Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

IN THE EVENT chance to prove that in court. But you all saw me shoot this man to-night, and if you think that it was the work of a cow- ard or a murderer take me out and hang me for it. I promise not to try to shoot more men than I’ve got cartridges in these guns!” Again he paused and they acknowledged his words in silence. “But if you believe that my coming here proves my’ willingness to meet anv man I quarrel with in open fight, and my ability to deal with him, then for God's sake let this episode be closed! Tell me you trust me, and [’ll turn my back on you, pass through that door, and ride away!” Again there was a silence. ‘Well, what is it? Do I pass out, or do I fight my way out?” Cosgrove'’s voice rose into the sharp tenor which had filled the room at his coming. Slade arose to his feet and gazed straight- forwardly into Cosgrove’s face. “Brother,” he said. “If you'll let me pick up that gun, you and me will pass out together.” ‘‘ And me, by God!” cried Webb. Read- ing Cosgrove'’s assent in his eyes, Slade picked up his gun, and, with Webb, he stood beside the man they had gathered to hang. “IT move we put it to a vote,” drawled Webb, his eyes fixed sternly on Lederer. Sullenly Lederer dropped his gaze, and Slade saw it fall upon the gun at his feet. But Cosgrove was before him. ‘But before you vote we'd better collect that gun from the floor and this one from Mr. Lederer’s remaining playmate,”’ he ob- served. He lightly snatched the gun from the remaining Bar Nothing man, and Slade quickly took charge of Lederer’s revol- ver. “All in favor signify by saying aye!” cried Webb. “Aye!” thundered the roomful. ‘The ayes have it!” roared Webb; and the door behind them was flung violently open. Webb, Slade and Cosgrove whirled with ready weapons, but it was Hazel Farley who stood in the doorway. She stood there startled and amazed as she saw the three OF DEATH. 865 men pocket their guns and the others stand- ing, submissive, in the room behind them. ‘“ The party’s over,” smiled Cosgrove. CHAPTER XVIII. SUN-FISHING IN THE MOONLIGHT. HE roomful of men stood in embarrass- ment, but Cosgrove, greeting the bright-faced girl and Gaines who was close upon her heels, achieved a peculiar ef- fect of dismissing the whole affair. It was as though no tragedy had impended; as if he had never for an instant stood under sentence of death to fight for his life in the presence of his executioners. It was as if the dead body of Gilley, and the stumbling form of the cow-puncher whom Cosgrove had felled and who now staggered to his feet, were things of a past long dead. nd in thus dismissing the af- fair which still rocked the minds of the men who filled the room, Cosgrove covered them with embarrassment. “ But we heard shooting!” protested Hazel; and her eyes fell upon the dead man. ‘“ You shot him!” she cried. “Yes,” he spoke quietly. ‘‘I shot him in the face of a dozen guns. [I shot him in fair fight.” His voice repeated the challenge which had won him his reprieve. “And now,” he said, “the party’s over.”’ But if his appearance beside the girl cov- ered the cattlemen with shame, there was one man present whom it filled with des- peration. Lederer himself did not know how much his pursuit of this deadly game was centered in his dark desire for Hazel Farley. ‘No, it ain’t over by a long shot!” he cried. ‘‘ You fellers must be crazy to let this bird get away like this! He’s bluffed you and fooled you with his play acting until you ain’t got no judgment left. With a rope round his neck he turns and fights. A dog would do that! A coyote would do that! ‘“ But it don’t do away with the fact that Jake didn’t have a gun! And it don’t do away with the fact that he shot Mase Far- An (CO) GIOok