Adventure Magazine, March 1916 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

‘shouted. i eet . Ae VCs we ™. Ve? 88 | Adventure But, before this newcomer could take in the whole camp with his gaze, the other tent-flap was flung aside and the great bod- - les of Savage and Matt came hurtling out into the firelight. Ward gripped his re- _ volver as he saw them. Each man carried a rifle. ‘“‘There’s the —— old skinflint!’”’ Savage “Get him, Matt. I’ll take care of Carter.’’. Matt stopped short, raised his rifle to his shoulder and leveled it at the man still standing straight and dignified before the tent. With the movement, Ward heard a scream of anguish behind him. It was Nellie Blaydon and her voice was the voice - of a woman terrified beyond control. “Father!” she cried. Ward—save him.”’ Fenton’s blood leaped with fire at her words. Scarcely waiting to take aim, he flashed his revolver out ahead of him, cov- ered the bulky form of Matt and pulled the trigger. The man crumpled and fell without so “Father! Oh, much asa cry of pain. His rifle flung from his nerveless fingers by the movement of his body, hurtled over almost to the tent from which he had leaped and he lay still. Sav- age wheeled at the sound of the shot and was about to bring his own rifle up to firing _ position, but Ward had already stepped out into the full glare of the flames, his revolver covering the cook. “Drop it,” he commanded sharply. “Drop it or I’ll get you!” CHAPTER XVII THE SHOCK IN THE WOODS R a moment the cook seemed to hesi- tate. Then, looking squarely into the unwavering muzzle of the revolver that pointed straight into his eyes, he released his grip on his rifle, let it fall to the ground, and then slowly raised his hands above his head. From the corners of his eyes Ward could see the form of Tom moving stealthily over to the far tent, before which Matt’s gun had fallen. He spoke without taking his eyes from Savage. “Stay where you are, Tom!” he com- manded. ‘Carter, you go over and get that gifle.”’ _ As Carter proceeded to obey, Ward heard a crash and rustle in the bushes behind him, and Nellie Blaydon dashed into the circle of firelight, rushing up to the old man, who still stood dignified and unperturbed before his tent, and throwing her arms hysterically about him. “Oh, father—father!”’ eS cried in an ecstacy of joy. ard saw the old man take the girl’s head in his two hands, raise her face to his, and shower it with kisses. The aviator choked back the lump that rose in his throat and turned to the more grim work that con- fronted him. Carter had picked up both rifles, slung them in the crook of his left arm, and was advancing toward him, his hand out- stretched. _ “T don’t know who you are, sir,”’ he said, “but I certainly am much obliged for your timely visit.” Ward shook his hand warmly and then once more turned to the men in front of him. He could see the form of Matt stirring on the ground. Carter’s younger brother was rising, his hand to his bruised eyes. “Get some rope and tie these three men up,” he said to the captain. “Once we get them secure we can talk more comfortably.” “‘T’ll just feel over their pockets first, sir,” Carter answered, and he searched the men thoroughly while Ward kept them covered with his revolver. But no weapons were found upon them. The hysterical sobbing of the girl ceased while Ward was waiting for Carter to find ropes. He could hear her and her father talking together in low tones, but he busied himself about the half-revived Matt, keep- ing a wary eye all the time upon the other two. The younger Carter came up to him. “T’ll take care of him, sir,” he said re- spectiully. “I know something about nursing.” They bound their prisoners’ arms behind their backs, and shackled their feet with ropes, and then, to make the job doubly secure, trussed them up to trees in the full light of the fire, so that any effort to loosen the bonds would be seen at once. This done, Captain Carter said: “Will you come over to the tent and meet Mr. Blaydon, sir? He will want to thank you, I know.” Otto Blaydon stood at the tent flap as they came up. He was still straight and calm and dignified, and the girl beside him Eomichbooks (E)