Argosy All-Story Weekly, August 9, 1924 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

262 finished. The horse heaved a sigh of satis- faction; Channing was wiping his lips with a handkerchief. There was a heavy silence except for an occasional impact of the horse’s hoofs against the damp earth at the edge of the pool. And then Channing became aware of a strange sound. He leaped back into the shadows of the trees, and crouched, both guns drawn. Standing there, straining his ears to lis- ten, he again heard the sound. Something was breathing heavily, stertoriously. Channing’s gaze roved here and there into the brush that surrounded the pool. And when he discerned a black blot against a background of ledves that were gleaming in the moonlight, he finally made out the figure of a man. The man was lying face down; he seemed to be asleep. If the man had ridden there his horse would be near, unless he had staked it or hobbled it, and therefore Channing’s first thought was that the man was Catherson. He moved toward him, keeping back in the brush against the chance of there being other men near. But the brush was sparse and Channing could observe no signs of other men. So he finally reached the man and cautiously peered down at him. The man was Monty; the young man whom Vallon had characterized as a “ lost dog.””’ When Channing turned him over and looked closely at him he saw that the faded eyes were closed and that the way- ward lips were white ‘and bloodless. With a lighted match Channing continued his examination. Monty had been shot from behind. The bullet had entered his back on the left side near the shoulder blade. It had emerged from the chest and it seemed to Channing that whoever had done the shooting had held his gun low and aimed it upward. The powder had ourned the shirt. Monty had had no chance to use his own gun. It reposed in the holster at his hip. There had evidently been no warning, and it seemed Monty lay where he had fallen. The blood over the wound had congealed and therefore Channing estimated that the shooting had been done hours ago. He did not speculate over the identity of ARGOSY-ALLSTORY, WEEKLY. Monty’s assailant. The dust cloud which Eve and himself had watched had been traveling in a direct line with this spot, and there were Vallon’s words, to the effect that Monty had been with those who had shot him. ‘That Monty kid was arguin’ that there ought to be no shootin’,” Vallon had said. Monty had made a mistake. If he had felt an impulse of mercy toward Vallon he should have kept it secret. But they hadn’t killed Monty just there, for to do so would have left evidence of the identity of Val- lon’s murderers. They had let Monty ride on with them, no doubt saying nothing about his mistake, and when they had got this far they had effectually silenced him. Such, perhaps, had been their thought. And if the man who had done the shooting had not aimed upward, he would have done what he had intended. But Monty was still breathing, and Channing got him to Catherson’s cabin, There, after he had done what he could for Monty, and the boy was lying white and motionless in Catherson’s bed, he ques- tioned the latter. “Td been huntin’ up some strays south of here,” Catherson said. ‘“ I’d got within a mile of the shack about sundown, when I seen three men ridin’ the Laskar trail. One was leadin’ a horse. It sort of struck me that they was pretty close to my shack, an’ I was mighty curious about them. But when I got to the shack an’ seen they was not anything disturbed I figured likely they was Circle B men ridin’ to town. I didn’t go to the water hole, because I’d packed plenty of water in before I left. Them guys must be hellions to plug a guy like him. Why, he’s only a kid!” ‘I’m headin’ to Laskar,” said Channing. “Tf there’s a doctor there, I’ll send him here. But it don’t look to be any use.” “IT wouldn’t give a heap for his chance,” declared Catherson. ‘ But I'll take care of him an’ give him what chance there is.” He peered closely at Channing’s face. ‘“‘H-m!” he exclaimed, startled. “It ain’t the first time you’ve heard of them guys, I reckon. Still, I might have knowed you didn’t just wander over here. What’s been happenin’?”’ COMmiclooo () S (C@) nn