TEXAS GUNS
By L. P. Holmes
SEVENTH INSTALMENT
"Mama,” chirruped Johnny,
blowing on his knuckles. "That
was shore a satisfaction. I been
itchin’ to da that all mornin’.”
"Heh—heh!” chuckled Tex
coldly. "Yuh shore rung up a bulls
eye that time, kid. Go on Pink, yuh
stick to Miss Ronny.”
Spelle was gulping with fury
and dismay. While Lange had been
unable to finish his statement he!
had let out enough to advise Spelle ]
that something was radically wrong
concerning the Delevan mortgage.
In his thwarted greed' a modicum
of courage returned to him and he
advanced threateningly into the
room.
"What’s this?” he rasped.
"What’s this about the Delevan
mortgage?”
"Nothin’ much drawled Tex.
"’Ceptin’ its paid in full.”
"What?” roared Spelle, his gaze
working evilly. "I don’t want it
paid. I refuse to accept payment
for it.”
"Yuh’re plumb out, o’ luck
hombre,” said Tex imperturbably.
"There’s the money on the table—
an’ we got the mortgage. Jest let
the fact sink in. We’re gonna keep
it. C’mon Johnny, the story’s told.
Let’s rattle our hocks.”
i ne two partners made tneir way
to the street, Tex watching Spelle'
warily over his shoulder. Down the]
street Ronny and1 Pink Crosby were!
waiting at the buckboard. Further!'
on, tied in a line at the hitching rail |
before the Starlight Saloon, was a
proun of horses, all wearing the
Double S iron. Tex’s face was fur-; _
rowed and serious as he reached the j j
buckboard.
"Pink, you an’ Miss Ronny hop,
in that rig an’ light out for home.1
Them broncos have been wantin’
to ramble all mornin’. Let ’em out. *
Pour the whip into ’em. Burn the
hubs cff’n them wheels gettin’ ii
there. That mortgage won’t be safej
until Jim Delevan gets his hands on
it.”
"Tex,” said Ronny, fearfully.
"You don’t think there will be
trouble do you?”
"Don’t think a thing, Miss
Ronny,” answered Tex. "I know
there will. Soon as Spelle gets^
through snappin’ at himself he’sj
gonna turn that gang o’ his loose!
on yore trail to try an’ haid you
off for. yuh get home.”
"B—but, you and Johnny,” ob
jec :ed the girl, her eyes on Johnny’s
grin ^oung face. "You can’t fight
their, all off. You’ll get hurt.”
Johnny’s face broke into a wide,
beautiful grin. "Nemmine us, Miss
i 9 .1 • . _ J.__
XWlliiy. XV1C OU tuu tilt oaiiu
been shot at before. We’re jest too
cussed onery to stop lead. Pink,
shake them reins. See yuh while
ago.”
Pink spun the buckboard around ;
on one wheel and turned the bron- 1
cos loose in a wild run up the
street. As the buckboard passed the
bank Spelle leaped out into the <
street with a bawl of anger, shaking I
his fists above his head. Then he
headed down towards the saloon at ;
a clumsy run. <
"Fork yore hull, kid,” snapped i
Tex crisply. "Lead’s due to fly in 1
a minute.”
In a moment Tex and Johnny
were spurring after the rapidly dis- i
appearing buckboard. As they <
cleared the edge of the town the j
dim roar of voice reached their ears, i
"Shows on,” yelled Johnny. ;
"Whoopee! Look at that boy Pink ;
drive will yuh. If that buckboard
had wings it’d fly.”
A half mile from town Tex look- i
ed back. He could easily see the ]
black blot of hard riding horse-1<
men. I;
"Slow up,” he snapped. "Ve’r
pullin’ up on Pink. We’re out her
to hold this gang back instead o
haul ’em up. Git yore Wincheste
loose, kid.”
Johnny pulled the rifle from th
boot beneath his left thigh an<
levered in a cartridge. Then he an<
Tex hauled their nervous mount
down to a leisurely lope. Th
horsemen in the rear came up fas
and Tex watching them closely
measured the distance.
"Four hundred yards,” he an
nounced finally. "Fan ’em a couple
Johnny.”
