Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 7, 1928 — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

188 his friend the sheriff, Del Lewis, rode into town and asked the editor to go with him direct to the sheriff’s office. Deputy Hank Style was there, and Jessup saw that the plump deputy looked like a disappointed youngster when the sheriff invited Jessup into his private office, and told Style to remain outside. “Got back soon’s I could when I heard the news,’ Sheriff Lewis ex- plained. “I hear there hasn't been much done. Haven't you been a-work- ing on it, Jingling?” Jessup smiled slowly. “Well, now~Del, your words make me quail. Are there not a couple of men in jail?” “ Don’t joke, Jingling.” The sheriff frowned. ‘“ We can’t hold people jest on suspicion too long. Of course, Dan- ny’s better off in jail than riding around the country with that bunged- up head of his. And Tex Shepherd is sober for the first time in ten years. The posse couldn’t find hair nor hide of the Chinaman. What do you think?” “Listen, Del,’ answered Jessup, choosing his words carefully. “I’m leaving town to-night. I don’t want anybody to trail me. Maybe I'll find that Chinaman myself. Id like to win the reward.” “T hope you do,” the sheriff told him. ‘“ And there’s going to be a county reward of five hundred in ad- dition to that thousand posted by Har- grove.” He hesitated and added: “TI think that was mighty generous of Hargrove, don’t you?” : ‘He and the old man were mighty close to one another,” explained Jes- sup. “ Now mum’s the word, and [’ll try to do something.” Sheriff Lewis seemed a little disap- pointed. “ T know you like to play a lone hand, Jingling, but can’t you give me a no- tion?” “ Not a stint of a hint,’ answered the editor. “ But if I find what I think, I want you to get together a kind of ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, public informal hearing right out in the street where everybody can be in on It.” { The sheriff agreed. During two full days, with no word from the editor, the sheriff watched impatiently for his return. In the meantime the open scorn of Deputy- Style, when told of Jingling Jessup’s secret departure, even caused the sheriff to doubt. And on the day that Jessup got back he was just on the point of ordering another posse, at the suggestion of Hargrove, who had been in Mesa Grande several days on busi- ness, when the unhurried big editor rode in. “Well, Jingling,” commented the sheriff, “ where’s the Chinaman ?” “Yeah,” spoke up Style, a trace of scorn in his voice. ““ Maybe I have him,”’ hinted Jessup. “ Maybe he’s concealed about my per- son somewhere.” » “ Still joking, I see,” snapped Har- grove. “I think we ought to scatter descriptions far and wide; and let an- other posse try again.” “Yes?” Jingling Jessup drawled the word. ‘“ Now, sheriff, for certain rea- sons, I’ye changed my mind. This place here is handy enough for the hearing I spoke of, not out in the street. Let you and Hargrove and I stay here, while Style goes out to the jail and brings in the prisoners. I want both Danny and Tex here. Maybe we will even have to make a trip to the bank.” Both the sheriff and Hargrove were puzzled by the editor’s air of mystery. But Style showed unusual speed. Pres- ently he brought in Danny Skinner and Tex Shepherd. Tex, traces of intoxication entirely gone, glared at them with a sullenness typical of many an accused man, Danny Skinner, though he had been made to understand that his father was dead—murdered—still wore the blank, dazed look. He recognized none of them. b com S) Ehoo (E)