Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

The Sign of the Oolah other Sons of Oolah in the throngs were waiting to see how a Tunk would master fate, the colonel strolled into the desert wastes. He was looking over the Reverend Mr. Tuttle’s collection of Oriental antiques with the air of one casually interested when he felt a tug on his sleeve.’ ‘“‘Kunnel,”’ whispered Mr. Gilfish, “‘it’s all right, hey? We better make a quick move now, while folks are listenin’ to the preacher explain about the heathen. Come on, now, kunnel, f’r a real ole nut-pickin’ while there’s a chance. Hey—right by vour hand on the rail, there!—I’m a son of a Oolah if there ain’t one with our mark on it first thing!’ COLONEL TUNK eyed it casually. “Yes, seh—and there’s another beside it. Easy, now, Mr. Gilfish. Calm yourself, seh—here’s two more on the rail Me He heard a sudden gasp from Mr. Gilfish who was looking covertly at the coconut pyramid on the booth counter. “‘Here’s a bunch of ’em—all turned with an eye up—an’ every durn coconut marked with an O, kunnel!”’ The colonel gazed upon them, It seemed to him suddenly that not only the eyes of every coconut in Reverend Dick Tuttle’s oasis but also the eyes of every person in the First Baptist church, including Sheriff Zeb Peters, were turned upon him. He was aware that Judge Brandagee and Major Huckaby were watching him darkly. Mr. Pink Garford peered from behind one of the Millard cabbage palms. Senator Yancey was paying three prices for a hand- painted picture frame at old Mrs. Mahaffy’s Art counter, but he kept one eye intent on what Colonel‘Tunk, High Potentate of the Order of the Sons of Oolah, was doing. Even Reverend Mr. Tuttle, as he nobly championed the heathens’ cause, gave Colonel Tunk a covert glance. The colonel felt Mr. Gilfish again clutch his sleeve. “Every nut in the lot has got an O upside down an’ backward, “‘whispered Mr. Gil- fish. ‘‘How’n Tophet is a fello’ goin’ to pick ’em?” “How,” inquired Colonel Tunk slowly,- “‘did this infamy happen?” ‘“‘Mebbe Bat Murphy loaded ’em all with hooch?”? commented Mr. Gilfish. ‘Lordy, IOI there’s Sheriff Zeb wanderin’ this way, kunnel!”’ Colonel Tunk turned with perfect non- chalance to Zeb Peters. ‘‘Evenin’, seh.” “‘Oh—evenin’!”’ responded Mr. Peters. ‘You gents thinkin’ of buyin’ pie-fillin’ for to aid an’ assist the pore benighted heathen?”’ ‘Probably, seh!’’ Colonel Tunk strolled on. A moment later he and Judge Brandagee and Major Huckaby conferred casually while each was held up and trimmed by a sweet young thing at the fancy work booth. Then they heard the persuasive voice of that stalwart young worker for the heathen, Reverend Dick Tuttle. He was calling one and all to hear a pean in praise of coconuts.» Health, wealth and honors, declared Mr. Tuttle, would follow the use of coconut milk. He cited Scripture and economics, Oriental lore and therapeutics to show that coconut milk would make glad the heart of youth and rejuvenate the old. Especially, argued Mr. Tuttle, would the milk of the coconut do worlds of good to any one present who ever backslid in his religion or had poisoned his system with white mule whisky, as he was pained to think might be the case with some he could mention but wouldn’t. : To buy coconuts, went on Preacher Dick jubilantly, not only would benefit the heathens’ welfare but would put first-class pie-fillin’ in every home of Mississippi City, and he was there to auction them off. ‘Auction?’ gasped Major Huckaby. “What the dev——” “He doesn’t mean it!”? murmured Judge Brandagee—‘‘Kunnel, stop this!” “‘There’s old lady Mahaffy of the W. C. T. U. buyin’ one,” gasped Gilfish. “Marked with our little jigger sign!” whispered Mr. Pink Garford. Colonel Tunk turned a steady eye upon his pilgrim band. . ‘‘Gentlemen—— | He heard a slow voice over his shoulder. “Pie comes high,” drawled Sheriff Peters, “but we got to have it.” Colonel Tunk was striding for the hot sands. Mr. Gilfish slid along by his coat- tails like a scared rabbit. Behind came the other Sons of Oolah and they heard the first dimes and quarters of the coconut sale cropping into the box by Preacher Dick’s and. 9) DOOLK C@