Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

82 Tom. “It was like this. I put some——” The door of the superintendent’s office opened precipitately. Officer Bissel en- tered. ‘“‘What is it, Bissel?’’ said Munn, rather coldly. “TI was just wondering if he’d come up here,’’ answered Bissel. He indicated the agent from San Marcos somewhat aggres- sively. “Crane, I mean. I saw him down- stairs.” Crane smiled sweetly. It appeared to him, however, that Bissel’s eyes were moving from the superintendent to himself in a decidedly anxious, searching manner— in a much more apprehensive manner than the policeman’s reason for coming would seem to have warranted. Munn considered Bissel quizzicallv. “Why should you be concerned about him?” asked the superintendent. “He wouldn’t tell me why he was in Carbon City,” replied Bissel. ‘It looked suspicious. I thought maybe he was slip- ping away from his job at San Marcos.” His words were heavy, dogmatic. “Oh,” said Munn. He glanced shrewdly at Tom and almost smiled himself. “You needn’t worry, Bissel. Crane is here, sure enough. He came in specially to see me. San Marcos station was entered last night.” ‘Another time!” said Bissel. His eyes opened wide for an instant, to all appear- ances much surprized. He looked at Crane. ‘What is missing?” “TI can’t find a thing that ought to be gone but what’s there,” replied Tom bright- ly. “No, sir, that’s so.” He surveyed the officer cheerfully. ‘Say, Mr. Cop, you should go down there and look around. Even if you have been there three times before and found nothing you shouldn’t let yourself be discouraged. Keep on trying, you know. Even the dullest of us have our bright moments.”’ Bissel didn’t like it; there was no doubt of that. And yet, for all that, there was a certain flash of triumphant cunning in ‘his somber eyes as he turned to the superin- tendent. He moved a few steps nearer Munn’s desk so that he stood midway be- tween Crane and the superintendent. His back was partly turned to the agent from San Marcos. “There’s only one way to end this thing at San Marcos,” declared Bissel. ‘‘It’s this: Some one will have to stay in the depot Adventure there at night and lay for these fellows. That’s the only way we'll ever grab them.” Crane was standing within three feet of Bissel, and while the policeman was speaking to Munn the agent’s gaze paused idly on the back of Bissel’s sober black coat. Abruptly Tom’s attention became fixed on something he saw there. On the officer’s garment, right between the shoulders, was a faint, tiny spot of red! “That sounds reasonable,” Munn was saying to Bissel. ‘‘Why not do it?” “YT will,” asserted Bissel. “T’ll lay in there every night until I get them guys, if it takes six months! I’m convinced it’s the one sure way.” He swung about to Tom. ‘“‘Have you got an extra set of keys that I can use when I want to get in there?” “Mmmhh!” said Tom. ‘TI believe.” He searched through his pockets slowly, endeavoring the while to calm his suddenly tingling nerves. Before Bissel had turned from Munn the agent had moved one step closer to the officer and had intently ex- amined the red stain. There could be no mistake; it was a red paint stain. He had stumbled on to something, something big, he believed. In the twinkling of an eye the aspect of things had changed. He had come into Munn’s office half-bored, half- irritated by the apparent pettiness of the forcible entries into San Marcos depot. But now his view abruptly was reversed. He was convinced that the affairs at San Marcos, while ostensibly the work of casual intruders and of no special significance, in reality were part of some deep-laid scheme and, considering what he had just dis- covered, were filled with the promise of surprizing developments. Tom found his keys and produced them. From the ring he took two. “This one is for the waiting-room and this is for the oftice,”’ he said, handing them to Bissel. The officer took the keys and _ thrust them in his pocket. Without delay he started toward the door. “T’ve an idea this will end things at San Marcos,” he said. ‘“‘I’ll look after it, start- ing tonight.”’ He opened the door and went out. Crane stood for a minute watching after him, even after the door had closed. Then he looked at Superintendent Munn. MICLOOKS =}