Adventure Trails, February 1929 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

THE MIGHT OF THE SCORPION you covered and—I am a very good shot, gringo!” Ted stared in the direction whence the voice had come, but could see nothing. His tiny campfire had died down until its faint glow was barely discernible, and the light of the stars served only to fill the night with vague shadows. He dropped suddenly flat on his stomach, at the same time reaching for the carbine. Ted was not the man to lay down a hand until he was sure his opponent had the edge. A sharp crack split open the night and the carbine, which Ted had just grasped, jerked from his hand. A shrill whining over the tree tops marked the flight of a ricochet. The American swore softly un- der his breath and slowly elevated his hands. “T told-you I could shoot!” chuckled the voice. ‘There! That’s much better,” it said, as Ted raised his hands. “What do you want?” growled Ted. “I want you to change the answer you just gave the gringo from the capital!” came the surprising answer, and the voice that a moment before had contained a chuckle was now a hate-filled snarl. “Do you promise ?”’ Ted’s eyes opened wide with wonder. Change his answer to Wilson? Promise him to do what the chief wanted him to do? But why? A sudden understanding dawned on him. There really had been an eavesdropper, then! It had not been Wilson’s imagination. He recalled what he had been saying just before Wilson had _inter- rupted: the chief I'll take the job... .” The eavesdropper had not heard the rest, and supposed that Ted had accepted. A grim smile played around Ted’s lips as he answered. “You want me to promise to change the answer I gave Senor Wilson ?”’ Yea,” “What assurance have you that I will keep my promise?” “Even a gringo will keep his word of honor, I presume?” came the: cutting answer. 3 “What if I will not promise?’ asked Ted curiously. “T think you will,” replied the voice calmly. “But enough of this talk! May I have your word of honor?” “T suppose there is no other way out of it,’ shrugged Ted, and in the dark the smile around his lips grew more grim. “You have my word of honor that I will change the answer I gave Sefior Wil- son.” “Good. I thought you would: you “You go back and tell, \Wihiwneny/ 77a iP! y ih I: } ey Wered y i}, ¥ 4 A sharp BA split the night and the carbine, which Ted had just grasbeds pee from his rand. < 5 A A 4 Vie Ra re | 4, oa ee 4 atuly dali’: hal tea hoy _h Gomichoo O) cS (©)