Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 5, 1921 — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

lowing the sheriff to take his weapon. ‘““Vou’ve done called the turn.” It was then that they bethought them- selves of the absent Bill. Coryell and sev- eral friends repaired hastily to the Mint Saloon. But Bill was not there. The bar- tender said that he had seen Bill mount his horse and depart. } “ Which it was five minutes ago, maybe ss,” amplified the bartender when pressed ‘for details, ‘an’ he shore jumped that ca- yuse down the street like a bullet from a gun. Funny you folks didn’t notice him. Whatcha want him for?” The question remained unanswered, for the “ folks,” intent on pursuit, were racing for their corrals. CHAPTER XL. THE WAGES OF SIN. T the door of the Slash K ranch-house Bill slid from his panting horse. He burst into the office upon Swing Ky- ler, Shotgun Blue, and Squinteye Maginn. The three were playing draw. Squinteye Maginn, it may be said, had completely recovered of his wound. “ Drag it!” cried Bill. an’ Jimmy!” “That L Up-an’-Down cow!” exclaimed Shotgun Blue, jumping to a conclusion. ‘I told you not to monkey with her, Swing. I knowed she was a, plant! I knowed it!” “ They got Reb ‘Was it that cow?” Swing stared at Bill. “Yup,” nodded Bill. “ Her, an’—” “T told yuh!” snarled Shotgun Blue. “ Of course she was a plant, her an’ her calf. Why’nell would her calf be branded Slash K if she wasn’t. None of us branded that calf! An’ none of us branded the two Slash Kk calves with them Staple Box cows neither! An’ you said it had been done to put the kibosh on us! Hell—” Shotgun Blue spat vindictively upon the floor. He had risen and, leaning forward, was resting both hard fists on the table. His eyes glared down into those of his em- ployer— “So you killed the calves an’ skinned ’em an’ buried the hides an’ said that would make it all right an’ safe to go ahead an’ brand the two cows Box H Box » THE BUSTER. 425 an’ the other Staple Box! Safe! I told yuh it was a plant! -you! I told you it was a plant!” “You've told me so for the last time!” Swing cried in combination with a flash and a bang and a swirl of gray smoke. Shotgun Blue slumped down across the table. He never knew what hit him. “Tt was yore downin’ Art Whittle that started the bees a hummin’ at last!” con- tinued Swing in a squall, holding his six- shooter trained on the mark. “I told you not—” He broke off, Shotgun Blue hav- ing obviously passed, and without another glance at his handiwork, he pushed back his chair and got to his feet. ‘What was the rest of that sentence you was tryin’ to get out when he interrupted, Bill?” Swing Kyler asked, ejecting the spent shell. ‘What? Huh—I—” stammered Bill, thrown somewhat off balance by the unex- pectedness of the killing. ‘“‘ Oh—the cow —well, her an’ Miller an’ Deegan.” “ They got them, you mean?” ‘“In the sheriff’s office.” “How come they let you get away?” “They didn’t mean to, I guess. But my luck was with me. When we got the cows to the sheriff’s house—we’d come round to the side instead of stayin’ in the street— Reb went in an’ left Jim an’ me with the cows. Me, I was thirsty, an’ I went to get a drink. I noticed in the street they was a lot 0’ ponies tied to the hitch-rail, more’n usual, an’ two in front of the sheriff’s had Surry Side brands. So I injuned round an’ listened at a window, an’ when I’d heard an’ secn enough [ pulled my freight. Oh, they know it all, you can stick a pin in that.” ‘Tell the boys at the bunkhouse what’s happened, Bill,” said Swing quietly. ‘ An’ _ alter they’ve saddled up they can come to the office an’ get their time. Tl have it- ready for ’em by then.” Bill departed on the run. lingered. ‘You better shove for the corral, too, Squinteye,” Swing suggested sharply. ‘“‘ We ain’t got all day.. Them fellers from Hatchet may pull in any minute.” Squinteye still Squinteye went out—hrisk}y But eless.