Adventure, November 1915 — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

The Scarecrow “Yes, Mr. Gorman? What do you propose to give me?” The Scarecrow stood in the doorway with an expression of pleased anticipation on his face, just as if he had overheard somebody announcing that he was about to give him a present. Gorman stood with dropped jaw, taken aback for a moment. But it was due chiefly to surprise; he had courage enough, and soon recovered himself. “‘You’re the swine who’s causing all this trouble,” he snarled. “And I’m going to give you—” he had been going to say “a —— good hiding,” but then he hesitated and altered it—“I’m going to run you out of this camp.” ef “You don’t say?”’ inquired the Scarecrow genially. “Why, I’m not quite ready to go yet; and anyhow, you’re hardly in a condi- tion to run me out of this room, even.” Gorman took an unsteady step forward, and then he stopped and his hand began to steal around to his hip pocket. : The Scarecrow’s hands were hanging loosely at his sides, but they did not move; only his smile reverted to the wolf-trap formation that McNair had seen once before. “Better stop right there, Mr. Gorman. A little more, and you’ll crowd me farther than I dare take a chance.” There was a confident menace in the tone, and Gorman in his confused state of mind hesitated again, and was lost. Slowly~his hand came back. “Ah, thank you,” acknowledged the Scarecrow. “I hoped you would. Better run along home to bed now.” ‘ Gorman made a last effort to reassert himself, but in his befuddled condition found it impossible; and with a mighty impreca- tion he lurched out at the door. The landlord reached below the bar and drew out a great stone crock which he kept for occasions of special solemnity and poured out half a tumblerful of the precious contents, which he pushed across with a hospitable “Hae,” meaning in his own idiom, ‘‘Have one on me.” “What, all that?” laughed the Scarecrow. “Aye, mon, but ye desairve it for a braw chiel,” replied the other, and then with some hesitation added: “Laddie, let me gie ye a bit advice, an’ dinna tak it amiss. Ah dinna ken yer richt business here, an’ Ah'm no carin’. But let me tell ye, there’s a 97 muckle talk an’ a hantle o’ folks luikin’ for to mak ye trouble. An’ noo ye’ve croupit the lug o’ Chief Gorman forbye.” The Scarecrow shrugged his shoulders and laughed silently. , “Oh well, I don’t think he’ll hurt me any.” : But McNair persisted. “‘Yon’s a muckle revengeful loon, an’ sair unforgiein’, an’ he’ll no balk at ony ways 0’ doin’ ye wrang; an’ dinna forget that he has seven ithers to tak his orders. Sae laddie, Ah’m advisin’ ye to howk yer pack the way ye came an’ gang awa whiles ye yet may.” “Much obliged, McNair,” said the Scare- crow. “I hope to be going in a very few days now, if all goes well.” “Aye,” replied the landlord. it less nor a few.” At this juncture they were interrupted by a tall overseer who came in inquiring: “Gorman been here, you fellows? What’s the matter with him? He’s carrying on like a maniac and raising holy —— generally.” In the explanation which followed, the Scarecrow slipped out of the room. The incident was the one topic of con- versation among the habitual customers who dropped in for an early morning bracer on their way to work, causing secret jubila- tion among the inspectors and a general agreement with McNair’s opinion that it behooved the Scarecrowto be very wary now. A belated sorter entered. “Scarecrow? What about him? TI just saw him going into the Police Superinten- dent’s office.” There was a general chorus of, “Trying to square himself in case Gorman frames something up on him.” And when they learned during the lunch interval that the Scarecrow and the Super- intendent of Police had ridden out together, they gave him credit for the most ingra- tiating manner and persuasive tongue in the universe. phy flashed through the camp that the two had returned with Maung Gaung in custody, caught “dead to rights” in the act of mining without a license. A wave of indignation followed. Hitherto men had been inclined to regard the Scare- crow as a cheerful scamp whom they had to admire for his nerve, and whom they “But make LATE that evening the ‘news ‘ connicbooolks (CO) LAL > OF, 7S Sr