Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

THE STRAY-MAN. Shorty had seen that the stranger had accurately described Loma’s citizens. In his swift glance at the men he had passed Shorty noted the sneering truculence of the eyes that had followed his progress; he . had observed the envious, longing glances some of the men had cast at Red King. He had also noted that the members of two or three groups had seemed to be dis- cussing the red horse, for they had betrayed interest beyond the ordinary as they talked. Shorty’s movements were deliberate. He tied Red King to the hitching-rail and stepped toward the door of the eating- ‘house, intending to make his first inquiry about Brail Kelton there. He might have stopped at one of the many saloons he had passed while riding down the streét, but he did not feel in the mood to drink. When he had seen the eating-house sign he had decided that as he might be in Loma several days pursuing his quest for Kelton he would make immediate arrangements for his lodging. When he halted Red King in front of the building he had noticed a man who stood before one of the windows. The man was alone, and when Shorty glanced at him he got the impression that the man was not a citizen of Loma. At the instant Shorty could not have told why he had reached such a conclusion. It might have been the man’s attitude, or the fact that he was alone, when he might have joined one of the groups farther down the street. The man was tall, lithe, with a lean, Strong, saturnine face. He was arrayed in cowboy rigging, with a heavy pistol swing- ing low at each hip; anu he had the appear- ance of having encountered adversity. But that, too, was a flashing impression result- ing from a first survey. The man’s broad felt hat was pulled well down over his eyes. But Shorty’s first glance had met the man’s eyes, and he had noted how they were fixed upon him with a steady directness—a probing, in- quiring, appraising gaze that interested Shorty.-~ Shorty glanced at the man a second tre as he started to cross the sidewalk. The man was still watching Shorty. His arms were folded over his chest, and now- 421 there was a slight smile on his lips, genial, warming. Shorty’s lips twitched responsively. There were few men of Shorty’s acquain- tance whom he had liked at first sight. This man Shorty did like. He liked the smile. Somehow, it reminded him of Larry Dillon. And the man had the same trick of squint- ing his eyes to indicate his pleasure. And pleasure was plain in his glance as he looked at Shorty. Shorty paused on his way to the eating- house door. He met the man’s growing grin with one equally large. “ That’s a heap of hoss youre ridin’, stranger,” said the man. His grin grew whimsical. “ Was he al- ways that red? I’ve been watchin’ you comin’ for a considerable time. Thought at first the grass had caught fire.” “IT didn’t notice that you was any ex- cited about it,” grinned Shorty. “ Ridin’ in I had to look twice at you to make sure you wasn’t a hitchin’-post. You sure can do a heap of standin’ still.” The man laughed heartily. ‘‘ You’re sure an’ observin’ cuss,’’ he said. “TI fig- ured that if I stood here long enough I'd get another whiff off them ham an’ aigs that’s been floatin’ out of the door pretty regular this mornin’.” Shorty shot a keen glance at the other. _ “Luck an’ you parted company?” he suggested, gently. “Somebody must have grinned the man. Shorty had eaten his fill at his camp beside the river, a few miles from town. He had not intended to partake of more food this morning. But he now placed a hand gently on his stomach. “ You're pretty certain they sling ham an’ aigs in this Joint?” he asked. ““T’ve been breathin’ ’em since yester- day,” said the man. ‘“You’re makin’ it hard for me,’ lied Shorty, grinning hugely. “ My grub ran out yesterday afternoon an’ I ain’t done any eatin’ since. Ham an’ aigs'is about my size. An’ I eat better when I’ve got company. If I could get some one to kind of keep me on edge, sort of competin’ with me as to quantity, I’d be sure to eat (GO) (C told = you,” UL OOOLK (CO