Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 23, 1924 — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

MYSTERY LAND. and led it to the front of the stable. Then he stood for a little while looking into the corral at Midnight. Midnight bore few marks of the beating he had received, for Bassett had not con- fined his blows to one particular spot. After watching Midnight for some time Bassett moved away. He finally disappeared into the harness shop. An hour later he saw Channing come out of the mess house and go to the stable. When Channing reappeared he bore his rope, a saddle and a bridle. Channing went into the corral, roped Midnight, saddled and bridled him and led him outside the corral, hitching him to a post near the gate. Then he got another bridle and saddle and went again into the corral, emerging this time with the horse he had ridden the day before. He and the other two men had not followed Bassett’s orders about camping at Two Forks; they had reached home before midnight. Shortly after Channing brought his own horse out Jane Winthrop appeared at the kitchen door of the ranch house; and at the sight of her walking down the path toward the stable a renewed, sullen rage eripped Bassett. His thoughts dwelt upon the intimacy that must be between Jane and Channing, an intimacy that, while not perhaps serious, had made it possible for them to talk together about this proposed ride, which had resulted in setting an ap- pointed time, and which, if it was permitted to continue, would result in greater in- timacy. Bassett emerged from the harness shop. He began to walk toward the place where the two horses were hitched, so timing his pace that he arrived there just before Jane came up. Her color was still high, and she smiled at both Bassett and Channing, and at the two punchers who had come out of the door of the mess house and stood, intently watching. Bassett mechanically answered her smile, but his gaze was upon her right wrist, searching for the silver tipped quirt. It was there! Jane spoke to Channing. think.” 5 A “Tm late, I 225 ‘We'll have nothin’ but time to-day,” was Channing’s gentle reply. : “Mr. Bassett,” Jane called. “ You re- member you promised to take care of Eve!” “Tm takin’ her over to the south fork to look at the red buttes,” returned Bassett. “ You have a good time. Don’t you get to worryin’ about Eve.” He moved forward a little, edging along the stable until he reached the door, be- | hind which he stood, watching Jane as she advanced toward Midnight. Bassett alone, it appeared, had observed the restlessness that had seized Midnight at sight of Jane. Bassett alone knew that the restlessness was caused by the sight of the quirt that dangled from Jane’s right wrist. Channing, for all his wisdom, had not noticed, or if he did he was not aware of the cause of it. Bassett saw Channing move forward more rapidly as Jane approached Midnight. Evi- dently he kad observed Midnight’s strange manner and was intent upon reaching the horse before Jane. “Dame his hide!” “ He'll spoil it!” Channing, though, was too late. Jane was within arm’s length of Midnight when Midnight’s ears went suddenly flat and his lips rolled back from his teeth. Instantly several things happened. Bassett saw Jane shrink back, a startled scream breaking from her. She retreated toward Bassett. She should have stood her ground and used the quirt Bassett had given her. That’s what Bassett would have done. She retreated two or three paces. Bassett had started toward her. Chan- ning was running toward her. The two punchers who had been watching from the mess house were running toward her. But Channing was not near enough, and there was not the slightest chance of the two punchers reaching Jane, even though their experienced eyes told them that Midnight meant evil to the woman. Channing, being behind Midnight, had no chance to do anything until he could reach the animal’s head. Bassett alone could help Jane. Bassett did help her; that was why he had come to the stable door. muttered Bassett. Gomichboo (E(0)