Argosy All-Story Weekly, November 12, 1927 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

494 she was permitted to retire, and the regular dance program was resumed. Mickey immediately pushed forward to claim the acquaintanceship which he felt her eyes and her smile had assured him. But for once he was too slow. His approach was skillfully blocked by the portly hostess, and before he could extricate himself from behind her ample figure he had the chagrin of seeing the girl presented to the sheriff and being borne triumphantly away by him to a table which he had reserved for that purpose. The hostess, as already stated, knew her little book, and she was not giving any dis- advantage to the man who could close up her place by a mere snap of the fingers. Perhaps, too, she had been slipped a little something for that strategic move by which Mickey was cut out. Now, as the victim of it, with a black look at her, started impulsively for the sheriff’s table, she clapped a detaining hand on his arm. “ Easy, deary!” she murmured warning- ly. “ Don’t try any didoes around here, or out you go on your ear.” It was no idle threat, Mickey recognized, as, glancing around him, he saw five or six husky retainers of the establishment gath- ering to back it up. ‘“ Madam,” he bowed to the hostess, “I never dispute with a lady—especially when she has such convincing arguments. There will be no didoes.” “TJ thought you’d see it,” she cackled amusedly. ‘ And now, since I hear you've been advising some of my good customers to run along and roll their hoops, s’pose you do that little thing yourself. This ain’t your night, kid.” “Again I. yield to your superior judg- ment,” Mickey responded suavely. Not for worlds would he have shown the rage that was filling him at the turn of affairs. “Come on, Slim.” He nodded to the cowboy. ‘“ With that free-handed spirit so typical of the great West, we are being offered a generous supply of air. Far be it from me to decline, lest, peradventure, we might have the gift thrust on us—or, as ear the lady aptly puts it, go out on our. »? ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He made another mocking obeisance to the hostess and, tucking his arm in that of his companion, swaggered off toward the exit. “Thank the Lord!” Slim drew a long breath of relief. “I never thought you would show so much sense. All I could see for it was a muss, where we’d both git so bunged up that we couldn’t do a tap of work on them claims for mebbe as much as a week,” Mickey cast a glance back over his shoulder at the table where the sheriff and the accompanist, both plainly exultant at his discemfiture, sat with the girl; and then he bent closer to Slim. “You don’t really imagine I’m going to duck, do you?” he whispered scornfully. ‘ That was just a stall I was giving Queen Marie yonder so as to gain time. Don’t let me keep you, though, if you’re afraid of getting your clothes rumpled.” “ Aw, hell!” Slim looked hurt. “ You know durn well I'll stick if you do. I’m just that crazy. But whatcha cale’latin’ to do?” That was a hard question to answer; ior Mickey didn’t have the slightest idea himself. All he knew was that he didn’t intend to let the sheriff get away with his victory, or to leave the place without hav- ing speech with the girl. But as to how he was going to accomplish his purpose, his ideas were still vague. Then as he and Slim moved on toward the door he saw a battered old flivver pull up in front of the dance hall, and a wave of rainbow color descend from it. “Good Lord!” He stopped with an in- credulous gasp. “Am I seeing things? How the devil did they get here?” Slim followed the direction of his star- tled gaze. “Tt’s them janes from the gypsy camp where you was, ain’t it?” he questioned. ‘‘ Guess they must ’ve heard about the gold strike, too; and nacherally they could travel faster in their cars ’n’ what we did on horseback. Three of ’em,’” he commented. “ And that cutie in front is the one what was soft on you, ain’t she?” ‘“Natushka; yes.” Mickey dropped ‘his voice; for the girls, their gaudy draperies Gomichooks (E@)