Adventure Magazine Cover — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

The Bushfighters | 7 _ “That’s plain enough for any one to under- stand, and I’ll be about Cap’n Putnam’s busi- ness. My head was made for that. I ought to have smirked and minced and acted like a dancing magpie when I come up to you.” In his anger and humiliation he would have left her most abruptly had she not shifted her mood and bent on him a glance that befuddled him and made his stout heart do absurd tricks. “You were kind to me when I needed a friend,” she cooed. “At that particular time you seemed to be surrounded by friends,’ he muttered. ‘So friendly they didn’t seem to want to lose you.” “They were all eager to serve me—for pay. You served me and left me. That was very pretty. I’ve thought of you as helping a maid and then going your way satisfied at having done a kindness.” Her frankness, her beauty and her marvelous animation overwhelmed him. He faltered like an overgrown boy. ‘The coolness which had characterized his many encounters with the Shawnees was entirely wanting. In his very desperation his lips grew bold, and before he realized it he was declaring: “T know of no service fve done you. I came after you because you’re the most. beautiful thing on earth. I couldn’t help it.” “La, la! But you speak warm for a Con- necticut man,” she gasped, her blue eyes very wide. ‘You outstep a wild blade of an officer in bold speeches. Fie for shame, Ephraim Willis! And you posing for a simple, honest, God-fearing young man!” Now he knew she was making game of him, but he could not retreat. The ice was broken and he doggedly held on. “T can hide my trail from Shawnee or Mingo, but not from you, Elizabeth Lidindick. I must be honest with you.” “Tt’s quite refreshing to find an honest man,” she dryly remarked. ‘Yet most men who talk to me always say they are ‘honest.’ Why do you come up to this dreary hill and its dreary village?” cr join Cap’n Putnam of.the Rangers here.” She eyed him thoughtfully as if asking her- self questions, then murmured: “Albany is a queer place for forest rangers. Are the Indians about: to attack the English here?” He frowned at her gibe and gravely informed her— “With Lord Loudoun placing his ten thou- sand men between here and the head of Lake George there’s small chance for Montcalm’s red devils to work any mischief here.” They had walked a few rods up the street and now she turned into a porch and seated herself on a settle and drew aside her petticoats in invitation for him to join her. She puzzled him exceedingly. She had greeted him as her “un- known hero,” thus evidencing she remembered him and the service he had rendered her. Almost in the same breath she had asked why he followed her; and almost before he had given his answer she had upbraided him for “bad taste,’’ had rebuked him for seeking her favor, and then had melted and admitted her obliga- tion. Cold and hot she blowed until he was | rarely befuddled. Now she was smiling ser- aphically and urging him to sit with her. “Of course this war is all a blind business to me,” she was sweetly confessing as he gingerly took his place by her side. ‘England and | France are at peace for a year with their armies fighting over here. Now they are at war and we keep on fighting. “T wonder what it’s all about. It seems to be a running back and forth with no one knowing what to do. The French will not come down the lake, and General Winslow will not go up the lake. Both might as well go home. One seems afraid and t’other dare not.” “Vouwll see who dares inside of thirty days,” Willis assured her. ‘And I shall be in the thick of it.” Then ruefully— “‘But when can I see you | again?” “Tor! What a bold young spark!” she mocked. ‘You see me now. You know it’s very wrong for me to be sitting here with you. Mynheer Van Tassel’s vrouw is watching us. Such stories she will tell Albany! If my father , wasn’t an invalid he might come out and order me into the house.” “But what harm in our talking? And i hhaven’t said much, you know.” She laughed softly at this naive reminder, but was very grave as she said: “T must be very watchful of ‘my manners. I am sent home in disgrace.” “T know,” he sighed. “This is harmless enough. But that—well, that was a prank. Rather a bold one.” “Vou are criticizing. me?” she questioned. “Good Lord, no! I’d never criticize any- thing that gave me the chance to know you,” he hastily defended. Ea NOW she was all dimples and silent = na laughter again. “Rather neatly Willis,” she applauded. fe § jumped for the first bit of cover I could find,” he returned. Now her blue eyes were limpid with appeal and she coaxed— ~ “Tell me that what happened in New York didn’t make you have a poor opinion of me.” “What a notion!” he gasped. “I hope that means it didn’t. And so now you’re off to take Ticonderoga. Captain Put- nam must think highly of you to meet you here and talk over plans.” | turned, Ephraim eiac wpm Xt bot EN Soe SCRE aa ‘\< . be ithy F WA it~ 12 ee rage ieee PGE oe de fe. éiall wai by J ta sie. » ket t's 1 ey) ‘y t po Ne be Sie. bs! Uf MW thy af yy i. o-* yar, x “ PRGA be Reet pF we’ PPO SPY eC a ER, Qe Pete LL an POR MARS St * ° , ‘ VANS he aa WE Awe a Ve) 1) TA St * TENETED FAP Pe eae 2k eh Cee CORNICLOOKS ity; 4