Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLOOD-CALL. “ Senor, I was damn glad to get out of that room—with that eye tellin’ me to vamose. When I get into the yard the shoot was all over—no man anywhere. I spik what is the truth, senor. I hop on my cayuse and ride like hell.” “Jug Trilles probably got his men to- gether for another attack,” Taurog said as- suredly. ‘He goes at this raidin’ stuff careful like. But he sure does finish it.” “Tm thinking Jug Trilles he ran away, too, senor,” the Mexican whined. “ Jug never runs away,” Taurog shouted. ‘You mean to tell me he’d leave a fight where they was only two men ag’in’ hime He’s probably burned the ranch down by now. ‘That bugaboo stranger-of yours is probably out .on his back in the mesquite with the coyotes stickin’ around waitin’ for him to get ripe.” Juan Scaly was unceremoniously kicked out of the room, and Taurog ordered wine for the guests. ‘“ We ought to be hearin’ about the finish of the fight any minute now,” he said as they all filled their glasses. “Ten of my men ag’in’ two— Hell! It’s a joke! The Tumbling L will be sung about in songs, and the Indians will paint it on their pot- tery like as if it was a massacre! Ten of my men ag’in’ two poor tenderfoot ranch- ers!” The whole company joined in laughing at the “ joke.” “ Here’s to the end of the Tumbling L!” the proprietor said, lifting up his glass. “They ain’t no more ranches goin’ to buck me. They ought to learn by now that it don’t pay. If one ranch bucked me and got away with it—all right, then the others can say ‘ Look at Smoo Taurog tryin’ to bluff us! We'll fight him!’ But no ranch has got away with it yet.” | Before the glasses had been drained to Taurog’s little speech the barkeep entered again. And again his long face and ex- cited lips intimated that it was a vain toast the guests were drinking. A rider had re- turned from the Tumbling L Ranch and wanted to see Taurog. According to the barkeep, the man was badly wounded. Taurog, trailed by his guests, left the table for the buffet where the wounded 30 rider was lying. He had been carried from his lathery horse and placed upon the floor, his back leaning partly against .a chair. When Taurog saw the chunky little rene- gade—one of his best gunmen—he greeted him with the words: ‘““ Now what the hell!” Cow McGinnis: lifted his square-jawed, ashen face. ‘‘ Chief, we got whipped. I may as well tell it to you straight from the shoulder.” The man reached up to clutch at Smoo Taurog’s knees. ‘“ Don’t blame us, chief. It weren’t our fault. They was bullets whizzin’ outen the dark from every direc- tion. I’m beggin’ you, chief—don’t blame us, pertect us. That’s what I’m beggin’ you. Pertect us!” ‘Give him another swig,” the proprietor put in. “ He’s gettin’ whiter.” Smoo Taurog was not quite so compas- sionate. He kicked himself free and sneered: “ You’re crazy, Cow! Buck up. You’re losin’ your nerve just because you had a gun throwed on your laigs. You got a streak of yellow in you, or you wouldn’t be whinin’ about two men shoot- in’ when you had ten men on your side!” By this time there was a big circle around the wounded man—composed of dance girls, saloon men, and gamblers, as well as the cow-punchers and Indians from outside. The barkeep held some whisky to Cow’s gray lips. “How was the fight goin’ on when you —when you left?” Taurog asked with a significant emphasis. ‘“T can’t tell, chief. Somebody potted me outen the dark, and I woke up in the ranch-house with some women folk ban- daging me up and throwin’ water on me. When I said I was feelin’ spry enough to ride I was give a few more drinks, put on a horse, and told to git.” ‘Who potted you?” ‘YT don’t know for sure, chief. But I’m thinkin’ it was a young guy I saw in the room—a tall guy with big shoulders and a square chin. Whether it was him or not, chief, all I can say is, look out. for him. That’s all I ask—just look out for him! Before I left I heard him sayin’ somethin’ about comin’ after Taurog.”’ comicloool C©