Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 18, 1928 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

$24 Lazy S, and the third slouching figure was easily recognizable as Blaine Tolliver. Blackie did not stop. He realized that Weston and Naylor were in all probability egeing the weak Tolliver scion on to some- thing, and since he, Blackie Sanderson, was supposed by Blaine to be a loyal member of the Wagon Wheel outfit, it might not be the proper time to face Blaine. Besides, he had some news that he wanted to tell Lafe Dunstan very privately. He reached the clump of trees at the roadway leading to Dunstan’s Bar X ranch house, and left his horse in the shel- ter of the remains of the tool house which had been practically destroyed by the stampede of Tolliver’s cattle, but which would screen his horse in the gathering darkness from the roadway. Dunstan’s Jap servant ushered him into the presence of Dunstan, who was sitting before the fire in a deep leather chair. After a generous drink of whisky Blackie looked at the back of the retiring Oriental, and sat down next to Dunstan. There was no need for any acting or posing with the latter. He was eager to show the remit- tance man that he had a valuable retainer in himself. He related how he had come upon the creased Jeremiah Steele, and had furthered Dunstan’s plans by “ puttin’ the ol’ man outa his misery,” as he phrased it. Dunstan was jubilant and duly appre- ciative, and Blackie felt great pride in standing forth as such a heroic figure be- fore this strange and ruthless breed of man who paid well for good service. He learned that Blaine Tolliver, the son of old Tim, had sworn vengeance against the Steeles for the death of his father, but that he was making his grief a chance for some intensive drinking. “He may be in here a little later this evening,” said Dunstan. ‘“ He’s acting ex- actly the way I should expect him to act. Simeon Weston rode over to the Lazy S to drop in as a mark of respect to old Tolli- ver. He said he’d try to have a talk with Blaine. If Simeon talks to him, he’ll put some ideas into his head.” “ T saw ’em as I rode outa Poco,” Blackie informed Dunstan. ‘‘ Dan was with ’em.” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ‘“ Then it won’t be very difficult now to work out all our plans. Simeon and Dan will handle him very nicely. Yes, things are coming fine, Blackie. I’m lucky to have chaps like you in with me. Have another drink.” Blackie had another, and still another, and was in good spirits when the bell of the ranch house tinkled and a minute later the Oriental led in Simeon Weston and Dan Naylor. The latter grinned over at Sanderson. “We come mighty near startin’ some- thin’ down at the Corral last night, didn’t we, pard?” he asked. ‘‘ Ef Sheriff Rey- nolds hadn’t sorta happened in, thar’d ’a’ been a good free-for-all. Wal, things is workin’ out mighty nice as it is, with them two ol’ men knocked off.” ‘“ Blackie could tell you something about that, and it would make your hair stand up,” smiled Dunstan; and before Blackie could stop him, the remittance man had let the two ranch hands in on Sanderson’s mur- der of his employer. Blackie was not keen enough to know that Dunstan had told it deliberately, so that some one else would hear him make the admission—that Dunstan was already laying plans to get rid of himself and the other two men who were in the room. All that would come in good time, Dun- stan thought. Secretly he had contemptu- ous thoughts of these three rough charac- ters, Weston, Naylor, and Sanderson, who had the instincts of beasts and the minds of children. When the right hour struck it would not be difficult for a seasoned man of the world to outwit them. “‘T suppose you left Blaine at the Cor- ral?” he said to Weston. “Right, Mr. Dunstan,” replied Simeon Weston. “ We left ’im soppin’ up red-eye with a couple o’ no-accounts down thar, an’ _ makin’ threats ag’in’ the Steele ranch.” “In other words,” smiled Dunstan, “doing exactly what we should like him to do. With chaps like you and Dan here, things will be easy. Of course, the man to ambush this Blue Steel chap should be Blaine. He’d be understood to have a mo- tive, and the shooting would be passed up rather quickly.” Gomichooks (E(@)