Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 13, 1925 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

BLACK OR BLUE. secret satisfaction which he held pent within him, beyond his boyish eyes, his honest grin. It troubled her. “Jf Fenton’s theory will put us through, we're all right,’ he assured her. “I’m following your friend’s instructions to the letter. I hope he won’t object to the small modification I have made.” ‘“‘What’s that?” she snapped him up with quick suspicion. She seemed exceed- ingly anxious, reflected Bud bitterly, that Fenton’s plans should not miss fire. ‘““ Just a detail,” he replied. “‘ The men who are riding to the bank will shoot to kill at the first stranger who approaches them. I’ve definitely specified what a stranger is. The men who take the road to Clay City, likewise. As for the men who take the hill trail—” “Surely you don’t mistrust my father,” she interrupted coldly. ‘No. I guess he and Stockbridge are as good for that job as any. Conway ain’t going to laugh if he fools with them.” “T’m going, too.” “No!” He sprang from his aghast. “ Dad’s willing.” She spoke as though he, Bud Halliday, had nothing to do with it. “You can’t!” he cried. ‘“ That’s the most dangerous party of the lot. Where’s your father?” “ He’s still at the bank. But you'll be with us, too.” Then he smiled again, that baffling smile which she disliked because it hid something from her. “No,” he said. “ I’ve got to be on the job somewhere else.” ‘“ Where?” she cried, aflame with suspi- cion. ‘‘ Here she comes,” drawled the station agent; and a crescendo thunder announced the arrival of the night express. Without answering the girl’s question Bud leaped for the door and was out upon the platform as the great steel train plunged into the block and came hissing and roaring to a stop. Bud felt a stimulating sense of high adventure as he strode toward the ex- press car, his gun loose in the holster, and a dozen armed men, likewise ready for ac- tion, all about him. chair, 565 The passengers were held in the cars, the baggage men lined up away from the train while the express agent detrained with his bundle of money and was escorted to the agent’s office. Here, jealously guarded, lay the pay roll of the Consolidated Mines un- til the train drew out and the platform and station buildings were again cleared by Stockbridge and his men. Bud, sitting at the desk, the pay roll be- fore him, grinned with that peculiar and pleasurable tension which the prize fighter must feel before the bell tolls for another round; which the football player enjoys as the whistle calls him out upon the field; which brings every true man to a resolu- tion which surpasses confidence. For Bud Halliday the first round was over; he was alert now for the contingencies of round two, and he was not blind to the proba- bility that he might yet be called upon to fight three or four or five rounds more be- fore this bandit, this humorist, be van- quished. | He sat at the table filled with a sense of incredible power to control, to contend and to achieve. He felt all that went on about him, observing and noting all that was said and done. He knew that old Grover had entered and was engaged in earnest conver- sation with Marion. He knew that Stock- bridge, surrounded by the men of his choosing, gave them instructions as a coach instructs the players before a game. There was an almost ludicrous atmosphere of sus- pended action in the little room. Bud sat in the lamplight which flooded the table and deftly dealt with the currency for which he had signed acceptance as pay- master of the mines. He had before him a steel cash box and a leather pouch; on the floor at his side was a saddlebag. ‘“ Close in.” He spoke very softly, almost in a whisper, and Grover, leaving his place, came to stand closely at his side. Stock- bridge, too, crossed over to stand beside him, and Marion furnished a screen across the table front. Bud felt an almost physica! strain weigh down upon him as he sealed the bag and locked the box, while old Grover, deftly and unobserved by all save Bud and Marion and Stockbridge, placed the currency in the saddlebag. COmiclboo (Cc CO