Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

THE THROWBACK A COMPLETE NOVELETTE by Author of “The Unholy Onc,” ‘Lone Hand,” etc 6é EEMS funny, doesn’t it, Charlie?” the ‘“‘Kid” suddenly broke out. “Here in this advanced year of mms 31020 we fool ourselves we're on the verge of being able to talk to Mars millions and millions of miles away, yet we’re not even clever enough to tell a thing about the origin of these ruins right here around us.” “Nothing funny to my way of thinking, Tim,” Charlie Maddocks dissented disin- terestedly. ‘In this land of untold mys- teries a little matter like that is nothing. Old Africa has always been jealous of her secrets anyway.” “Ves, but hundreds of ruined towns, Charlie, and not one giving a single atom of information.” “Who wants it, Tim? It’s too blooming hot to worry about ancient history in any case.” Perspiringly Charlie reached under the counter. The trading-store was like an oven. Unerringly his hand went beneath the cold, wet blankets and touched a bottle. Wearily he produced the bottle and held it appraisingly at the level of his eves. “Let’s have a drink, Tim. Liquor’s a darned sight more important than ruins on a day like this.” The drink went down and Charlie and Tim stood side by side and looked out over the lower half of the door at the parched and sizzling country. No rain for ten months and where the grass had not already burned itself off it stood stark and brown and dry. Not a leaf stirred. Even the lizards and tarantulas were too lazy to show themselves. But for the hum and buzz of the insects and the rasping sound of the borers in the wood of the store the country was lifeless. ‘“‘No wonder we don’t do any business,” Charlie remarked listlessly. “Any Kafir who’d carry a load of mealies to trade in this heat must be pretty hard up for what- ever he wants. So I’ve got to go to ’em. Load up and take a jaunt out in a day or so. That’s all.” “Take out the wagon, eh? Going to take oxen or mules?” “Oxen. Mules’ll eat up all the grain I get in trade before I get back again.” “Going to take Piet?” “Yes, Piet. One Cape-boy and one Kafir’ll be enough.” “And you'll want beads and _ limbo mostly?” “Yes, beads and limbo. Must take some stufi for the little zztombis to make their little skirts. And tobacco and copper wire. A bit of salt, too, I think.” “May as well start getting it together now, Charlie. Do it by degrees; then we won’t be tired and it’ll be onlv a matter of loading up.” Mechanically Charlie reached under the counter again and produced the cold, vet sweating bottle. ‘Better get up a little more steam before we begin,” he said. The work began heartily, then went slower and slower. The sun passed over- head and commenced throwing shadows to the east. And Charlie, sitting on a pile of sacks, dropped calmly off to sleep. For a 135 MICLOOKS 5}