Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

BLUE STEEL. Simeon Weston, foreman of the Bar X, gulped a little and cleared his throat. “TI reckon if it’s all the same to you, Mr. Dunstan,” he replied, “ Ill have a little snort o’ straight rye.” “You just have to ask for what you want, Simeon,” Dunstan told him as he touched a bell at his side. ‘‘ You ought to know that by this time.” The Jap appeared, and Dunstan ordered him to bring a bottle of rye and a glass for Simeon. The latter gulped a stiff drink, and after a moment appeared to be more at ease. “T reckon thar’ll be hell a-poppin’ to- morrer,” he said, with a grin. “ Thet’s if everything goes off all right to-night.” “You gave the boys their instructions this afternoon, then?” queried Dunstan. “Ves, sir,” replied Weston. “ An’ they will foller ’em out all right, too, I reckon. Thar’s quite a crowd in Poco to-night, an’ thet’s a good thing under the circumstances. Steele an’ Tolliver won’t know who to sus- pect. I seen a crowd from the Wagon Wheel a-ridin’ toward town early in the evenin’, an’ a bunch o’ the Lazy S punchers went by here a little later. A gang of our boys is in Poco, too.” Dunstan smiled with satisfaction. “Tf I’m not mistaken,” he said, ‘ Mr. Jeremiah Steele and Mr. Thomas Tolliver wiil be at each other’s throats pretty soon. And then—” The conclusion was too obvious for Dun- stan to voice. His smile held a great deal of significance. “ You’ve done masterly work hereabouts, Mr. Dunstan,” said Weston, who, under the influence of the liquor, had lost some of the reticence he had displayed when first he entered the elaborate quarters of his employer. ‘‘Of course, boss, you cain’t tell how things ‘Il turn out. If—” “Tf,” interrupted Dunstan, “we start open warfare between the Wagon Wheel and the Lazy S, it will be a fight to the finish. They are hard-headed old codgers, Steele and Tolliver. If they once start battling they will never stop until one or both of them are ruined or dead.” He paused and meditated a moment. “ And then,” he said, “ the day will come $11 when the Wagon Wheel and the Lazy §S will come into my possession, and I,” he con- tinued, with flashing eyes, “will have a real domain. A hundred thousand acres of the finest ranch land in the world, and thousands upon thousands of cattle grazing over it. “Then,” he added, somewhat bitterly, “IT may leave you here in charge of it, Simeon, and go back to England and show that brother of mine a thing or two.” Simeon Weston responded to the compli- ment that Dunstan had paid him. ‘“Thet ‘Il be mighty fine of you, Mr, Dunstan,” he acknowledged. “I reckon I could manage the ranch all right.” “I know you could, Simeon,” replied Dunstan, “and you’re going to have the opportunity. I stick by my friends, and when my plans go through there are several people around here who will profit by them.” “Do you reckon,” Simeon asked, “ thet you'll have any trouble gittin’ yore hands on the ranches?” ‘How can there be any trouble?” re- plied Dunstan. ‘“ One of these old ranchers is sure to kill the other one. If Tolliver is popped off, the Lazy S will go to Blaine Tolliver and his sister. I’ve got Blaine, that young fool, under my thumb now. ““He owes me plenty of money, and he will owe me more before I get through drinking and gambling with him. He will do anything I tell him to do, and if his father is killed by old Steele, I know just how to incite him to get a vengeance that will put the other old man out of my way. “Tf, on the other hand, Tolliver or any of his men manage to kill Steele, there won’t be anybody left to take care of the Wagon Wheel. Old John Ballou, Steele’s brother-in-law, is an easy-going, incompe- tent old snoozer, and by joining forces with Tolliver it will be easy to drive him off the range.” “But there’s Ballou Steele,” suggested Simeon. “That no-good son of the old man, you mean?” asked Dunstan contemptuously. ‘What can he do to block my plans?” “ He’s got a hard reputation,” Weston GComichboo cS (E(9)