Obediently Johnny turned anc
slammed five shots to the rear, Ii
was hard shooting, twisted thus or
a running horse, but the following
band made a big mark and at thf
fifth shot a horse went headlong
throwing its rider spread eaglinj
into the dust.
"Bueno” cried Tex. "That slow
ed ’em up.”
"Yeah, fer a minute,” answered
Johnny, feverishly plugging more
shells through the loading gate.
'But they’re gonna spread out.
somebody’s usin’ his haid back
there.”
"Nemmine. Pink’s almost out o’
light—an’ that’s the main thing.”
As Johnny had said the pursuers
lad spread out and no longer pre
;ented a solid mass to shoot at.
From now on any fire Johnny
night give through his rifle would
>erforce be merely haphazard with
thances for a hit very small, at
east while his own horse was in
notion.
The dull thudding of gun-shots
ounded in the rear but only one
one bullet sang past. Tex, quick
o read this sign smiled grimly.
"Lucky fer us they ain’t any o’
hem got Winchesters. They can
>lug away all day at this distance
vith their six-guns without doin’
ny harm. Kid yuh see Pink?”
"Nope. Plumb outa sight. Reck
on we done put a crimp in Mister
Spelle today, Tex.”
Then Johnny gave a yell of al
arm. "Look et cornin’ in ahead an’
on the right, Tex. Two riders corn
in’ in to haid us off. Now how’n
hell did they git up there?”
Tex turned and followed John
ny’s pointing arm. Sure enough
two riders were spurring in at an
engle to the southwest, from the
rim of the desert. They were
coming fast on big, gaunt horses
and each of the riders carried a
rifle loose in their right hands.
"Hell” snapped Tex. "We’re in
fer it, kid. Pull up. You go after
those two hombres with the rifles.
I’ll keep this^ other gang back. My
| ole hawk-laig will throw lead just
I as far as theirs. Now le’s see yuh
do some o’ that high-toned shootin1
yuh’ve been braggin’ about.”
"If yuh’d only pack a Winches
ter,” wailed Johnny as they drew
their plunging broncos to a halt.
"But yuh’re so danged bull-haidec
yuh never will. Jest think what
yuh could do with a .30-30 now.’1
: "Nemmine me,” snapped Tex
. "Get busy—those two jaspers are
within range.”
: Jonny slipped from his horse
I and threw up his rifle. It wavered,
[ steadily, but when it crashed flatly
i the bullet went far and wide. Just
: as Johnny pulled the trigger Tex
: had leaned over and swept the bar
, rel up.
"Fer gosh sakes,” blazed Johnny.
• "What in hell did yuh do that fer?
, I was holdin’ daid center.”
Tex paid no attention. His keen
old eyes were fixed on the two
: newcomers with a mingled expres
sion of doubt and joy.
"Kid, yore eyes are better’n
mine. Look close. Ain’t that leadin’
hoss a star faced black?”
"Yeah it is,” snapped Jehnny,
raising his rifle again. "An’ I’m
gonna put me a slug right in the
star.”
But Tex shoved his rifle aside
again. "Kid,” he burst out delight
edly. "That’s ole Utah Lynch an*
Al Burrows from the Bar B ouefit.
I telegraphed ’em to come arunnin’
an’ shore they’re doin it. You fan
hell outa Spelle’s crowd. I’m goin’
out to meet Utah an’ Al.”
The somewhat bewildered John
ny whirled on the rapidly nearing
Double S crowd and with his first
shot downed one of the leading
riders. His second shot brought a
horse screaming to earth and the
rest broke and rode back out of
range, where they gathered in a
council of war. It did not take
them long to realize that this time
at least they were outmaneuvered,
for they saw Tex spur out to meet
the newcomers and pump their
hands delightfully. Two more
rifles added to Johnny’s deadly one
were too much to face so they
turned and rode back toward Gril
lion with their dead.
Utah Lynch, lank, dark-faced,
saturnine, chuckled grimly as a
shamefaced Johnny pumped his
hand.
"Kid,” he drawled. "Yuh ain’t
fergot how to throw a lot o’ mean
lead, have yuh? I kinda thought
you was goin’ to open up on me
an’ Al.”
A1 Burrows, chuky of body and
craggy of face grinned and spat
emphatically. "By gollies yes,” he
chimed in. "Tex, this dang cub o’
yores is shore developin’ his claw?.”
