Argosy All-Story Weekly, January 21, 1922 — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

34 Taurog twirled his big cigar around in his mouth and then smiled. “ This gent says he’s comin’ for Taurog, eh?” He finally burst out in a loud guffaw in which he was joined by every one in the buffet. “ That’s all right—laff! But I’m afeered that guy’s goin’ to come searchin’ for you to-night! And I want to be tucked into bed right quick afore he gets here. And look here, Stew,” the white-faced man said as he tured to the barkeep, “‘ you know that bit of sheet iron you hide behind when there’s gun-shootin’ goin’ on in the dance- hall? Well, that’s the kind of sheet I’d like for you to tuck me to bed with.” “ Take him home to the crater in a buck- board,” Taurog said. ‘“ Fix up his sore leg and Sing him to sleep. He’s goin’ to be cry- in’ with bad dreams if he don’t stop wor- r oe ms This looks kind of bad, chief,” the pro- prietor of the saloon said, after the wound- ed man had been packed away. ‘‘ How do you mean it looks bad?” Tau- rog flared up. “I'll swear here and now before every one that I'll handle any man that comes after me—with my bare fists. As for the raid, like as not others are burn- in’ the ranch down now. I’m goin’ to get a posse and see for myself.” “What I mean, chief, is this,” the pro- prietor said apologetically. ‘‘ Havin’ two men put out of the fight thisaway is bad for your rep. In days past whenever any one bucked you, all you did was to send a expedition and wipe ’em off the slate. That’s why you’ve got such a name. No one dast oppose you because you always win. Did you ever stop to think what ’d happen if you ever lost?”’ .‘‘ What the hell ’re you feedin’ me? Are you losin’ your nerve like this poor yellow Cow McGinnis?” ‘Taurog turned his back on the proprietor and stalked toward the entrance of the buffet. ‘It’s high time I change my original plan—which was to lay low while the raid was carryin’ on!_ Now,” he concluded, ‘I must do some personal investigatin’.” He called the entire assembly of men and women together in the buffet, and de- clared he wanted to make a public an- nouncement. on your opinion. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “* Folks,” he said, “‘ you-all bein’ particu- lar friends of mine, I’m stakin’ everything Now I’m give to under- stand that thar’s a certain gent out gun- nin’ for me personal—and I want every- body here and now to understand the facts of the case. What his grievance is I don’t know, but I’m tellin’ you-all here and now that I’m out for to get this guy afore he gets me—” “Get ’im with your fists, chief!” one of the crowd cried. Others followed suit in their adulation: ‘‘ You can meet any man with your fists, chief!” “ Ain’t no call for your ever bein’ sat on by a jury for gun-. shootin’! Not when you have them fists!” “TI ain’t sayin’ right now how I’ll get this man,” Taurog shouted out. ‘“‘ Mule City’s on our trail for our gun-play, and I promise here and now that if he don’t shoot first— T’ll use my fists!” The crowd cheered vociferously. When Taurog promised using his fists it meant an epic fight. “Further and more,” Taurog brayed, ‘“‘I’m goin’ to take horse and ride over to the Tumblin’ L Ranch right now and settle this business before the night’s out.” As he elbowed his way through his cheering subjects, and reached the door, five riders galloped down the main street of Lava. The saloons and dance-halls the entire length of the town disgorged their men and girls as.the posse clattered past. The riders wheeled about in front of the Dead Cow Saloon, dismounted from their steaming horses, and crowded up to Smoo Taurog, who stood, feet apart, thwacking his boots with his crop. The leader of the crowd was little Jug Trilles. “It’s all over, chief!” he said. ‘ The damn Tumbling L outfit spit lead at us from every window and every shack. We give it up!” Taurog looked around the group with a rapid searching glance, checking off each man he had sent on the expedition. ‘““Where’s China Pell at?” he shouted. “ At least he stayed to fight like I directed —at least he didn’t join you rotten cow- ards!” ‘Listen, chief!” Trilles explained while COMmiclboo SS C©