Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 189, No. 4 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

586 the worst devil that ever troubled these parts—thinks no more of killing a man than taking a smoke!” “Sam Harkins would never have left us if it hadn’t been for him!” some one in the back of the crowd moans in. “So that’s the reason Harkins threw up the deputy job!” I spouts. ‘ That Red Handkerchief fellow got his nerve!” “He got more than that, partner!” an- other one of the boys groaned. “ He got his life! When they brought poor Sam in from Double Gulch, there was more than a dozen bullet holes through his body. Sam never had a chance with that bird!” I was mighty glad my job was going to be in the express office. With that Red Handkerchief running around loose, the sheriff was welcome to all the credit for up- holding the law. I didn’t want to run up against that bul- let-spitting masquerader! But I didn’t dare let on just how I felt about it to the boys. “Td like to shoot it out with Mr. Red Handkerchief some day,” I says, trying to speak boldlike, though there seemed to be something catching in my throat, “but I don’t suppose I’ll ever get the chance. You see, the sheriff’s figuring to take care of all the law work, and that ‘ll keep me cooped up in the express office most of my time.” “Don’t worry about never getting the chance, Gus!” some one shouted. ‘“ The sheriff’s not figuring on getting more time to look after the law. He’s figuring on more time to get drunk! There’s nobody in Redbug what likes his booze as much as the sheriff; even if he is the nerviest man we've got.” That had me guessing. “ But what’s his boozing got to do with me?” I asked, weaklike. “A whole lot! Whenever the Red Hand- kerchief starts to cut up his capers and the sheriff’s drunk, you’ll have to get on the job. What’s a deputy for, anyway!” Just then, the job didn’t look near so good to me as it had a little while before. T could shoot at a target all right, but when it came to shooting at some other fellow while that fellow was shooting at me—well, I wasn’t keen about that—not azctall! I'd never been shot at in my life, and I ARGOSY-ALLSTOR¥Y WEEKLY. knew I couldn’t hit a barn door when I was looking into the muzzle of some one else’s gun. I wasn’t cut out for any such job as this, nohow! I figured how I’d have to go to the sheriff and tell him the climate didn’t agree with me—that I’d have to leave Red- bug quick. “‘T never thought the sheriff was a hard drinking man,” I kind of choked. “ And I came here for my health!” ‘You're not afraid, are you, Gus?” one of the boys quizzed, a big grin on his face. “Why, if I'd put away all the men you have, I wouldn’t be afraid to go after the whole Mexican army!” My face got as red as a beet. ‘“No—no! It’s not that!” I muttered, trying hard to look brave. ‘ But a stran- ger’s kind of weak on your laws. You see, I might—” “Come over here and join us in a little game, Mr. Deputy Sheriff!” Alkali Joe bawls out from a card table in the corner, where he and a couple of others had flopped down the moment before. ‘“ You can’t be on your uppers with us now, seeing how you’re one of our officials—as long as you last. Here’s a chair waiting for you!” I guess I was so fussed up, trying to think out an answer for that fellow at my side, that I was glad for the chance to get away from him. Then maybe, too, I wanted to get my mind off of poor Sam. Anyhow, I walked over to the table, sat down, and took a hand. Luck seemed to be with me on the start- off. But it didn’t stick. After I’d won about twenty dollars, the cards turned against me, and I was soon short my win- nings, along with over half of my own roll. When I took stock of my chips and saw how short I was, I got desperate, knowing how Id have to get back some of my dough to keep traveling along, away from Redbug and that deputy job. So when I made three aces, I bet my whole works and prayed that some one at the table would cover. Some one did all right—Alkali Joe. And he had a heart flush! And I was broke! So. there was nothing left for me to do, except to fall back on the sheriff and pray that the Red Handkerchief, or nobody else, Gomichbooks (E@)