"Yeah,” nodded Tex, his eyes
twinkling. "He's gettjin’ t» be
mean medicine with a Winchester.
Trouble is his brain ain’t develop
in’ like it should, if he could think
as straight an’ fast as he can shoot
he’d be all right.”
"Aw—g’wan,” snorted Johnny.
"Wouldn’t o’ been no loss if I had
leaded you two ole highbinders.
Jest the same I’ll admit I was glad
to know it was friends droppin’ in.
How’s Lud an’ Barbara an’ Nevada
an’ all the rest o’ the gang back
at the ole Bar B?”
"Finer ’n frawg’s hair,” grinned
Utah. "They’s a new boss at the
ole spread now. But, the second.”
"Naw?” exclaimed Johnny de
lightedly.
"I’m tellin’ yuh.” Utah nodded.
"Fattest, hapiest lil’ geezer yuh
ever saw.” .
"That’s shore fine. Tex, me’n
you gotta take a trip someday an’
look in on that young gent.”
"Mebbe so, someday,” drawled
Tex. "But right now we got our
own dish o’ hash to cook. Boys,
yuh shore dropped in at the right
time.”
Utah nodded. "Looks thataway.
What’s it all about, Tex? When A1
an’ me got them telegrams we took
’em to Bud an’ told him we was
driftin’ down thisaway, pronto.
Bud shooed us off on the run an’
told us to let him know if you
needed any more help. If yuh do,
jest wire him an’ he’ll come afog
gin’ it with the whole outfit.”
"Reckon that won’t be neces
sary,” said Tex. "But shore I’m
thankin’ Bud for feelin’ so. Now
let’s amble along. I’ll tell you fel
lers the story while we ride.”
By the time they rode up to the
corrals of the Box D ranch Utah1
and A1 had the whole story and
had jointly expressed their satis
faction at the opportunity of sit
ting in on things. When Tex at
tempted to thank them for their
prompt response to his messages
they waved him off.
, "Why thank us?” scoffed A1
Burrows. "Shucks, Tex, we’re the
ones to render thanks. After you
an’ Johnny left our neck o’ the
woods things got so. danged quiet
Utah an’ me began to ossify. This
looks like one swell chance to take
the kinks outa our trigger fingers
an’ keen up our eyes a leetle.”
"You danged ole war-dogs,”
chuckled Tex.
Pink Crosby and Pod Fortune
were unhooking a pair of meek,
sweating IVoncos from the buck
board when the four riders drew
up. After introductions were over
Tex turned to Pink with twinkling
eyes.
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
SUMMER HOUSEHOLD HINTS'
Appetizing menus, cooling;
household hints for the summer
are suggested in the splendid arti
cles by Mrs. Christine Frederick
and Mary Lee Swann, noted au
thority of home economics. Fol
low these articles in the American
Weekly, the big magazine which
comes regularly with the BALTI
MORE SUNDAY AMERICAN.
Eight pure bread Red Polled
dual purpose cattle were purchas-j
ed recently by farmers of Tran-|
sylvania County as foundation,
stock for future herds.
JULES VERNE NOVEL
"The Boy Castaway,” a recent-1
ly discovered novel by Jules Verne,!
master writer of adventure tales,
will appear in the BALTIMORE’
SUNDAY AMERICAN (predate
edition), beginning July 26. Don’tl
miss this great story. I
I
Tex and Johnny spurred after the buckboard.
Hot Weather Tips
Practical Hints On How To Make Tour
Climate To Order
(c) General Electric
The historic house from which has emanated hot and cold weather
comfort for millions of other homes in America. Located in Schenectady,
N. Y., where it is hot in summer and cold in winter, this normal frame’
house has always inside it as perfect a climate as any ocean or moun
tain resort.
IF everyone could loaf under the
*■ trees in hot weather, sipping cool
drinks and making no effort, there
would be no heat prostrations, and
everyone would be happier. But
this imperfect world does not per
mit the human animal to do that
for more than a few moments at a
time. We can, though, increase our
comfort considerably by observing
a few simple rules during the worst
hot weather.
1. Don’t wear clothes that are
tight anywhere. You need easy cir
culation of the blood.
