Adventure Magazine Cover — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

14 San Francisco who promoted things and perhaps a ferred to go to the city because he knew city ways and old Pete didn’t; but Pete’s lame foot made him useless in the desert and the rougher job was palpably up to Tom. Besides, Pete wanted to go; and there wasn’t money enough for two. Pete knew he was going. His mind was set. Asapreliminary he entered the town’s largest store. He wanted to look like a real city person. He knew that strangers had trouble up there from bunco men at times so he wanted to disguise himself as a regular blasé city dude. He bought a new pair of top boots, some heavy woolen socks, a dicky shirt with cel- luloid collars, a green striped necktie and a wrinkled brown-black suit of clothes, se- lected from underneath a pile of other suitings. It reeked of newness and had price-tags all over it. Pete then purchased a new Stetson hat and felt thoroughly equipped for city life. He started out with the package under his arm. Tom came out of the post-office, stuffing a letter into a pocket. His face looked dazed. Pete halted and stared at him. “Tom!” he roared. ‘‘What’s the mat- ter?” Tom jumped. .He took Pete’s arm si- lently and started down the street. “What’s the matter?” insisted the old prospector, when they were away from other people. “Something hit ‘me,’ confessed Tom. “T’ll be all right in a minute. Forget it.” “Well, I’ve got four hundred dollars salted away. If that’ll do any good “No. Thanks just the same. It isn’t anything like that. It’s sort of a private ‘matter.”’ “I’m your partner,” sistently. “Yes, but— Well, I'll tell you for fear you worry about it. It doesn’t affect the mine. It’ssomethingelse. My girl’s going to marry some other fellow.” III ‘THE stage for the county seat rollicked up to the hotel porch at mid-morning and halted to take on passengers, including Pete and Tom. Pete had many long miles TOM decided to try it. He pre- replied Pete in- Adventure to travel beyond the county seat before he reached the railroad. Tom was merely headed for the United States Land Office to file on the claim. They had decided to file. was a secret no longer. Tom’s confession had jolted Pete, but the old fellow understood Tom’s feelings. There was once a blond waitress in a Boise City hashery— But that was in the past. “There must be some way to fix it up,” suggested Pete a mile out of town, while the stage was rocking over sand-covered plains. “I’m afraid it’s too late. It’s all settled except the date of the wedding.” “‘That’s worse’n I thought!” Pete lighted his pipe and his face hardened. “Mebbe sometimes a feller’s luckier than he knows. When a gal goes back on a feller after his back’s turned——”” “You're wrong.” “You said she threw you down, didn’t ou?” “No. She didn’t.” “Then what in tarnation— be the man——”’ ‘“‘He’s a thorough gentleman even if he is old enough to be her father. Decent fellow. Richard K. Wentworth. Owns Hawaiian plantations and things. Wealthy. Belongs to all the big clubs. Quite a man.’ ‘Well, I’m durned! She didn’t throw you down, and yet she’s goin’ to marry this other gent! What sort of a shindig is this?”’ Tom hated to talk. In his pocket wasa piteous, helpless letter whose renunciatory words burned like fire. It was all the worse because Tom could do nothing. But he had to explain lest Pete get distorted ideas. ‘“‘We’ve known each other all our lives. Schoolmates. We’ve been engaged secretly more thana year. Her father was wealthy, but lost all his money before he died. Her mother had a hard time getting along. She objected to me because I didn’t have any money, so [ hit for this country, hoping to make a quick stake. I didn’t make it in time.”’ “Well, why don’t her mother leave things alone?” ‘A woman used to luxury can’t adapt herself to poverty. That’s why many mothers try to make what is called a ‘good match’ for their daughters. In a way it’s self-preservation. But I guess I’ve talked about enough.”’ Their secret Oh! Meb- COmiclbook CO