Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 11, 1925 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

HOPALONG- CASSIDY’S PAL, found them securely locked and stepped back, waving his hand. - Skinny glanced upward, found that he was clear of the eaves and stood erect again. He waved “ a hand toward the bunk house. “Step right along, Short; Pete’ll be tickled near to death to see you.” Having started his prisoner in the gen- eral direction of the waiting and cold-eyed Pete, Skinny paused and turned. “Kid, you got ’em comin’ rapid. I snickered at you th’ night you started out; but I’m eatin’ humble pie now. You can count on me any time you need me; an’ I'll give you my brand new mouth-organ if you blank Red and Lanky on this man huntin’.” He gently scratched his head and swung around to follow the shuffling pris- oner. ‘“ Yes, sir; if Red an’ Lanky manage to capture one of them coyotes they’ll get so swelled up that there just won’t be no livin’ with ’em.” The three friends watched him go, and talked idly for a few minutes. Then Buck remembered the account book and the en- tries he had to make, and went into the house. Hopalong, his eyes fixed hungrily on the mean piebald in the corral, started toward the inclosure, Mesquite by his side. They reached the gate and rested their arms on the top bar, both content to enjoy the other’s company in silence. After awhile Hopalong sighed and faced his companion. “ Kid,” he said in a low voice after look- ing carefully around to see that no one was near enough to overhear him. “I’m all healed up again, an’ gettin’ plumb fed up on bein’ pampered like a baby. If been think- in’ about you purty hard, off havin’ a good time chasin’ them damn ambushin’ skunks, while I had to set around an’ be nursed plumb strong. You ain’t got no idea what I’ve been through, kid, ever since I got outa bed.” He sighed again and shook his head. “What you say about waitin’ around here till after dark, when I can sneak away without bein’ seen? Me an’ you'll go up to Big Moose an’ sift that town through a fine-mesh sieve. What you think of that, huh?” | Mesquite’s face softened, and then grew 271 hard. He shook his head emphatically and replied: “You ain’t ridin’ off with me till th’ doc says you can.” “Holy maverick, kid! I ain’t seen him for a couple of weeks!” “Then you better see him right soon, for you don’t go ridin’ around lookin’ for trouble till you get plumb well.” “Why, I ain’t never been no better in all my life than I am right now! Don’t you reckon J know when I’m feelin’ all right?” “I know that yo’re itchin’ to bite off more than you can chew,” reported the youth; “but you ain’t goin’ to bite it off with no help of mine. I’m goin’ back to Big Moose, an’ I’m goin’ right soon; yo’re Stayin’ here till th’ doc turns you loose.” “But you can’t get Shanghai on his own range without me, kid,’ said Hopalong earnestly. “ Red an’ Lanky won’t get him; but I know how to.” “ All right then; I reckon I'll have to chase him off his own range,” retorted the youth. “I’m goin’ to get him, an’ I don’t care where it happens. All of which ain’t interestin’ you none at all; you don’t ride with me till th’ doc says you" can.” “You ain’t treatin’ me right, kid.” “Tf I thought that was true, Hoppy, I’d » ride off an’ never come back. There ain’t no man on earth that I’d rather be with ridin’ into Big Moose, or any place else,_ than you. I want to get th’ other two coyotes an’ clean th’ slate; but if you want me to stay here with you I'll let ’em slide, an’ take a chance on gettin’ ’em later. But you can’t go with me to-day.” Hopalong looked at the suspicious pie- bald and gravely winked one eye. He dragged his arms from the gate bar, slouched dejectedly and started slowly to- ward the bunk house. “ All right, kid,” he said in weary resig- nation. “I reckon I got to play baby awhile longer. Come on; I get tired stand- in’ up so long,” and this time he winked at the bunk house door. “ What’d I tell you?” demanded Mes- quite. “If you get tired leanin’ against th’ corral, what would happen to you if you tried to ride up to Big Moose, with a