Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

116 “T’m only interested in getting my brother out of this muddle.”’ “Exactly. That’s my only concern just now,” assured Goss. ‘‘United States Mar- shal Brown is down in the office. He’s keen to find your brother as a witness in the Leaper case. lLeaper’s other victim is dead. If your brother testifies the lawyers for Leaper will try to discredit him. They’ll sink tunnels into his past history. They’ll turn him inside-out. Leaper’s friends will tell about his flight from California Gulch.” Her face paled and she turned to face them. Ellis despairingly groaned: “Oh, I know it’s bad, almost hopeless. I wish, Annie, you’d take a stage and go back home and leave me to work it out alone.” “Shame on you!” she told him. . Thenshe was at hisside with anarm around his neck and petting him and murmuring: “Don’t worry, dear. It’s nothing. We’ll go down to this other city and be very happy, I know. In the spring, if we think best, we’ll go back East.” “Martinsville will look mighty fine,” he murmured. With a little grimace of pain she told him: “Not Martinsville, dear. I read your letters to folks They think you’ve made lots of money. But there’s plenty of other places where we can go.” “Tf you two have decided to go to Cafion City, I advise starting at once, tonight,” spoke up Goss. “Yes, yes. Tonight,” agreed Ellis, the United States marshal looming an ominous figure in his thoughts. “Then, ma’am, [ll go down and arrange for a light rig. Ten minutes after I’ve left your brother can go down the back way andgo to his lodgings. You, ma’am, have your traps taken down to the office, eat your supper and pay your shot. Inan hour T’ll call for you with the rig. We’ll pick up your brother in front of Cheesman’s drug store and he’ll take my place in the carriage and Til shift tomy horse. Once out of town we can take it easy. Ill get plenty of sup- plies and we can make it a sort of a picnic.” He smiled encouragingly. But she was not inclined to an optimistic point of view. For the first time in her life she was con- fronted with something that frightened her. It was inconceivable in her upright mind that an Ellis ever should have to run from the law. Now the impossible was not only become possible but was even a necessity. Adventure She found herself compelled to do some thing offensive. Even with the sacrifice made she would have no guarantee of free- dom from fear. Her faith in her brother remained. He would not knowingly do anything wrong. He had been insistent on coming to the gold lands and the venture had cost them almost ali they had, their little home. Then came glowing letters which seemed abundantly to vindicate his judgment. Jealous of his good name and fearing for his safety, she told her- self he never waded so deeply into misfor- tune of his own volition. Some influence had warped his judgment or deceived him, As she stared at the smiling, dark-faced young man who seemed so worldly wise she wondered if he were not the evil influence. He was too smartly attired and in appear- ance resembled in no way the desirable young men of Martinsville. She noted his hands were more immaculate than many a girl’s. Obviously his speculations did not involve manual labor. Then he must be very keen of wit. Her prejudice against him grew. She did not understand his queer speeches; and what Martinsville did not comprehend it condemned. Her upbringing had been prim and precise. The noises, the license of speech, the innumerable saloons and other queer places she had glimpsed in the short time she had been in the city were entirely to her disliking. “T will be ready,” she told Goss, bowing stiffly. After the door closed behind himsheturned on her brother fiercely and demanded— ‘Just who is that man?”’ ‘‘Nathan Goss, and a good friend to me.” “He calls himself a speculator. Just what does he speculate in?” | Ellis’ views on gambling had been the same as hers until he had been in California Gulch for a while. Alone with her the old wholesome restraint returned sufficient for him to be ashamed to name his friend’s occu- pation. As he hesitated she read him as easily as she had when she was the little mother and detecting him in mischief. “Just the truth, Frank,” she prompted. ““He’s a good fellow,” he blurted. ‘He’s been good tome. Gave me courage when I had none left. Gone out of his way to help me.” ‘Just the truth, Frank,’’ she gently re- peated, drawing him down on the arm of her chair. COMIGEMIOOKSEEO