Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

The Gold Cure “Not by trickery. I’m old-fashioned. I prefer the other rule—do to your neigh- bor as you would have him do to you. But you may be right. Perhaps I’m an old fogy. I’m willing to learn.”’ The promoter’s eyes brightened. He had feared McWhinnie would refuse to do business. ‘“That’s the stuff, Doc!” he applauded. ‘“‘Any business man would tell you so. The game nowadays is to win. When you lose, take your medicine and grin. Your turn’ll come. Now take me. I trimmed. you once. Now I’m in the market for another mine, and I hear you’ve got one. I want it. If you can stick me, go ahead.” He smiled blandly. “Y will if I can!” the doctor snapped. ‘You're too slick for me, though. I have the misfortune to be fairly honest.” “So am I, within business limits. I’ve had experience, and I use it. But you have brains and an education, doctor. You may be able to put one over on me. Come on, skin me if you can! I won’t complain.”’ ‘“What’s your proposition?” ‘“Boozy Bill says you will sell the old King mine. It’s not much good, but I’m willing totakea chance. What might youask forit?” Kelly’s tone was admirably careless. But the Scot had learned his lesson. He could see that Kelly wanted to buy. His dwn task was to play on the swindler’s de- sire. It was a hard hand to play. McWhinnie believed the mine to be worthless to a man of Kelly’s stamp. Its values ran so low that only a genuine in- vestor, with patience and much capital, would pay good money for it. Kelly must know this. He was not the kind of man to buy in the dark. His wanting the mine at all meant that he held something up his sleeve. Against this unknown something, McWhinnie held no cards but honesty and a passionate craving for revenge. But if only Kelly’s hidden card was’ good enough “The King mine won’t suit you,” the doctor answered. ‘It’s not good enough to swindle old maids and_ schoolmistresses. You can’t swindle on just an ounce to the ton, and there’s no more than that.”’ “Oh, come, Doc! That’s not fair. I’m not a shark. You mustn’t think I’d take advantage of women because I trimmed a hardened man of the world like you. You're fair game for keen dealing.”’ Iftl “And you?” the Scot shot back at him. “Me too. I can take care of myself.” “All right! If it’s Meen dealing you want, I’ll deal with you. But watch out for yourself!” Kelly could not quite conceal the spark of triumph in his eyes. He thought how that mine was good—good beyond the wildest dreams—and to get it at any price was to get a fortune. But it was not his habit to throw money away. “Now you’re talking, Doc! I’m about the only man who would take that rotten mine off your hands, and I’ll do it just to make up for the old deal.” McWhinnie laughed in his face. “That’s a good one!” he said. “You a philanthropist! You’ve given me a dif- ferent definition of business, and you and 1 are going to do business on your defini- tion.” “Good! You can’t forget, I see. But I’ll do the right thing by you this time. Name your own price, and if I can meet it, I’ll give you cash on the nail. How’s ten thousand?” “Nothing doing! You want that mine, or you wouldn’t be here. If I sell, I’ve got to get enough to satisfy me for the old deal. Wait!” The Scot paced up and down the office, his forehead wrinkling. Kelly watched him closely, drawing a long breath of relief when the doctor faced about with an air of resolve. McWhinnie drew pencil and paper from his pocket. “T’ll figure it out. The tunnel’s about two hundred yards—say two hundred even. The ore runs about a ton to the yard. Then there’s a back of ten yards at the opening, and about thirty over the head. That'll average .twenty.” He = scribbled the figures dqwn. “Twenty by two hundred will be four thousand. An ounce to the ton. That gold is not fine, and brings only fifteen dol- lars and some cents at the mint in New Orleans. Fifteen by four thousand makes sixty thousand. Let’s. see.’”’ He cor- rected his figures, and nodded. “Very well, Kelly.” His keen eyes searched the swindler’s guileless face. ‘“‘This is a prospect rather than a real mine; and a prospect never brings the price of a mine. The ore’s not actually in sight, though the blowout is there all the distance. You can pan it out for yourself. I'll offer COnmnicoooks C@