Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

Pards Denver,” said Hunt. “If he did some of the gang may have made away with him. We'll look for him but there’s too many young men in Denver for me to pick out the right stranger. We’re going to run a notice in the News, asking him to call at the jail. Maybe he’ll turn up in a few days.” “Probably,” agreed Whip King. ‘What we need is for some sort of a game like what young Dave Cook has in mind. Wish he’d come back from the service and start it going.” “Meaning his ‘Rocky Mountain Detec- tive Association,’”’ said Hunt. “Well, I don’t know. ‘The idea is fine, but where can you get the right kind of men to chase law- breakers? .Men with guts and _ brains enough to handle the bad ones out here are in business, or politics. It’ll take capital to start the association. Cook himself is smart enough. Looks rather dubious.’’* ‘‘Cook’s young. Not much over twenty; but he’ll never get that bee out of his bonnet, and big profits won’t ever tempt him into any other line of work. Hope you find that other young man.” With this Whip King walked on to the hotel. Goss was standing just inside the main entrance, his gaze fixed on the door. Be- fore Whip King could speak the gambler was motioning him to a chair and was whis- pering: “T found him! Didn’t know him at first. Shaved clean and well dressed. Working next-to the corner of F and Blake in Brown and Daniels grocery store. He was much upset by my talk. He’s hiding to keep from being called on as a witness in court. Just as soon as he finishes his work and when it gets dark he’ll come up and see his sister. He wanted me to see her and prepare her for his coming; to tell her about his hard luck. She’s out shopping. My nerve failed. I wouldn’t have gone up if she’d been here.”’ ‘“‘He mustn’t come here,” growled Whip King. And he repeated his talk with United States Marshal Hunt. “By | Leave it to that fellow to get * David J. Cook. B. Indiana, 1840. Mining in Col., 1859. Then two years farming in Kansas and freighting. En- listed. Transferred to Ordnance Dept. of frontier, ’63, and organized the Rocky Mountain Detective Association in that year. Worked much with sheriffs in Wyoming. Nate K. Boswell arrested Jesse James and lodged him in Laramie City Jail. James released for lack of evidence, no one knowing his true identity. Shortly afterward Bos- well saw a picture of James and recognized him as the released prisoner. Cook’s frontier adventures covered twenty years and includes battles with the boldest bandits of ne old border. 113 into trouble!” groaned the gambler. “If he had a pat hand he’d find there were five aces init. Now what’s to be done? If he goes into court he’ll be identified and held for Skillings’ death. That’s what Bill Wag- gle meant by his roundabout threats and his hints about a bargain. Bargain with this Leaper. Bargain must be that the gang will keep shut about him being wanted in California Gulch if he’ll keep off the witness stand. Didn’t have more’n half a minute to speak with. I’m to go back and pick him up. He’s a Jonah.” Whip King scowled heavily and pursed his thick lips thoughtfully. Finally he said: “Maybe it’s best for him to go to court and takethechances. Shortest way out of it.” “He ran away the night the man was killed. He’s kept away from Farnham since leaving him. The gang will send men in to swear him into a noose.” “You can’t get clear of trouble by run- ning away from it,” doggedly insisted Whip King. “Sooner he squares his accounts the quicker he can have a chance to quit being afraid of his shadder. I still hold he must go into court and tell.” Goss broke off the sentence by clutching his arm fiercely. Then he murmured, ‘His sister! Think of the shock to her if he is accused of murder!” Whip King lifted his eyes and beheld a sweet-faced young woman. She had several small parcels in her arms and her face was flushed from walking. She halted opposite the men and gazed eagerly about the office. Her small face revealed disappointment and she moved on slowly, as if undecided. She started toward the desk, hesitated, then turned and hurried up the stairs. Whip King fiercely bit the end from a cigar and forgot to light it. ‘“He’d best keep out of court if he can,” h sharply decided. “I’ve shifted my bets. Twice the young fool ran away. If he can keep out of sight till Leaper’s been hung or set free folks will forget about the Skillings case. By spring California Gulch will have forgotten him. Here’s an idea: Cafion City is well near empty. Ancient Days has a little ranch a few miles below it. What if he. and his sister go down there and spend the winter? He can take possession if Ancient isn’t there. They’ll be more’n welcome if Ancient is there. Anyway he must get clear of Denver before some of Sam Brown’s boys locate him.” COMIGDIOOKSEEO