Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

416 ‘** Oh, so-so.” “Oh, for Gawd’s sake, drop the other sock!’ cried Light Laurie, wriggling with impatience. ‘“ This suspense is killin’ me!’” “Smoky go back to his own place?” “Veah! Tell it, tell it!” Coryell stared critically at Light Lau- rie. ‘“T guess you an’ I oan manage it be- tween us,’’ he announced in a maddening drawl. ‘‘ Yo’re kind of bright, an’ with me— All right, all right, don’t sling that hammer! C'mon down an’ I'll tell yuh all about it.” CHAPTER XXXVIL FRIENDS JN NEED. me?” said Light Laurie, blinking at the grimy sign of the Say When saloon as he and Coryell rode into Dog- Tib. * You Coryell. ‘T don’t, huh? I been spittin’ cotton the last two hours. I[’m drier than the top lid of hell. I wanna drink, you wanna drink, we both wanna drink. That’s fair enough.”’ ‘Well, maybe a couple wouldn't hurt. J am kind o’ dry, now | think of it. Need some tobacco too.” “Vl get some cigars—real ones, no Ropo de Stinko Cabbago for this lil or- phan. Say, lookit---‘ Asheim’s Gents’ [m- ah that a saloon, or do my eyes deceive don’t want no drink,” dented porium.’ That ain’t our Solly?” “ Shore is, Got a wile an’ kid now, Sol- Jy has.” “The lil devil. Wl have to sec Solly. Move over, Bill. They’s plenty o’ roum at this hitch-rail for anvbody but a hawg. Wonder who all belongs to these other po- nies?” : “They iy quite a congregation in town to-day,”’ assented Coryell, making a black and white pinto stand over. They entered the Say When, and Cor- vell was grected by Jack Haney, the bar- tender. At the sound of Coryell’s name the bar’s lone customer, an overalled gentle- a ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, man with the blak stains of axle grease on his hands, turned his head. It was Lou Taylor, hostler at the stage station, the man who had run afoul of Swing Ky- ler in Hatchet Main Street and escaped death by the skin of his teeth and Coryell’s intervention. The meeting of three friends spells busi- ness, Jack Haney beamed. gents?” said he. But that particular round was never drunk, For, before Coryell could make reply, a harsh voice spoke from the door- way, Saying: ‘Hands up Even Lou Taylor obeyed the command. ‘“Nemmincd turnin’ round,” continued the voice, the triumphant voice of Hawk- lace. “ Ul just take yore gun away, Cor- yell. Tobe, you get Light Laurie’s. Teel him over careful for hideouts, Tobe. We ain't takin’ no chances on either o’ you gents this trip.’’ Coryell said nothing, ing to sav. ously. ‘Whatcha want my gun for?” he de- manded in part. ‘‘ Whatell have I done?” ‘Tt ain’t whatcha done,” said Tobe Haskins, patting Light Laurie from arm- pit to ankle. ‘It’s whatcha might do. Not that we want you for anythin’, You'll he allowed to go free as air when we get Coryell started on his way.” ‘“ But vou had too much to say the last time, Laurie,” sneered Hawk-Face. “ An’ this time we ain’t overlookin’ any bets.” “You might try to «do over again what the girl done,” suggested the familiar voice of Piggy Question. Coryell laughed. “ How's vore watch, Piggy? Mended it yet?” . “Say, gents,” broke in Jack Haney, ‘“what’s this anyway? Are you a sheriff's posse?” ‘“We'’re what takes the place of a posse when the sheriff won’t do nothin’,” said Hawk-I’ace. ‘‘ This gent Coryell is a rustler. We're allowin’ t hang him.” ‘Well, you ain’t allowin’ to hang mé,”- said Lou Taylor. “It it’s alla same to: comicbaécks * What ‘Il it be, t” = There was noth- But Light objected vigor- do