Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

102 “Fo’ bits, seh!”’ thundered Colonel Tunk. “Six dollehs fo’ the dozen!”’ Mr. Tuttle paused with a coconut in his hand. He looked down in amazed inno- cence. “Why, kunnel—don’t be a piker! em right—start ’em right!” “Seventy-five cents apiece f’r ten coco- nuts,” drawled Sheriff Zeb, pulling his mustaches. “Ten dollars for a dozen,” roared Major Huckaby, and reached a bill to the preach- Start er’s hand.” Hey, Dick—make it a couple™ o’ dozen!” “Why, Major—” gasped Mr. Tuttle. “You here? And Senator Yancey? Why, I haven’t seen you and Pink Garford in church for a coon’s age! Ten dol “Fifteen—”’ said Sheriff Zeb, sepulchrally, and the Sons of Oolah looked at him, and then broke into a chorus. There was a clamor outside of the body-guard which the Oolah had managed to form around the coconut pyramid. Laughter and aston- ished whoops came from the throngs. Par- son Tuttle stood pointing a long, steady finger over the heads of the pilgrims and proceeded to sell coconuts. If one puzzled member of the First Baptist congregation started to open his mouth Major Huckaby bawled forth a bid that put him out of the running. Did Sheriff Zeb Peters merely rub his chin and look meaningly at Parson Dick, Mr. Pink Garford yelped loudly a dollar raise on whatever coconuts were bringing. ‘Eighteen dollars a dozen—” cried young Mr. Tuttle. “Step up, gentlemen! Get closer—drop your money in the missionary box, right to my left, senator! Thanks, kunnel, for the twenty—you’ll only get ten nuts for it, the way this market is whoopin’! Hey, Mr. Gilfish, did I hear you speakin’?” “‘T—]—guess Tl go home,’ quavered Mr. Gilfish. “An’ bring back your gunny-sack,”’ drawled the sheriff. ‘‘Pie-fillin’, Mr. Gil fish “Come on, now!”’ shouted Parson Tuttle joyously. “Just one dozen left—standin’ on the hand-rail enclosing this little dusty desert! What’s that, Mr. Peters—thirty dollars a doz 2 Colonel Tunk was shaking an empty bill case by Mr. Gilfish’s ear. Mr. Gilfish was backing away, but Judge Brandagee’s rotund form stopped him. Adventure “THIS here candidate for the lodge,”’ whispered Pink Garford, =— “kunnel, he ain’t helped us a bit— ma I F odic a hundred and ten dollars for mine!” ‘“‘Home—”’ moaned Mr. Gilfish. “‘Pie-fillin’,” suggested Sheriff Peters over his shoulder. “Thirty-two-and- a-ha-a-f? > sang Dick Tuttle waving a sample, and the sign of the Oolah stared down on Mr. Gilfish. ‘You get ’em, sheriff—”’ Colonel Tunk twisted a firm hand into Mr. Gilfish’s collar. Mr. Gilfish felt Major Huckaby kick his shins. Mr. Pink Garford jammed an elbow into his ribs. ‘“‘Thu——thirty—_t-f-ive,” gasped Mr. Gilfish. “Done!” cried Mr. Tuttle. “Hello, another dozen left? I lump ’em to you, Mr. Gilfish, at the same figure. You’re lucky to pick ’em up, Mr. Gilfish!”’ 3 “Pie-fillin’,”’ repeated Sheriff Zeb. “And ain’t it a shame, Mr. Tuttle? These six gentlemen hornin’ in ahead o’ me on every bid, and I couldn’t buy a durn coconut! What’s home goin’ to be without some coco- nut pie?” He leaned over the’ counter while Mr. Tuttle was checking up receipts. The little crowd of astounded church folks was scatter- ing, some on their homeward way. A little apart gathered the six Sons of Oolah. Mr. Pink Garford mopped his brow. ‘‘Keep your eye on ’em, senator. Judge Brandagee has gone to get his tourin’ car. Major, borry those two big hampers from the wimmen.”’ ‘‘Where’s Mr. Gilfish?”? demanded Sen- ator Yancey. “Say, he got his and beat it, kunnel! Must be goin’ to get all set for the initiation!”’ “Seh, will you help me tote these coco- nuts to my rig?” said Colonel Tunk. “A load of seven dozen coconuts “4 “Le’ me give you a hand, kunnel— Sheriff Peters was wandering by. “And say—Dick Tuttle says this coconut sale brought seven hundred and eighty-six dol- lars for the heathen. Average about one dollar a nut ‘““Evenin’, seh—evenin’!’’ murmured Col- onel-Tunk. And with a bow he strode after the other Sons of Oolah who seemed to have . business suddenly out the front door. The sheriff watched them loading coconuts into two motor cars and Colonel Tunk’s plan- tation buckboard, and then over the hot cComicloooks D> aad C@