Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

THROW UP YOUR HANDS. damned worild—two outlaws caught and trapped with the goods on them. It sure looks like we’re done for, little girl, And just when things was beginnin’ to look sort of bright and hopeful for us, too. ‘You see what the posse’s a doin’ now? They’re gettin’ ropes ready, that’s what they’re doing’. And they ain’t goin’ t’ give us no chance to explain. A crowd in the mood they’re in don’t want explanations. What they want is action—and thrills.” “Oh, Larry,” she panted, “hold me closer—closer! Don’t let them take me away from you. If I must die, Oh, please let me die in your brave arms!” The pressure of his arms increased. ““And hear the gang from Hell’s De- light a mutterin’, lamb!” “It’s the thunder of the storm, dear!” “No, hon’, it’s that gang—the scum and the offscourin’ of the Southwest. They come to Yumpa fer thrills and excitement, the way we came here this evenin’, And there’s nothin’ they like better than a hang- in’, Oh, we’re goin’ to swing, girl, we’re goin’ to swing!” His voice ended on that somber note. Margery Corbin suddenly lifted a pale, determined little face to his. Her dark eyes were shining, her lips were parted faintly upon what was almost a smile. “Before they take us, dear,” breathed, “‘ kiss me!” ‘'Yes,”’ he agreed sadly, “‘ we might jest as well have our good-by kiss now. Purty soon we’re goin’ to part forever, lamb.” “To meet again, dear!” “Oh, I ain’t so sure about the life here- after,” he said gloomily. ‘I’m only sure of one thing, girl, and that is—”’ | ‘‘ Ah, kiss me, dear. Your dear lips—” He dropped his lips upon hers. A thrill, unlike any sensation he had ever before ex- perienced, shot through Red Wilpin. Her lips reminded him of scented silk, of little flowers blooming in the spring on mountain sides, of soft and mellow music as Doc Saunders had rendered “ What “Il I Do?” on his saxophone. : He clasped her more tightly and pro- longed what had been going to be, as far as he was concerned, the sort of kiss that a brother bestows upon a sister. she 543 Under the sweet impact of the novel sen- sation he slightly reeled. And far over- head the air rocked and convulsed under a renewed onslaught of thunder. He pushed her feebly away. ‘“‘ Listen, lamb,” he gasped, “ great gosh, what have I been a talkin’ about? Did my own voice say that this here gang was a goin’ to swing you and me from yonder cottonwood? Did I say that you and me was goin’ to be parted—nowe”’ “ Ves,” she quavered, “ yes, dear. Those were almost your very words.” “Well,” he said in a clear and ringing voice, ‘“‘ I’ve changed that fool mind of mine. I sure have.” “Have you a plan?” she cried. ‘Hon’, I don’t need no plan. All I need is to set my mind and it gets done!” ‘“‘ You—you can free us?” | “fT sure can and will, kid. Just you place your bets on the Red as the croupier says. That’s me!” “Ts it?” the sneering voice of Julius Yost fell into their startled ears. ‘‘ Well, folks,” he shouted above the tumult of voices, “‘ are we ready to start the proceedings?” “Shore!” the crowd from Hell’s Delight cried as if with one monstrous voice. ‘“ We want th’ gai t’ swing fust!” CHAPTER XXTI. JUDGE LYNCH. T that sinister cry, Margery Corbin Sprang again into the protective shelter of the red-haired bandit’s arms. But she looked up courageously into his face. “‘ Oh, it’s too late to hope, dearest. We’ve had our little day. It’s a shame that love came to us—too late—but we have loved and we can face death without fear. And I—I prefer it to be this way, Larry. If —if they were to hang you first, I am afraid I would show them what a coward Tam. Ajiter all, I’m only a woman, and if I saw them killing, strangling the one thing in the world that I love, I—I know I would die letting them see what a coward I am.”’ ‘Wait a minute,” Red Wilpin said gen- tly, and raised a hand to command silence, Comiiclbooolk CO