Adventure Magazine Cover — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

~ ae ae “a ‘ _ ‘ “IVORY by L.Patrick Greene Author of ‘Two of a Kind,” “Thicker than Water,” etc O YOU think you’ve got evidence to convict the Major?” Trooper Fenwick of the Trans- vaal Mounted Police, in charge of an out-station near the Portuguese border, made no attempt to conceal the sarcasm in his voice. His companion, a plain-clothes man from the Johannesburg headquarters, spat his disgust. ‘What do I care about evidence? I’ve suspicions; that’s enough forme. If I can’t get evidence it’s easy enough to manu- facture.” “No wonder they call you ‘Dirty’ Nor- ton,” drawled Fenwick. “What do you mean?” snarled Norton. “Oh, nothing in particular. But they do call you that, don’t they?” “From what I heard on the way up here you are too bloomin’ thick with the Major. First thing you know I'll have you in irons for aiding and abetting. “Fat chance,” laughed Fenwick. “Why, I'd be tickled to death to be able to get the goods on him and arrest him myself. I tried it once,’ he added reminiscently. “Yes, and everybody’s been laughing at you since,” said Norton with vindictive- ness. ‘Well, from what I’ve heard he’s made a fool of you once or twice.”’ “Yes, and he’s going to pay for that.” “T suppose it’s no good asking you to play a sportin’ game with the Major? You wouldn’t understand. Ill admit that he’s broken more laws probably than any other white man in the country. But I doubt if he has any enemies—save you and a few others like you. “‘There’s not one of us in the ‘Mounted’ but would give a year’s pay if we could only get the Major. But we play fair—we want to get the goods on him. The Major is royal game and is protected from traps and poison.” “Bah! You’re all alike when you talk about the Major. I’ve got orders to get him. He’s made laughing-stock of the police force long enough. The papers are calling him the African Robin Hood. Robin Hood, ——! “But he’s got his nerve with him, I’ll say that. He camps up here within a mile of a police out-station and buys diamonds from the natives returning to their kraals from the mines. Yes, he’s doing that right under your nose.”’ Norton laughed triumphantly as he noticed the look of blank amazement on Fenwick’s face. “And you’ve proof of that?” “Yes. Right here.” Norton slapped his pocket, but he did not tell Fenwick that the proof consisted of several diamonds which he intended to “find” on the Major’s person, failing to secure legitimate evidence. “T’ll ride out to his place,” went on Norton. “It’s too hot to walk.” “You'll have to. My horse is lame. Don’t you want me along?” “No. Ill handle this alone. I'll start in half an hour and be back here before sundown. And the Major will be with me— handcuffed.” ‘ er 103 com “S) (EO) mn 0\(0)(0)