Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 28, 1928 — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

488 lies with our breath, Shorty ?” “What?” he exclaims. He hasn’t been overhearing our con- versation. “T tells the young lady we're a couple of hair-trigger liars. Is that sor” * Shore,” he tallies. ‘ Never be- lieve anything, lady, either of us. tells you. Me, I take all the prizes for tall stories at every contest, and my pal Harry produces whoppers that make old timers miss the stove when spit- ting, they is so ashamed.” But she sees the twinkle in his blue eyes. “You boys can’t tell me anything bad about yourselves,” she said sweet- ly. “I owe my life to you; really you’ve both been simply wonderful.” Shorty pulls his four-gallon hat down over his eyes, and I’m glad she can’t seeme. ‘There is no coming back at these yere female plays. “Does you agree,” I chips in hur- riedly, “ that we keeps the elopement a secret—and only horns in with the In- jun story?” “Ves, maybe it would be best. Poor Dick is gone—and I’ll be in trouble enough without having a strict guard placed over me from now on.” “hat wouldn’t be wise,” I sachays back, ‘“’cause mebbe another cow- puncher would like to ride with you; and make a bid to be of help.” “ Then we'll keep the elopement part ’ -@ secret?” “Yes,” I said, “ between the three of us.” I explains circumstances and all to Shorty, and he understands perfectly. “A little lie is very helpful,” he argues. “ Now, if a pal of mine didn’t swear, once, that [ was where I waren’t, they’d have had me flying higher than a kite, and no place to put my feet, down New Mexico way.’ Ain’t that so, “What were you doing, Mr. Shorty?” asks the girl, innocent enough. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He plays with the reins. “I looks like a feller who delivers a lot of rustled cattle across the bor- der. When they comes up with me I am in my pal’s cabin, at dawn, with three thousand dollars in gold in a money belt wrapped around my mid- die. My friend, he swears I’d been there all night, and won the cash from him playing stud.” “And did you win it gambling?” questions the girl. Shorty never cracks a smile. “My chum’s total possessions was a no-good mining claim, two bags of flour, a box of coffce, a six-gun, and a lot of hopes all down at the bottom of a shaft. Lady, judge for yourself if he lied.” I could see she disbelieved him com- plete, because he kept a straight poker face. Me, I though the story had the ring of truth. We rode on for several miles, and then we sighted the water hole in a nacheral bottom, shaded by some cot- tonwood trees. “You was right, miss,” exclaims Shorty. “ Thar’s the water hole you speaks of being in these parts.” ' Fresh water certainly went well, with beast as well as man and gal. The hosses had to be held back from wal- lowing in it. The canteens we refilled, and our fem’nine convoy washed her hands and face. * Which is all habit,” drawls Shorty. “ Myself, I calls that a sheer misuse of water, which was only made to be swal- lered, and that sparingly.” “So you will continue as our guide, miss, after all,” I tells the girl. “T wish you boys would call me Mary,” she says. “We surely are friends by now.” * All right, Marie,” starts Shorty; and I gives him a kick in the shins. “ Pardon my lop-sided brained pal. He has what they calls a perverse sense of humor.” Mary smiled, flashing her pretty white teeth. She looked nice *nough Gomichbooks (C@