Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

Pards Leaper’s cabin was one of the wayside sta- tions for horsethieves, stage robbers, coun- ‘terfeiters and other lawless men. He also was convinced that Leaper was half mad and worked entirely alone in rob- bing wayfarers. Afraid that this recital would terminate in more questions, such as how he came to know Waggle and the like, Ellis pretended to be sleepy, and from pre- tending soon fell asleep in earnest. IT WAS dusk when Farnham aroused him and said: “I’ve eaten. Here’s bread and ~ meat I fetched along with me. Get at it and we'll be going. ‘Time to make our call.” Ellis made short work of the food and limped painfully after his rescuer down the slope. They left the mule, so as not to arouse Leaper’s attention or excite his sus- picions. Ellis was surprised to find how short a distance the mule had brought him from the cabin. He had believed that the involuntary ride had covered several miles. On beholding the light he exclaimed— “Surely that can’t be the cabin!’’ “Surely can’t be any other unless one’s been built since sunup,” assured Farnham. ‘“‘Now this is the way we'll work it. Leaper must be caught off his guard. I don’t in- tend to be killed or even broken up by him. I’m a bummer. [’m no good. I'll go to the cabin and beg for food and a place to sleep. I’m nearly starved. I’m not worth robbing. Once inside I must wait for a chance to get the drop on Leaper. May have to kill him in his tracks.” Ellis hoped the affair might end thus. “He’s strong as a grizzly and half crazy. Tf he puts up a fight [ll nail him. What I want to do is to take him alive and carry him to Denver. You keep outside till I whistle; then come on the jump. Pick upa club from the firewood by the door and be ready to belt him over the head.”’ ‘What if there’s some one with him, one of the gang you were telling about?” ner- vously whispered Ellis. “Then I must remain a camp rat, stay if he’ll let me, or be kicked out,” cheerfully amended Farnham. “Still I should know ahead if any one’s with him. While I’m making for the door you sneak to the win- dow and see if he’s alone. Ii he isn’t you’d better go up the gulch and spend the night with the mule.” 105 Ellis slowly advanced to a position op- posite the small window. Leaper was squatting before the fire, intent on counting a roll of money. Something aroused his suspicions, possibly the tensity of Ellis’ gaze. He lifted his head and glared about like a wild animal scenting the hunter. Then he came to his feet and pulled aside a wolf skin on the wall and thrust the money in a niche between the logs and centered his gaze on the door. Ellis cautiously with- drew and gained Farnham’s side, and whis- pered: ‘Alone, but on his guard. Must have heard some sound.” ‘“‘Haven’t moved a muscle. Back to the window. Come in when the trouble starts. I may be too busy to whistle,” quickly directed Farnham. Then he commenced a stumbling advance toward the door and called out— ‘Hi, there, in the house!” Almost before he finished calling out the door opened and Leaper stood on the thresh- old, his head thrust forward to escape con- tact with the lintel log. “Who’s that barking? Who be you?” harshly demanded Leaper as the ragged figure limped into the light streaming through the doorway. “Starving man. Out of luck. Givemea hunk of bread,” gasped Farnham, and he walked unsteadily. “Get away from here, you or Pll kill you!” roared Leaper. “Good lord! Just a bite to keep my in- nards quiet till I can make a settlement,” pleaded Farnham. “TI ain’t eaten for so long I really believe I’ll die here before your door in this gulch if I don’t have food. Anything. A dry crust you wouldn’t give a dog. Just a few mouthfuls.” Perhaps Leaper did not relish the idea of a penniless wanderer dying near his cabin for him to bury, for conceal such an un- fortunate he must, or have the name with- out the game. He clawed his fingers through his tangled beard for a few mo- ments, then growled and stepped back and motioned Farnham to enter. “What I'd give a dog, eh?” he rumbled. “You're a dog. Swaller that and get clear of this gulch or [ll cut your throat.” He picked up a slab of coarse bread and broke it in two and tossed half of it to Farn- ham, who was now standing beside the door. Farnham grabbed for it eagerly and beggar, COMIGDIOOKSEEO