Argosy All-Story Weekly — "Sea Marauders" — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

oe a TROUBLE, RANCH. * You wouldn’t want for me not to _be able to shoot, though?” he observed, ‘Some day a fellow might start to roll a gun on me, and then I’d have to show speed or eat dirt. A cowboy’s got to be handy with his iron.” “My goodness, Newt!” Peggy ex- claimed, her blue eyes dancing in amusement. “ You're not planning to make a gun- ~slinger of yourself, I hope.” “You're ieceoued right [ am,” he affirmed. “I wouldn’t give two cents for a range rider that couldn’t sling a mean .45. Feo? “To-morrow. Banker Spofford’s day would be ruined if we didn’t pay him that interest. Lucky we’ve got the three hundred.” “Gee, what a raft of .45’s three hundred dollars would buy!’ Newt mused mournfully. “ How long we got to keep fattening the ante for that shorthorn, sis?” “Don’t worry about that, Newt,’ Peggy said stoutly, willing to avoid an unpleasant subject. “We'll go to town and you can have a box of .45’s.” “ You’re a peach, sis!” was his grate- ful exclamation. ‘‘’Then look a-here. Why can’t I have what shells are left to shoot this afternoon? I'll wipe the dishes for you if you'll give ’em to me.”’ Thus appealed to, Peggy smiled, and promised to do what she could. Asa result Newt indulged in target prac- tice to the extent of two full rounds— under Peggy’s supervision. In spite of Newt’s bitter protests to the contrary, his sister shrewdly main- tained that a chap of twelve had not at- tained a ripe enough age to be trusted alone with loaded firearms. Newt felt that she was wholly wrong in this, but like a good sport he yielded to her whim. When the shells were expended he shoved the empty gun back into its sheath, twisting his hips to settle the weight in place. The six-shooter had been Newt’s father’s, and toward it he L P i - ’ s . _ ~~ an aie of = ~<a ~— es: foe, * —— = » eS eS Oe ee ee When we going to town,. 5 . - ao an ha - ya el a Fee tye ne 7s ee a vo a et eet > Se a ee “>. ~ ms eas eee as ee a Re a ee SE AN ae ae 4 aE, oP 479 felt a genuine affection, wearing if proudly. _ Newt kept the gun in perfect condi- tion, and the inside of its barrel was as free from rust or corrosion as when it left the Colt factory years before. Since pistol practice could no longer be indulged in, Newt got out his lasso and began trying various throws at the expense of the bull calf. Thus passed a pleasant and profitable afternoon, es- pecially profitable, because he at last mastered one little trick of the rope that had hitherto eluded him. XT morning found Newt and Peggy up betimes for their ride into Cactus Springs. Newt had a vague idea that their financial situation was not all that might be desired, without grasping the full details. Dad, it seemed, had bor- rowed money to tide over a spell of bad times several years before, when drought and disease played havoc with his herds. Shortly afterward had hap- pened the dreadful thing, recollection of which still hung over Newt like an ugly shadow. One morning Frank Winsome mounted his horse out by the corral stockade, and the animal, giving vent to a sudden outburst of evil temper, reared and fell backward, crushing the rider beneath. Thus did Newt Win- some’s dad—his big, strong, stalwart, ranchman dad, with the hearty laugh, and the jingling spurs, and the faint, fragrant odor of tobacco about him— start out on the last long trail. Newt could still remember how Peggy clung to him sobbing, when she came from the room where the cow- boys had tenderly carried the injured man. He could also remember how, after a little time, Peggy bravely sought to conceal her own bitter sor- row for sake of the kid brother, too young to realize the vastness of the loss they had suffered. How she managed to keep the ranch going during the four years since then Som Fain ool ee a in MEPOOKes< COM es