Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 4, 1922 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

322 Dexter! Folkse usually declar’ theirselves one way or t’other in these parts.” “S’pose you ast him, if vou’re so plumb cur’us!” Tad rose as a grizzled, weather- beaten individual sauntered around the cor- ner of the bunk-house. ‘ Clint in yet from ridin’ line, Wes?” Wes Hayward, foreman of the Circle Six, shook his head, but turned once more to scan the grassy, rolling plain before he replied. “No. Don’t expect him back before sundown, but it’s Lee I’m studyin’ ’bout. I told the kid there was enough of the boys to ride line without him takin’ things into his own hands, especially now that there’s bad blood between him and Jake Brower, but he allowed he was boss of the ranch and he warn’t afered of Jake and his pack of thievin’, rustlin’ greasers. He’s just naterally brash and lookin’ for trouble!” “Ole Man Poindexter wouldn’t have dodged any that was goin’, and his boy ain’t likely to,” Tad observed. “ He always was a game little cuss, but I thought that college would have put kid gloves, la-de-dah idees in his head. It ain’t, though, not a mite; he wants to take holt, that’s all.” ‘‘ He ain’t no more boss of the Circle Six than his sisters are, and Miss Susanna leaves everything to you, Wes. You’ve been run- nin’ the ranch ever since the three of them was knee-high to a coyote; why don’t you speak to Miss Sue if the kid’s hankerin’ after a showdown with Jake and his bunch?” demanded Link. ‘Because I aim to keep him out of trouble without tattlin’ to his sisters.”” Wes scratched his head reflectively. ‘‘ You two boys are the only ones of the outfit who was here in the old man’s day and you know same’s I do how his fool notions "bout breed- in’ fancy cows ate up all he could borrow on the land. Last year’s drought kind of got us behind-hand with the interest, that and keepin’ the kid in college, and that law- yer feller down to Mammon City has been pesterin’ Miss Sue again. She’s got enough on her hands, and I ain’t goin’ to worry her none about Lee; if I can’t keep him from a run-in with Jake and his outfit there’s nothin’ she could say to him.” “ There ain’t been no more rustlin’ than ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. in other years, and nothin’ to connect up Jake and his greasers with it ’ceptin’ that talk of Rosa del Rio’s after Felix Mesega give her the go-by.” Tad’s good-natured face had lengthened into lugubrious lines. ‘It’s a plumb, almighty shame ’bout Miss Sue havin’ everythin’ on her shoulders, scratching dirt to put the kid through col- lege and learnin’ Miss Sylvie all she got her- self from those two years’ schoolin’ in Kan- sas City, where her pa sent her that time. Jumpin’ snakes! I’d turn rustler myself if it would help her keep the Circle Six!” ‘There ain’t no question of losin’ the ranch.” Link’s habitual drawl quickened with emphasis and he turned to the fore- man suddenly. ‘‘ Wes, you been hearin’ anythin’ ’bout that hombre from the East who’s stayin’ down to the Central Hotel?” ‘““Cain’t say as I have,” Wes responded cautiously, and his shrewd, kindly eyes nar- rowed. “ I’ve seen him lookin’ on in Faro Jim’s wunst or twice, but he wasn’t playin’. What you been hearin’ ’bout him?” ‘‘ Nothin’, nor nobody else. He’s kinder took up with some of the Bar D outfit, but the sucker’s such a bum rider that his pants achully fit him!” Link spat once more in supreme contempt. ‘ Chanler, his name is, and he allows to come from New York, but that’s every livin’ thing he’s let on bout hisself. He ambles off every day on one of Sim Moser’s broncs, but nobody savvies where, lessen it’s to look at the scen’ry! What’s he doin’ round Dexter, anyways?” ‘* Link’s afered he’s nosin’ round our cor- ral!” chuckled Tad. ‘“ Miss Sylvie ain’t had eyes for none of us sence she met up with him at the Bar D dance, and it’s onlv nateral, for she’s known us all her life, and there ain’t a man-jack of us that she ain’t been able to wrop round her finger from the time she could sit her first pinto. She’s plumb tickled ’cause he treats her as if she was a growed-up young lady, and I sus- picion she’d like to rope him and then turn him loose agin just to show she can; gals acts thataway, mostly.” “A heap you savvy "bout ’em!” Link snorted. ‘“ They’s plenty of likely young ones in this country without Miss Sylvie ropin’ no strange maverick. What’s that?” CoOMmichooks. com