Adventure Magazine Cover — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

84 rods’ start with my horse. With a blow that left the knife thrust deep in the board he brushed his hands briskly and an- nounced: “T’ve thought it all out. I must make a profit out of your visit here. ll hold you, as my guest, until I learn how the cat jumps with Harrison. If he gives me a guarantee of a captaincy during the re- mainder of the war, plus a fat bonus, plus a year as governor of this province, we'll open the oldest jug in the cellar and drink each other’s good health, and you'll ride back with the captain. If he balks, then I must make my gain out of your uncle. He should pay very liberally for your release. “This plan will make it necessary for me to keep you under cover until I've learned the most the captain has to offer. If he shies at my terms I shall agree to everything he says, part with him, and wish him in Reise Es de) “Rather a poor return for my efforts,” I remarked. “Highty-tighty, man! Love of me never brought you here. It’s all a game and each man for himself.” “While my uncle would pay something for my release it wouldn’t be any exorbitant sum. He owns much property, but his ready cash is greatly exaggerated.” “TY think I can fry out quite a decent sum,” he assured me. . ‘Fry out’ 71 repeated, puzzled. “Before the fireplace,” he explained, smiling broadly. ‘After you've sizzled there a bit you’d write such a letter as to touch the heart of the devil.” “T now wish Captain Harrison had been the one to find you first.” “He would have been shot on sight and I would never have known his Majesty’s kind intentions toward me.” His personal attention to me had held my mind on the qui vive to meet his queries and parry suspicions. It was a great relief to have him leave me. He went toa couch at one side of the hall and bent over it solicitously. For the first time I observed aman to be on the couch, his head concealed by a bandage. During my respite I fran- tically scoured my mind for some scheme of getting on the other side of the big door. Ganner would do exactly as he had threat- ened. Usually the evil a man works is exaggerated and he is blamed for much Adventure deviltry he never had the opportunity to do. But as I sat there, the focal point of many eyes, and smoked my cigar I was ready to concede to Ganner every crime on the calendar. His wickedness was con- stitutional. He laved it because it was devil’s work. Give him all the wealth of the. world on condition he live decently and he would not be able to keep his parole. OW the figure on the couch was rising to a sitting-posture, and Gan- ner was mixing spirits with water and giving the unfortunate a drink. He put a question in a low, soothing voice and pointed to the table. The wounded man shook his head. From the extent of his bandages and their deep discoloration he must have been shockingly wounded. Gan- ner left him seated on the edge of the couch and returned to me and-in a voice of deep sympathy explained: “One of my poor boys injured in a little brush yesterday. Three of the others were killed. May the devil bite me in two if I don't take rare payment for that job!” My memory galloped. Three dead men. There were three dead along the road in front of old Ambros’ cottage. There was a fourth, the one Elsie Macson had hit with a rock. I wished the fellow would he down again. I pushed back my chair so as to bring one of the outlaws between him and me. He seemed content to remain on the couch, his hands hanging listlessly between his knees, his eyes staring at the floor. Ganner interrupted my uneasy thoughts by remarking— ‘“‘About time my scouts came back.”’ “They should have found Captain Har- rison by-this time,’ I agreed. “But if they come along with him they’d be slower than if they came ahead.”’ “T ordered one of them to come ahead. Perhaps vou are tired and would like to lie down?”’ This because I had yawned—my first move to get out of the hall. “TY am very tired. If I could retire and rest until the captain comes ” “To be sure!” he heartily cried. stood up he horrified me by directitig: “Two of you boys help podr Binn to a room. Our friend will rest a bit on the couch.”’ Two men steadied the wounded man and As lI COmiclbooks C©