Adventure Magazine Cover — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

The Torch-Bearers Carolinian as to who should get the woman?” “No! no!” I cried, restraining myself only by remembering his desire to serve me and his entire ignorance of the woman involved. ‘‘ "Twas merely a question of Tickridge not getting her.” “Eh? Not getting her? — his fat paunch, but that’s cursedly well put!” He pondered for a moment and his face grew more grave. Sighing dismally, he took down the lantern preliminary to departing; then paused to warn me: “This Tickridge is very popular at head- quarters. The failyre of the countryside to rise and exterminate the Whigs is sore disappointing to his lordship. He’d counted on it heavy. The coming of Tickridge makes headquarters believe the back- district Tories are about to get into the game, that much similar help is on the way. He’s sort of a cursed symbol, you know. The fool doesn’t understand that part of it. Takes it all as a personal compliment, and it’s quite turned his thick head. They jammed a commission on him the minute he arrived from Georgetown. He’s puffed up like a toad full of flies.” He left me and I was alone with my second night of impnsonment. My op- timism was much dashed. There was no new reason for this except my isolation was wearing on my nerves. With no one to talk to, no open danger to face, my imagi- nation suggested many traps and destroyed my perspective. I could makg a good fight against Tickridge on the ground the girl was being abused, provided I denied any knowledge of her antecedents. Aside from my reluctance to deny know]l- edge of the girl there was my impersonation of the fiery Wemyss. A court of inquiry would frown on that most severely. If I had been actuated solely by a desire to protect womanhood why had I not an- nounced my name and station? Why should I have assumed Tickridge would have ignored my protests? But using the major’s name! No, the subterfuge was too gross to be overlooked. For a trip planned merely to deliver forty pounds of hard money to the Lynch Creek Macsons my journey was netting me some very disagreeable results. But there was one star in the black heavens of my plight; the girl’s kiss, delivered pn tiptoe at my stirrup. Even his Majesty could not de- prive me of that. 93 Tat LATE that night I was aroused by | Et the rasp of the key against the grat- P“t4 ing and sat up on the couch to blink at the gaoler’s lantern. A voice said: “Call him to the door. I won’t go in.” Without waiting to be summoned, I crossed the room. The lantern shone in my face and blinded me at first. Then I recognized old Ambros. Behind him stood Fraser, the town major, and he was staring at me most truculently. “Yes, I know him,” said Ambros. “He saved me from four of Ganner’s Regulators a few days ago. I evened it up by helping him escape from the hands of Ganner him- self when I led Captain Harrison to the ‘kunk’s hiding-place.”’ “That’s sufficient,” snapped Fraser. “You can tell the rest before the court. This is merely a form to get our records straight. There’s been some bati busjness going on and whoever had a finger in it will stretch a rope.” “Tf he’s running with the rebels he must be stamped out,” growled old Ambros as he walked away with the major. Bright and early next morning Captain Posby was back at my door, his face very grave. “Why do you come hefe, my friend, when it can only make trouble for you?” I reproached him. “I’m here in my official capacity,” was the stiff reply. “From Major C. Fraser, major of the town.”’ I took the communication and read: To Mr. LANCE. Smr. I am ordered by the commandant to ac- quaint you that a court of inquiry will be assembled tomorrow at ten o’clock, in the Province Hall, for the purpose of determining under what point of view you ought to be tonsidered. You will be allowed immediately pen, ink and paper; and any person that you choose to appoint will be permitted to accompany you as your counsel, at the same hour and place. I am, etc. C. FRASER, Major of the town. “Tomorrow! I won’t have much time,”’ I remarked. “Today,” corrected Posby. “It’s dated yesterday. It was given me not more than ten minutes ago.” “T knew it was coming, or something like it; and I’m glad it’s your friendly hand that delivered it,’ I told him. He stood very erect, and in a harsh voice asked— “You have a choice of counsel?” CO Gbooks C©