Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

IN THE EVENT OF DEATH. ‘No, I don’t,’’ said Cosgrove. “Well, it was to take you out of the sheriff's hands, out of his protection. Do you see that?” Gaines voice hammered the words home upon Cosgrove with a booming emphasis. “ They’re planning to lynch you!” At this Cosgrove stood for a moment silent, looking from Gaines to the girl. “Well,” he said at last and quietly; ‘“‘ when?” “ To-night!” cried Hazel. ‘‘ They're meeting at the Bar Nothing Ranch to- night! Lederer’s rounding them up!” Still Cosgrove stood immovable, regard- ing them. ‘But when they get here,’’ said Gaines heavily, ‘‘ they'll find the bird flown. We’ve been at it all afternoon, Brad, and we've got your trail fixed so that there ain’t a tracker on earth can follow it. You can't get out by train, see? Because they’ll watch the station. And they'll watch the roads likewise. “ But there’s a backroad over to the west that I could drive the car through blind- folded, and we'll run you over to White Butte by it. There’s a horse waitin’ for you there, and we've arranged horses like- wise at Taggard and Two Aces. You ride from one to the other, and at Two Aces you can get a flivver that] see vou over the State line before morning. “Come on. I'll be back here before they make a start, and you can leave it to me to fix things up after vo’re gone:”’ But Cosgrove was staring at the girl. She had sunk into a chair and he stood looking down upon her. ‘When is the time they've fixed for this event?” he asked. “Now! To-night!” she cried. ‘ They’re going to ride over here at midnight! They'll be gathered at the Bar Nothing now! Oh, don’t stand talking there! Change your clothes and get away. You've got to ride fifty miles before the morning!” With that Cosgrove lifted one hand and swept his glasses from his eves. To them it had become a familiar gesture, and divin- ing what it meant, she arose, as if to fore- stall him. But he turned upon Gaines with his imperative spirit blazing in his eyes. 857 “Give me a gun!” he demanded. © Quick!” ‘* For God's sake hold hard, Brad!” cried Gaines, instinctively clutching at. the weapon beneath his coat. “What are you going to do?” cried the girl. ‘“ The only thing!” Cosgrove responded. ‘“ Why didn't you tell me before? You urge me to run away when the only thing to do is stand and fight. I'm on bail! I’m bound to stay here, where the fight is! And vou lay out a trail for my escape! Give me a gun, John, quick! I’m going over to the Bar Nothing and blow that party to the four winds before ever they take the trail!” “No!” Hazel cried. ‘‘ No! For God's sake listen, Brad! Listen to me!” She flung herself in front of him, all dissimulation cast away, and fixed him with the urgent pleading of her eyes. ‘We've worked for you, Brad! We've struggled and planned for you! All day we ve spent without food or rest, planning. concealing. Why, we haven’t been able to send a single message in the open. We've wormed information from men who have cursed us for our trouble, and we’ve bribed and pleaded for you! All for you! ‘And now you’ve got to do as I say! You've got to! Go with John Gaines and leave the State until this thing blows over! Go now! Quickly!” ‘Ah, I know!” he cried. ‘‘ You are the best friends a man ever had! But what you want me to do I can't! It isn’t in me! I've got to stay and fight!” He turned upon Gaines. ‘‘ Give me that gun, John, or, by Heaven, I'll go unarmed.” “They'll kill you!” she cried. “ They'll kill you!” But John Gaines knew he was not to be dissuaded, and reluctantly he handed Cosgrove the gun. “Ammunition!” cried Cosgrove. Gaines empted the belt at his waist. Hazel ran to the door and turned fac- ing then. “ Ah, don't go!”’ she cried. He was in front of her, trying gently to displace her. “No!” she cried. And But he pulled her ‘away. GIOok