Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

BING, BANG, BOOM! he tried to clean out the office before we could subdue him and lead him to jail. The penitentiary’s the place for a young rogue like him.” “ Ye-es,” drawled David. ‘‘ He must be a wild ‘un from what I been hearin’. What’s he been doin’ now? ‘Tried to burn down his hotel fer insurance, didn’t he?” Again Spigot nodded. ‘A clear case of attempted arson. He'll get sent up, sure.” “Ts that so!” said David. ‘Why, I un- derstood that you was goin’ to withdraw the charge an’ let him out ’n jail to-day.” “ Where did you hear such foolishness. as that?” | David shrugged. “ Dumed if I remem- ber. But that’s what I understood. I thought mebbe you didn’t consider the evi- dence against him enough to try him on’t.” “ Ridiculous!” scoffed Spigot. “ I never had a. more complete case in my life.’’ ‘I’m surprised to hear that,” said David. “ Guess there ain’t no truth in what I hear about you resignin’ from office, neither?”’ “ Resigning!’ Mer” “T understood you was thinkin’ of it,” said David. ‘ Thought you was goin’ to leave town or somethin’.” Spigot laughed. ‘‘ Where in the world have you been hearing such outlandish tales, David? Somebody’s been joking you, I guess. Why, I haven’t the slightest inten- tion of giving up this office, and as for leav- ing town—why—where did you hear that, David?” “‘ Can’t seem to remember where I heard it,” David replied, scratching his head. “ It’s jest what I understood.” He paused. “Ever read the Pinebluff papers, Noah?’’ ‘““ Sometimes. Why?” , _ “Interestin’,’ said David. “ Engineer Knopp on the 10,06 throws me a paper every day. Jest been readin in to-day’s paper that they’re startin’ to build a new ‘You don’t say!” | <é I did.”’ ~“ You did what?” “Did say,” replied David. you say I don’}?”’ Spigot dreW a deep breath, and began to twist his fingers. He wondered how long his boresome visitor would remain. “Why do Snes, 501 He supposed now that the call was prompted solely by curiosity concerning the ridiculous rumors David -had heard; and he regretted the friendly welcome tat had encouraged David to stay. ‘‘ Saw where a interestin’ case is comin’ up fer trial in the East somewheres,” David remarked, tossing the remains of his cigar intoe the cuspidor, and lighting a fresh cheroot which he took from his pocket. ‘‘ Some State Senator is facin’ trial fer tam- perin’ with his election. Paper says it ll go hard with him. Reckon he deserves it, eh?”’ ‘““ Why—he certainly does, if he’s guilty,” Spigot replied, shifting uncomfortably. ““What’s the law fer fraudulent elections in this State, Noah? Jail sentence?” ‘‘ In certain instances—yes.”’ ‘“ Bribery, forgery—an’ things like that; jail sentence, eh?” Spigot nodded. ask, David?” “ Jest wondered. Bet there’ s a lot of crooked work goin’ on every election that ain’t never found out, eh?” “ Not—not very likely,” replied the prosecutor, uneasily. “It’s difficult to put over anything like that, and mighty risky. Besides, we—we have ways of finding out that everything about an election is all “Why—why do you “ There are ways,” David agreed. “ But sometimes, I reckon, it’s done so durn clever — that it couldn’t never be found out, ex- ceptin’ by accident. it?” “It’s possible, of course.” David chuckled. ‘“ Reminds me of a funny story I once heard about that. Fun- niest durn thing you ever did hear! Like to hear it, Noah?” Spigot wanted to say “‘ No ”’; that he had work to do that wouldn’t wait all day; but curiosity gripped him again, and, instead, he replied: “ Why, yes; if it’s as feuny as all that.” “It’s funny, all right,” said David, still chuckling. ‘“ You'll like to die laffin’ when you hear it. Y’see, it was this way: ‘In a certain small town in Kansas—or mebbe it was Arkansas—th@y was jest That’s possible, ain’t . about to hold a county election. Well, COMIC OOOKS.COnn