”’ “Oh!” grunted Bunty. “Was yuh expectin’ more?” asked Brick. “Where?” Bunty ignored Brick. © “‘Whisperin’ Crick grade. Know where them two curves is? It was the one this side. ‘There’s a lot of brush “T know the place. Where’s the stage?”’ “Ditched.” “Anybody hurt?” “There was a female—”’ began Limpy, but caught a look from Brick and stopped. “Was she hurt?” , “Not so awful danged bad,” said Brick. “T’ll ask Limpy to do the talking,” stated Bunty. “Where is the woman?” “T dunno,” grunted Limpy. Bunty stared at Limpy and then at Silent and Brick, who.were grinning. “This is the est “conversation I ever heard!’ snapped Bunty, and then turned to Harp. “Go hitch up my horse.” “Ain’tcha goin’ to take a posse?” asked Silent. ‘Yuh sure ain’t goin’ huntin’ road- agents with a top-buggy.” “Since when did you start running my office, Slade?”’ Harp went around behind the building, and Bunty and Three Star went back into the office, leaving Silent, Brick and Limpy looking at one another. “This country is goin’ to the dogs,” de- clared kimpy. “Mark an X in front of their name in- stead of tyin’ a can on their tail—what do yuh expect?” demanded Brick. Limpy turned back to the horses, un- hooked the mail-sack from over a hame and limped up the street toward the post-office. Brick and Silent grinned and crossed the street. “What did yuh find down there in the road, Brick?” Brick looked sharply at Silent, but Si- " lent’s expression showed that he was not merely guessing that Brick had picked up something at the scene of the hold-up. They were at the door of the Dollar Down, and Brick shook his head warningly and they went inside. It was too early in the day for much ani- mation in King Cleeve’s place. Several men were lolling around the place. A gambler sat at a table, idly turning cards from a dealing-box. Over at the piano a dance-hall girl was trying to pick out a tune with one finger, and grimacing with the ef- fort of picking out the right key. The bartender slid a bottle down the bar and reached for glasses. “Where’s Cleeve?” asked Brick. “AHuntin’. ) The bartender grinned as if it"were a joke. ‘Huntin’ what?” “Coyotes. Zell Mohr brought his three greyhounds from Silverton, and him and King went huntin’. Reckon the’re goin’ to run ’émdown. T hey’ ve been talking about it for quite a while.” “Sun-Dog County sure is giftin’ cio ized,” nodded Brick. ‘Women holdin’ up stages, sheriff huntin’ outlaws in .a top- buggy and gamblers ridin’ to hounds.” “Which all happens when?” The bartender was interested. “Today. . The stage was held up a while ago.’ ““Women do it?” “Woman,” corrected Brick. The bartender turned away.to serve a customer. FS funny that nobody gits excited,” complained Silent, and then whispered, “What did yuh find, Brick?” Brick drank and turned away from the bar. Silent shook his head and followed Brick outside. Harp Harris was leaning against a post in front of the Boston Café, twanging dolefully on his jew’s-harp, while from Le Blanc’s blacksmith shop came the not unmusical clanging of steel against steel. “This here place,” declared Silent; ‘this here place needs a Sunday-school to wake her up. Let’s go and eat.” They crossed the street and stopped at the edge of the sidewalk, where Brick pointed his nose toward the sky and gave a soft imi- tation of a coyote howl. Harp grinned and wiped the back of his long hand across his lips. “Bunty and Three Star went buggy- ridin’,” he stated. “Gosh!” Silent appeard shocked. “Did they go armed?” Harp grinned and shrugged his narrow shoulders. “Yd hate to tell for fear it might leak out.” CoOnnicloookS. (S@)