Adventure Trails, February 1929 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

4 « iit, 4 AON i a THE MIGHT OF THE SCORPION Sey.’ HE looked up at Ted, and her blue eyes were clear and unafraid. “You taught me much about the grin- gos,” she said. “I doubted more than ever. Then, when I saw Jarnoff’s note, I saw things suddenly without prejudice. Saw them as they are. And so—to-night I am going to help you, as much as I can, in undoing the damage I have already done.” “I don’t think—” began Ted earnestly, but the girl stopped him with a quick ges- ture, her eyes appealing. “Please don’t debate the matter with me,” she begged prettily. “Just ahead— see, through the trees, that little clearing in the valley between the two peaks—is the meeting place. We have no time to lose in talking; the sun is already low, and we will have to approach carefully, for they will have guards out. “I think I know a way. I will lead you to it, and then I shall let you plan what we shall do. Only you must not ask me to turn back. I am strong, and I am armed. I can shoot as well as most men. If there is trouble—and there may be trouble, for Jarnoff is very shrewd—I can stand back to back with you and fight it out. I think,”’—and her blue eyes were shining now—“I think in many ways I would like that. The De Arteagas are a race of fighters!’ Despite the gravity of the situation, Ted could not respress a broad grin. “Shure, an’ a coleen who comes hon- estly by the name of Nora would have fighting blood in her, De Arteaga or no De Arteaga!” he chuckled. “Let’s go!” XII THE SECRET SIGN T was more than dusk when they came close to the scene of the meeting. It was dark, and the darkness was peopled with a thousand dangers. Directly ahead, perhaps two hundred yards distant, they could see the little cabin in which Captain de Arteaga had lived his last days. In front of the cabin, and some distance from it, was a big fire, a ? and a great crowd of people were gathered somewhere close, for the sound of a sub- dued chattering came faintly to their ears. “We'll have to get into the heavy = shadow behind the cabin,” decided Ted. “From there we'll plan our next move. I imagine that Jarnoff will make the cabin his personal headquarters; so it'll be guarded, and we'll have to watch our step.” They crawled slowly forward through ~ the thick undergrowth, pausing every foot or so to listen and peer through the soft, warm blackness. They were within a few yards of the cabin when they finally located the sentry they were sure must be there. He was lounging against the corner of the cabin, idly smoking a cigarette. They could see the red-hot tip glowing like a danger sig- nal in the night. Patiently they waited until he moved away. If, as they suspected, Jarnoff was in the camp, it would not do to have a struggle fairly against the walls of the — es place. Luck was with them. The sentry strolled slowly towards them, rifle care- lessly over his shoulder, flicking the ashes from his corn husk cigarette. Just as he was abreast of them, Ted straightened up slowly and quietly, poised himself, and at the right second gripped the man’s throat from behind. The sentry dropped his gun and in- stinctively tried to tear loose that throt- tling grip. He tried to cry out, but only a low, hacking cough came from him. Ted’s strangling fingers did their work perfectly, and in a few seconds the sentry hung, a dead weight, in his grasp. “Quick!” he instructed Nora in a whisper. “‘My handkerchief for a gag. That’s it! Tie it tight. Fine! Now take a knife and slit his belt lengthwise. That'll give us enough leather to tie both hands and feet. He’s only out for a few min- utes.” The girl worked swiftly and silently, and in two or three minutes they had the sentry bound and gagged so securely that — Ted felt sure there was no danger from GComichbooks (E@)