Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

di TROUBLE RANCH i ough Spofford, Sr., was already begin- ning to function. : Phe more he pondered on the possi- bility of having Peggy Winsome for a daughter-in-law, the more favorably Banker Spofford regarded it. He had long been feeling no little concern as to the future of his son. Marriage was bound to have a steady- ing influence on the hectic youth. The effect of such a marriage on the girl— tying her up with a moral bankrupt like his son—was a matter that Bank- er Spofford wholly disregarded. Then there was Apache Gap, and Spofford’s secret knowledge that it was soon to be very valuable. If Peggy Winsome should marry John Spofford, then Apache Gap would come into the family, and the machina- tions he had in view to obtain it were quite unnecessary. Banker Spofford did not believe in useless labor. Would Peggy marry John? The whole affair hinged on that and it loomed big as an uncertainty, with the odds—Banker Spofford frankly con- ceded this—against the would-be bride- groom. still, women were peculiar, he re- flected, meditatively rubbing his chin. “You can’t figure out in advance how they'll jump, and if you do, chances are you've figured -wrong.”’ Thus Spofford mused, hesitating over the policy it was best to follow; whether to call off Carl Davis—or let matters take their course as planned. HREE days had passed since Hol- lis Black came to him with news of the irrigation project; three days since he had put Davis on espion- age duty at the Three Star Dot ranch. During that brief space of time the banker had not been idle. Certain pri- vate channels of investigation were — open to him, and though his secret in- quiries had brought to light less definite information than he might have wished, still Spofford had succeeded in uncovering some significant facts. ATS And these facts, without exception, hinted strongly at the truth of Hollis Black’s story relative to the projected irrigation dam. It was a chance for a clean-up at the expense of his enemy, Dud Millbrook. The next day—the first of the month —would find interest due on Frank Winsome’s loan. So far nothing had been heard from Peggy as to payment, but Spofford felt sure that she had the money ready. The banker’s reflections reached this point, leaving him still undecided. Then, abruptly, a new slant on the mat- ter clinched the issue. ‘I’m a fool to hesitate,” he grunted. “ Sensible thing to do is play both ends against the middle. Whatever happens I can’t lose. We'll let the thing ride.” POFFORD’S son, in the mean- while, was consulting with Mr, Varney over at the Red Front. “What became of the range rider that socked me last night, Sid?” he in- quired. “He pulled out a little while after you left,” Mr. Varney responded. “Any idea where he went? gunning for that hombre.” Varney pleaded ignorance on that detail. “ What about Marie Avis? ‘Tell the girl I'd like to see her, will you?” “Marie ain’t here any more,” Var- ney told him. “ That range rider took her away with him last night.” “Say, what business has he butting in between me and my girl?” Spofford wanted to know. ‘ What did he do with her?” “ Claimed he was going to send her back East —to where her folks live. Mebbe he did at that. I dunno. It wasn’t my funeral.” Spofford swore fluently. “It’s going to be somebody’s fu- neral before I’m through. Talk with him, did you?” Mr. Varney admitted it; and Spof- ford craved further details, I’m Aa. ey. i") eee A com . * =~ - c a ~ Pa ? a: ae ~ aa PX? re pe i Sl) a ay An i Bi PEE ee a a tin Nag Ee Og: = 574 oi ele i, ee