2. Eat light foods like salads and
fruits as much as you can, and go
light on hot and heavy dishes. Eat
slowly.
S. Wear light clothes and wear a
hat against the direct rays of the
sun.
4. Watch yourself while taking
heavy exercise on a very hot day.
You needn’t avoid it altogether, but
be careful.
5. Since few things are more
miserable than a sunburn in hot
weather, treat the sunlight with
great respect. A skin whitened by
winter sheltering may flare up very
swiftly after half an hour of Old
Sol.
6. Drink plenty of water.
7. Place electric fans or air cir
culators in strategic positions in
your house so that they create mov
ing currents of air.
8. In general, take it easy and be
as calm and philosophic as you can.
The alligator offers a useful though
somewhat impractical example; he
Just lies in water and shade and
sleeps!
j Acting P-M-G. _j
WASHINGTON . . . William W.
Holmes (above), Is now acting
Postmaster General to fill the
vacancy brought about by the
resignation of Postmaster General
Farley. Mr. Holmes was first as
sistant postmaster general to Mr.
Farley.
insurance Rackets
An interesting story telling
about fake accidents that swindle
insurance companies. One of many
feature illustrated articles in the
July 26 issue of the American
Weekly, the big magazine which
comes regularly with the BALTI
MORE SUNDAY AMERICAN.
| SUMMER SPECIALS
f %
CROQUIGNOLE
PERMANENTS
$1.50 to $5.00
SPIRAL PERMANENTS
$3.00 to $5.00
Arcade Beauty Shop
W. Innest St. Phone 574
1
I
k Ovaries
lra>*V ★
« V ^ ,oonlMADE SINCE
H vP* 1880 by the inventors of
W m the original safety raxor,
■f *1© _„Star Single-edge Blades have
W v 56 years of precision experience
W »X _ stropped into their keen, long-last
inS edges. If your dealer cannot sup
5© ply you, mail 10c for 4 blades to Dept.
FS-1, Star Blade Division, 88 Joknton
Street, Brooklyn, New York.
FIT GEM AND EVER-REAPY RAZORS
LOANS
Make US of I
\ Our confidential service
Negotiating loans for salaried people
Easy re-payment plan
"Y ou are invited to call and inves
tigate our proposition.
C. E. Allen & Co.
\ SECOND FLOOR, WASHINGTON BUILDING j
120 North Main Street Phone No. 7
SALISBURY, N. C.
Nervous, Weak Woman
Soon All Right
"I had regular shaking spells from
nervousness,’’ writes Mrs. Cora Sen
ders, of Paragould. Ark. ”1 was all
run-down and cramped at my time
until I would have to go to bed. After
my first bottle of Oardul, I was bet
ter. X kept taking Oardul and soon
I was all right. The shaking quit
and I did not cramp. I felt worlds
better. I gave Oardul to my daugh
ter who was in about the same con
dition and she was soon all right”
Thousands of women testify Oardul bene
fited the<* If It does not benefit TOO,
eousult e ahyslclan.
AD NO. 2 IN REDDY KILOWATT'S "HOME OF COMFORT" SERIES
V
Let Reddy Kilowatt Bring Vou
Automatic Refrigeration For
Economy, Health Protection
and Convenience in YourHome.
Ask anyone who owns a modern auto
matic electrical refrigerator and she
will tell you that it is a decidedly thrifty
investment. You can cut your food
budget to a remarkable extent through
the purchase of food in larger quanti
ties and by taking advantage of low
week-end prices; reduce the waste of
food through spoilage; preserve the
left -overs for future use; have constant
of ice; make many delicious froz
en desserts; have constant dependable
refrigeration twenty-four hours of the
day.
•
As to the cost of electrical refriger
ation . . . both initial and operating
costs are very low. Your electrical re
frigerator dealer can explain how eas
ily you can have all the comforts, lux
uries, and conveniences and dependa
bility of electrical refrigeration through
’ow initial Cost and convenient terms.
Let Reddv Kilowatt bring you these
~omforts and economies of automatic
electrical refrigeration to your home
+odav. The low cost of his services wiir
’maze you.
This series of advertisements is dedicated to the Homes and Homemakers
in the territory of the
DUKE POWER COMPANY