Adventure Magazine Cover — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

Guns of the Gods : “Have you had breakfast?”. she asked, Strangers of alien race are not invariably good guests, however good-looking, espe- cially when one’s husband is somewhere out of call. She looked and felt nearly as young as this man, and had already experi- enced overtures from more than one young prince who supposed he was doing her an honor. Used to closely guarded women’s quarters, the East wastes little time on wooing when the barriers are passed or down. But she felt irresistibly curious, and after all there was Chamu. “Thanks. dawn.” als THE Rajput accepted the proffered 2. chair without acknowledging the + butler’s existence. Tess passed him the big silver cigaret-box. “Then let me offer you a drink.” He declined both drink and cigaret, and there was a minute’s silence during which she began to grow uncomfortable. “T was riding after breakfast—up there on the hill where you see that overhanging rock—when I saw you here on the veranda. You, too, were watching the dawn—beau- tiful! I love the dawn. So I thought I would come and get to know you. People who love the same thing, you know, are not exactly strangers.” Almost if not quite for the first time Tess grew very grateful for Chamu, who was still hovering at hand. — “Tf my husband had known, he would have stayed to receive you.” “Oh, no! I took good care for that! I continued my ride until after I knew he had gone for the day.” Things dawn on your understanding in the East one by one, as the stars come out at night, until in the end there is such a bewildering number of points of light that people talk about the “incomprehensible East.” Tess saw light suddenly. “Do you mean that those three beggars are your spies?” The Rajput nodded. Then his bright eyes detected the instant resolution that Tess formed. “But you must not be afraid of them. They will be very useful—often.” “How?” The visitor made a gesture that drew at- tention to Caer. ‘ I took breakfast before: If “Your butler knows English. know Russian?” “Not a word.” “French?” “Very little.” “Tf we were alone——” Tess decided to face the situation boldly. Do you ‘She came from a free land, and part of her heritage was to dare meet any man face to face; but intuition combined with curiosity to give her confidence. “Chamu, you may go.” The butler waddled out of sight, but the Rajput waited until the sound of his retreat- ing footsteps died away somewhere near the kitchen. Then— “You feel afraid of me?” he asked. “Not at all. Why should I? Why do you wish to see me alone?” “T have decided you are to be my Tieng Are you not pleased?” = * “But I don’t know anything about you. Suppose you tell me who you are and why you use beggars to spy on my husband.” ’ “Those who have great plans make pow- erful enemies, and fight against odds. I make friends. where I can, and instruments even of my enemies. You are to be my friend.” “You look very young to——” Suddenly Tess saw light again, and the discovery caused her pupils to contract a little and then dilate. The Raiput noticed it, and laughed. Then, leaning forward: “How did you know lama woman? Tell me. I must know. I shall study to act better.” Tess leaned back entirely at her ease at last and looked up at the sky, rather revel- ing in relief and in the fun of turning the tables. “Please tell me. I must know.” “Oh, one thing and another. — It isn’t easy to explain. For one thing, your insteps.”’ “T will get other boots. What else?. I make no lap. I hold my hands as a man does.. Is my voice too high—too excitable?” “No. There are men with voices like yours. There’s a long golden hair on your shoulder that might, of course, be- long to some one else, but your ears are pierced “So are many men’s.” ‘““And you have blue eyes—and long, fair lashes. I’ve seen occasional Rajput men with blue eyes, too, but your teeth—much too perfect for a man.” CONME OO (E@)