Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

160 “T wonder where she gets this ‘my Jerry’ stuff,’’ mused Tackline, as he again turned to go. ‘Perhaps she’s only pullin’ the old boy’s leg. But I wish I knew where I stood in this thing.” Tackline may have noticed the secret look of disappointment which Margarita gave him as he wished her “buenos noches.”’ But, if he did, his spirits were too down- cast, by his being replaced by Jerry, to rally at this encouragement. He, who had left the ship treading on fairy mist, returned dragging heavy feet through a mire of dejection. Next morning, Tackline failed miserably in signal drill. Jerry Dougherty stood on the forecastle and grinned. (>) KOOP self was grinning contentedly. He was spending most of his time in individual conferences with ten of his closest friends. Each he invited to go with him that evening to Algeciras, the little Spanish town just across the harbor. “Don’t say nothin’ about this party. It’s pretty deep stuff. But if you'll say you'll be with us [ll try to get the skipper to let us take the motor whale-boat. And remember this, sailor, it’s goin’ to be—a— large—evenin’. 9 The ten in turn readily agreed, promising in the meantime absolute secrecy as to the trip. But Tackline knew the hardest job would be to get the use of the whale-boat. Undaunted, he braced the executive officer. “Sir, you may’ve heard of my swimmin’ and divin’ exhibition the other day.” “fT not only heard of it many times, Brady,” chuckled the officer, “but had the privilege of seeing it.” “Well, sir, I think I can improve on that —do better, I mean—do the thing as it should be done, if I could have a little practise. Now, several of the guys tells me they'll teach me. And, I wondered, sir, if we could get the motor whale-boat for a swimmin’ party after chow tonight.” “Well, that’s asking a good deal, Brady, you know. But, this once, I'll take a chance tonight with the whale-boat, just as you took a chance the other day with your life.”’ With hurried thanks Tackline hastened on deck 4hd kept watch of the gangway. Finally, to his relief, he saw Boatswain Dougherty leave the ship, a heavy aroma BUT by afternoon Tackline him- Adventure of hair lotion and scented soap following him. The swimming party hurried through supper, climbed down the swinging jacob’s ladder at the end of the boom and dropped into the whale-boat below. “Start the old _ percolator,’ shouted Tackline to Timmy Rafferty, who had appointed himself engineman. Tackline himself took the wheel and headed the boat toward a strip of neutral ground which separated Gibraltar from Spain proper. This is the only really lawless piece of land in civilization. No nation on the globe owns or controls it. That was really the reason Tackline beached the whale- boat there. On the beach, a conference was called. ‘“‘Who’s never been to José Toredo’s, that spig sidewalk café just inside the Al- geciras gate?” Tackline inquired. No reply. “All been there?” “Sure, lots of times,’’ came the reply. “Ever get away without bein’ short« changed?” “Duck ever go swimmin’ without gettin’ her feathers wet?” chirped some orte. “Cut the foolish questions!’ growled another. Evidently this was a tender subject. Apparently José had been enriching himself in true continental style—by overcharging the bluejackets. “Well, listen to old man Brady’s son. Tonight you'll collect every cent the old nickel-nurser ever robbed you of. We'll get it all back—and some more. And we'll have a wine-fest and perhaps a battle- royal to boot. A three-ring bull-fight will be a blind man’s picnic aside of this. We wine and dine, as Holy Joe says, and José foots the bill. And bab-e-e-e, such wine! Oo-oo, 1a, 1a! No rot-gut tonight. Not on your life. Bueno vino for Thomas Brady and his salty friends.” Timmy Rafferty sat on the gunwale ci the whale-boat. As Tackline painted this brilliant eee Timmy hummed the old refrain “It may be so, but I don’t know, It sounds so dawggone queer, You'll have to try some other place, That moonshine don’t go here!” ‘“How’s all this goin’ to happen?” asked one of the party. “‘Here’s the dope. Keep your eye on the COmiclboook (©