Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

748 “T asked the constable to have break- fast,” warned Mrs. MacKreagh. “Which was the right play, my love,” said Billy. ‘“‘ Won’t you want to look over the stock first?” she suggested. But Billy was not going to lose this delectable opportunity. “I just looked it over,” he said. I gave it its breakfast.” She frowned and scurried about her cooking. ‘They sat at the table. “T got a new pony for you, young un,” said Billy. “ Sergeant MacQuillan wanted I should bring it home.” “You have seen the sergeant?” asked Willis. He was very polite. | “ Last night,” said Billy. He caught the angry eye of Mrs. MacKreagh. ‘“ The sergeant sent his love, my dear,” he in- formed her. “1’m looking for a man,” said Willis. He, too, caught the eye of Mrs. Mac- Kreagh, and dropped his porridge spoon. “Under the table, maybe?” asked Billy solicitously. ‘‘ He’s about here somewhere,” said the redcoat, coming up with the spoon re- gained. “That Sergeant MacQuillan,” Billy, “ is a real nice feller.” “Ves, This man is an outlaw named Argent—Billy Argent.” ‘* And said “A good policeman, too. Ace high, I reckon.” “Ves. Except for that Menzies fellow, he generally gets his man.” ‘“* Menzies?” “ A cattle thief. You must have heard of him. He’s broken the heart of every offi- cer that ever had the sergeant’s post.” “Slippery, huh” ‘‘ Rather!” Billy stared in unaffected surprise. ‘“ Rarthe-e-r,” he echoed. trying to see how it sounded. “ Beg pardon?” “Don’t. Can’t MacQuillan get this Menzies?”’ “ He hasn’t yet. met his match.” ‘“‘ Menzies?” “‘ The sergeant.” Looks as though he’s ~. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “ Will it hurt him?” “Tt may lead to his being transferred.” Billy continued to eat in silence. Willis consumed oatmeal. ‘* Lose his job?” suddenly asked Billy. Willis choked. “You eat too fast,” said Billy. “Ym in a hurry. What did you say about jobs?” “TY asked, would the sergeant lose hi: job?” “ That’s practically what a_ transfer would amount to.” Willis finished the oatmeal and at once started upon bread and bacon. “You redcoats are shore efficient,” re- marked Billy. “Yes,” mumbled Willis. ‘ Then there’s this Argent. The sergeant has called on the whole district to round him up. That’s a sure sign of weakness. The men are riding in from every post in the district, combing the country for him.” ‘““ Shucks. Is this Argent sport so hard to catch?” ‘“ T rather imagine so. It seems as though the sergeant will chew up all the fine cut tobacco in Alberta before we get him.” ‘How d’you mean?” “It’s a weakness of the sergeant’s. When he’s excited he must have his chew of Brex- ton’s fine cut, or go mad. They say that Tazewell’s store carries a special supply for him. No one else in the country has it.” “ Well, well.” Billy munched in silence. “This Argent must be a bad one,” he said finally. ‘“ Too many of such like around these days. Saw a loafer myself this morning, sort of slinking along in the canon trails.”’ Willis pricked up his ears. ‘What did he look like?” he asked. ‘A long feller about my build with cor- duroy clothes on like mine. He rode a pony with a tasseled bridle like they use down in Texas.” Willis rose abruptly, his chair falling over backward. ‘ That’s he!” he cried. “Him, you mean,” cried Billy, rising too. Mrs. MacKreagh entered the room in agitation and misapprehension. Billy, she thought, was discovered. : | comicbooks-com