Argosy All-Story Weekly, May 5, 1928 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

A HARD-BOILED TENDERFOOT. ‘“Meanin’ you ain’t had—enough?” Bear Paw, who had finally joined the others, demanded. “‘ Oh—absolutely,” Mr. Nutting de- clared. ‘‘ You see, I rather hate to quit anything I’ve started. I’ve always been like that. So, if you'll have the boys catch him and hold him till I can get on again, I'll be much obliged.” ‘“Yo’re more liable to be a corpse,” Mickey Shawn, who had retrieved the Nut’s headgear and now held it .to- ward him, remarked: “‘ Here.”’ ‘‘Oh—hardly that. Thanks.” Mr. Nutting took his hat and hung it over a fence post. “ Did you notice it come off when Sultan reared, right there at first. I grabbed it, but it hit him over the ears and he started to run. Scared him, I fancy, flapping down over his head like that.” “Oh—my aunt!” Mustang Reilley mouthed as Bear Paw’s jaw actually sagged. A slow grin creased his wrin- kled cheeks. ‘‘ I’ve hearn tell as how the Lord done took care of babies, drunks, an’ the United States of Ameriky—an’ I reckon it’s the proper dope. Nut— don’t you-all know thet hittin’ *em be- tween the ears is one way of makin’ a hoss decide to use all four feet?” Really?” Mr. Nutting turned his head. And suddenly he flashed his teeth. ‘By jove! Then I did the right thing, eh? Encouraging, to say the least. Well ”’—he swung back to Bear Paw—‘“ do I ride any more or not °” For a moment Rawlins did not an- swer. Merely he regarded the Nut out of grimly steady eyes. “Rope thet hoss, Joe,” he directed. Joe Maddelena smiled. Turning he started for the upper end of the corral where the riata Paragonah had used in leading Sultan into the inclosure, still dangled from a post. Paragonah dug an elbow into the Nut’s ribs. “ Say—lissen! Don’t play yore luck too hard,” he advised in a tense whisper. ‘“‘ Ef you do—’ 593 He broke off. He had met the Nut’s eyes, and as on the day before, when Mr. Nutting had picked his gun out of the dust, he found them hard. ‘* Never mind, professor,” he heard the Nut saying softly. “‘ Though it appears my instruction of which you are supposed to be in charge has been designed so that I begin at the end of the course.” ‘“ Aw—say, now, Nut,’ Paragonah began in_ self-justification. ‘“ You heard how this play came up. I—” “TI understand, old man,” Mr. Nut- ting told him. “Hah! He’s got him. ll have to learn to sling a rope.” Sultan again was captive, as he had said. Joe Maddelena had caught him deftly about ears and chin. Now he worked his way toward him along the rope, flicked the latter deftly about his front feet and so left him hobbled, panting and snorting, but powerless to resist. “Come along Nut—yore cradle’s ready,” he called. “Back in the grand stand, gentle- men,” the Nut prompted. ‘“ You all ride the rails while I have another try at riding this horse.” He advanced without hesitation, on Sultan and Mad- delena, limping slightly with each step. “En’—ef he’s killed,” Mustang croaked as he climbed back with the others upon the fence. “Oh, dry up,” Bear Paw growled. “Ef he is it’s his own fault. Nobody asked him to ride. hisse’f.” “He didn’t ask fer Sultan,” Mus- tang persisted. “You'll git yer time without askin’ ef you don’t snub yore chin,” Rawlins advised him gruffly. Sultan was sidling around and around Maddelena, seeking to evade the Nut. But as Bear Paw spoke the latter closed lithely in upon him, grabbed at a stirrup, caught it, and was up. Maddelena grinned and cast off his rope. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK 2A Gomicbooks! He asked fer it (E@