Argosy All-Story Weekly, June 27, 1925 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

sheet of paper, which he unfolded. Ina voluntar; _ ringing voice he read: re he atily and ladly declare that we cher; othing in our hearts but loy we cherish “To WHom It May Concern: for the Party of the first ca. : “ Whereinunder and inasmy | parties hereinafter referred oo nee of the first part namely and to wit, Lawren. Custer Wilpin, Margery, Lee Corbin, me Friday Pepper, have met with unkind in- human and otherwise foul and lowdown treat- ment al the hands of the undersigned, herein- after specified as the party of the second part we, the party of the first part, do declare and solemnly avow and swear that we are inno- cent of any wrongdoing or any actions that might be howsoever interpreted as such, for which reason, we the party of the second part namely, the undersigned, do of our own free will excuse, forgive, condone and otherwise pardon the party of the first part for any acts or actions that we, the undersigned or the party of the second part, might in our igno- rance and with our lowdown evil -natures have suspected the party of the first part of committing. ‘Special attenlion is directed to the vile and lowdown rumor set in circulation by cer- tain parties, to wil and namely, that the party of the first part held up an alleged stage coach driven by the alleged Spavin Yampdon on the morning of August 15, and that the party of the first part did remove from the alleged persons of Julius Yost, Mrs.. Yost, Judge Oglethorpe, and Marshal Jeffery P. Sniffin articles of value or money in any form whatsoever. For which reason, wishing to kill forever and for all time the above vile and unfounded rumor, we the undersigned, do hereby solemnly swear and declare of our own true will that the rumor is without foun- dation, in fact.” “ That’s an outrage!” Mrs. Yost cried. Pepper concluded, “ And there ain’t nothin’ to do now,” old “but for one pies Up and sign the documens You can f rm in a line across the streets, ladies ' Bents, and U I catch a one of i pin Out of line or tryin’ to sneak ¢ t ot signin this yere docyment—the deal's at I, for one,” Judge Oglethorpe thun- dered, “won't si of lies|? aime damnable network S outed. “ T'm willin’ to si anything jeer so I git my mornin’ bath. Give mie thar docyment, Friday Pepper,” . Hold on!” Friday restrained ‘him. My chief give me strict injunctions to have Judge Ozlethorpe Sign fust, then Mrs. Yost, then her son, then th’ marshal and finally Spavin Yampdon. Then th’ rest of you can sign.” “Fer Gawd’s sake, judge, sign it!” Jim Rooney implored. ‘ Ain’t it a case of life or death?” “But it’s utterly preposterous!” the Judge angrily argued. “Of course, I’m thirsty. I want a drink of water as badly as the next man, but don’t you realize that by signing this preposterous instrument, these three arch-criminals cannot be prose- cuted? We are not compelled to sign it, are we? It is not a case of duress, as I would interpret that term. Gentlemen, be- fore acting hastily, we must think!” MacGillichday “ Jedge,” a burly prospector snorted, “you're cockeyed. Whut ya mean 1s—we must drink.” oo. “Get in line like he said!” Big Sam body! Judge, if you dan’t set yore name down on that paper right pronto— Judge Oglethorpe hastily removed @ foun- : his vest pocket - scrawied -- ergnature on the largesheet of wrapping ponies which the ultimatum was writ ten. The gthers of the original stage aor party signed in the order in which they been requested, and slowly wie pal ed its way across the street until t e was full of signatures and ney fs woman in Yumpa was account : “I won't sign my name to such a pre- posterous instrument!” “No sign, no water!” the trumpet blared sinisterly. ‘“ Go on and finish, Friday.” Friday Pepper cleared bis throat and re- sumed. “We, the undersigned, do further hereby swear and solemnly avow and declare of our own free will that the party of the first part did not at any time or under any enti turn off the water supply of the _hown ° Yumpa; and we hereby append our signatures, each and every one of us, each signér pening as a witness for each and every other ee And we hereby finally forgive, excuse en pardon Lawrence Custer Wilpin, Margery Lee Corbin, and Friday Pepper for any ae ve actions, real or imaginary, that may ae injured or otherwise hurt our feelings. COMmiiclbooks.€O