Adventure Magazine Cover — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

126 told in turn of the successful raid down the Arkansas valley. As the mounted men leaped to the ground and joined the group around Red Crow, the latter dropped his hand and listened to the leader’s talk in moody silence. Goss and Ellis were amazed when the Rabbit gave no sign of recognizing them. The gambler was first to take the cue and warned Ellis: *““Doesn’t want them to know he knows us. Don’t speak to him.” The leader of the horse thieves entered into earnest conversation with Red Crow and as he talked he nodded several times toward Euclid. Goss studied the heavily painted face and noted the broken nose and light, yellowish eyes and smiled grimly. No amount of paint or Indian toggery could conceal from him the fact the man was born white. The Rabbit showed no interest in the scene. His dark face was as expressionless as a piece of quartz as he stared steadily at the angry countenance of Red Crow. As a result of the White Chief’s talk Red Crow betrayed indecision. His men, too, re- flected his state of mind. The most of them put up their knives and axes and lowered their clubs. Red Crow said something that switched the renegade’s gaze to the Rabbit. The latter muttered something, and the White Chief was inspired to make another short speech. When he finished Red Crow turned on his heel and walked to the lodges, fol- lowed by his men. The White Chief dis- missed his followers with a few words and, with the Rabbit, remained with the prisoners. Goss greeted— “Hello, Lomsom.” With a white man’s oath the painted leader advanced a step and thrust a hand roughly under the gambler’s chin and glared into his eyes. “——— you, Goss! I don’t know as I’d have talked so strong if I’d seen it was you,”’ he exclaimed. “Tm not to blame if you had to light out from Salt Lake City,” quietly replied Goss. “I never looked over your shoulder to give your hand away. You can call them back and give them a different talk; but don’t bring the Pilgrim here into it as you can’t hold any grudge against him. Be- sides, he’s wanted for killing a man in Cali- fornia Gulch.’’ Adventure This gruesome endorsement permitted Ellis to gain some favor in Lomsom’s esti- mation. Euclid earnestly added: “Both these men are my friends, Chief. What happens to one must happen to all of us.”’ “Close your meat-trap,”’ growled Lom- som. But he squatted on the ground and his eyes lost some of their ferocity. ‘Goss, you’re a gambler. You never crossed my trail. But the sight of your smooth face makes me remember Salt Lake City, Porter Rockwell, the Huntington brothers, Bill Hickman, and more of that kind who would-a liked to seen me cut off behind my ears. Then again if I ever dare break away from these Injuns it’ll be some one like you who’ll know me and give me away.” “No. I wouldn’t have given you away if we’d met in any of the camps. Too many men are walking around out here in broad daylight who are known to be killers, for me to start in naming them. Just now ’m in a bad mess trying to save the Pilgrim here who’s wanted for killing a hotel man in California Gulch.” | This confession seemed to remove the last of Lomsom’s animosity and suspicion. “That sounds all right,’ he admitted. “But I’m hunted. I quit the Danites and they’d like to take a whack at me. Then some folks seem to think I knifed a wagon train man. With gentiles and Mormons wanting my hair, I’m likely to feel the pinchers nipping. The only safe place for me to sleep in isa Ute camp. I lead a small band of young men who don’t take to old Ouray and his Eastern ways. I don’t dare to leave the mountains.” ‘Ride over the range north to the Beaver Head country or the Snake River camps or to Nevada. You'll never be bothered.” broke in: i i ‘‘Some would call it coincidence the way you two old friends meet here. But there’s no such thing as chance. Your meet- ing here is one of the many million little factors in the eternal equation. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t tell the Indians to let these men go free.”’ Lomsom laughed sardonically and re- plied— “T s’pose their taking and riding two Gomicbooks.co EUCLID, his round eyes try- ing to grow even larger, shrilly