Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

ii ary a ee Printing And the cunning of Smith up to che last. He had known Williams was pretending to be drunk, and, when he "shook him in the restaurant, he had spoken as if he believed he were speaking to a drunken man—must have “‘guessed that America was the only country with enough » private capital to swing such a deal.” Yes, he had been cunning. If the old man had not called attention to the scar on the face of that passing German or if that German had not passed at the time—but for that, Germany _ would have starved England into sur- render in a few weeks. On what tiny incidents do the fates of empires hang. But would others believe as Williams be- oar > frantically along the platform, a sual be ik his waving hand, the captain just caught the train. But would he be in time? Would he be believed? Not about the options—that could be proved— but about the certainty of war? There was no sense in sending a telegram. He would be considered crazy and arrested. And there was only one man to see—the Prime Minister. But what could the minister do, even if Williams made him ' believe that the option-buying was a war "move? ee - ‘The ‘captain had no idea, but he had & great faith i in that important official. He would see even if he had to fight his way to him. The shipping of the empire tricked itto Germany’s ports—at ten shil- lings or less a ton. Yes, they were clever. But for the scar he woul never have guessed it. Slice-bar, ——! He had thought it a queer, unhandy sort of weapon when Smith had told him the lie. Williams did not sleep that night, and, when in the very early morning he reached London, he raced to the first on the stand, shouting to the surprized driver— T portion of Kansas now included within the boundaries —&f oof Ellsworth County was diffi- @ cult to reclaim from the red men. The country w well grassed and pecieess Pe See ve ‘Gintants, belts “y timber 87 “Number 10 Downing Street, and drive like ——!’? And the minister’s servants were also surprized. They were accustomed to cranks of all sorts, but this big man seemed different. He didn’t shout or rave, and his low, tense voice was commanding. Still, they couldn’t let him in. It was too early, they explained. Would he come again later? Later they would be pre- pared for him. But Williams refused to come later. He wanted to see the Prime Minister right away. If he were still in bed, he must be wakened. The matter could not wait. And he made as if to push by them. The servants looked at one another— two big footmen, but neither of them anxious to tackle this big madman. One made a sign—phone the police while he held the fellow off with talk. But the captain saw the sign and guessed its mean- ing. With head down—top hat still in place—he was preparing to charge as he would have charged refractory sailors,” when another voice broke in— ‘‘What is it, James?” And Williams saw the Prime Minister coming dawn the hall. He never remem- bered how he obtained that interview. His torrent of words was beyond his con- trol. But he found himself sitting in a famous room alone with the great man—_ where the fate of Britain had so often been decided. , “ WHILE the world knows that, just ~4| before the outbreak of war, Ger- [Sy] many nearly succeeded in trapping @ part of the British navy in Kiel, this is — the first published account of her almost successful attempt to trap eight-tenths of the British merchant fleet and so starve England into an early and ignominious surrender. _ | SANTANTA . BY W. A. STERNBERG along the streams, making it a favorite Indian hunting-ground, swarming as it was with buffalo, elk, antelope and smaller game. White buffalo-hunters soon learned how desirable the country was and made persistent: and finally successful, aor ia! RR , oe er a Pa RED . % { ote | ‘ 2 ——. bs & ai "cComicbooks. com