Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

Pards assured Ellis. ‘But I’m not flat busted.” “Of course not,” rumbled Leaper. “‘Fol- low me.” As he led the way up the gulch he broke into wilder laughter several times. For half a mile they followed the narrow twisting way. Ellis limped wearily, and more than once stumbled over the rocks, for the high walls shut out the starlight. Leaper moved confidently and showed great familiarity with the rough way. Occasionally he would warn, “Boulder here” or, “I’m turn- ing to the left.” At last a bend in the path brought them in sight of a light. Leaper came to a halt, and in a deep bass growled: “Some one’s making mighty free with my place. Stay here till I have a look.” Although a very large man, he moved with the stealth of a cat in gaining the small window. Ellis sat down and began to feel drowsy. He would have gone to sleep had not Leaper returned and aroused him, say- ing: “Get up. I know the feller. For a mighty good reason you'll let on you’re a busted miner and ain’t got two bits to your name. Rough folks in these parts.” As he spoke he slipped a hand under Ellis’ elbow and helped him along to the low door and kicked it open. Ellis blinked his eyes in the light thrown off from the fireplace and ,became wide awake on beholding Bill Waggle standing in a corner, a_six-shooter half raised. Waggle recognized Leaper at once and put up his gun, and with a broad grin be- an: : “Knew it must be you, Jonathan, but wasn’t taking no chances. What the ! The Singing Pilgrim or I’m a liar!’ Leaper darted suspicious glances at the two and commanded: “Shut up, Bill. Folks’ll hear you down in Cafion City. Sonny, you lay down in the corner till I git something to eat. Of course this man’s a pilgrim, Bill. And he’s un- fortunate and is traveling alone and afoot.” Waggle laughed without making any sound and informed: _ “But he’s lucky to be alive. Used to sing for his victuals in California Gulch. Tried to rob Skillings and killed him. Joke was he didn’t find anything to steal but counter- feit money. They’re looking for this feller.’”” {oI Leaper slowly combed his fingers through a tangle in his beard and inquired— “Any reward?” , Waggle shook his head and reminded: “Skillings wa’n’t liked well enough for that. The gulch wants him so’s it can stretch his neck for passing counterfeit money.” . “I didn’t kill Skillings! I know nothing about any counterfeit money!”’ hotly cried Ellis. “Of course you didn’t,” rumbled Leaper. “And you wouldn’t be given up to be stretched if there was ten thousand dollars on your head.” Waggle laughed noiselessly and _ in- quired— ‘‘Where’s that skunk of a Goss?” “He isn’t a skunk. He’s my friend,” defended Ellis in a faint voice as he col- lapsed on the blankets in the corner. ‘Don’t call names to me that you never would dare speak to him. He ran your friend Charley Dodge out of the gulch.” Waggle showed his teeth in a snarland warned: ‘Don’t you talk uppity to me, you young pup. That cold-deck gambler can’t run me out of acamp. Where is he?” “Don’t know. You ran like a deer after he gave Dodge his needings.”’ : “By ! I don’t take that talk from nobody on earth,” shouted Waggle, reach- ing for his gun. Leaper exploded in one of his terrible laughing spells and snatched up an ax and lowered at Waggle. The latter hesitated for a second, then folded his arms and as- sured: ‘T ain’t mussing up your cabin, Jonathan. But this youngster wants to keep a civil tongue in his teeth.” “Don’t talk to him,” roared Leaper. “You know it’s bad to git me started.” And he toyed with the ax suggestively. Then he told Ellis: “You take a nap, Singing Pilgrim, or whatever your name is. I'll wake you when grub’s ready.” Believing Leaper had cowed Waggle, and with sleep resting an iron hand on his head, Ellis sank back on the blankets and closed his eyes. Once he roused for a moment, or long enough to hear Leaper’s rumbling voice warn: “Let be. You can’t play any game here. And you'd better be going.” COMIGDIOOKSEEO