Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

66 move far from their motor, he figured. They’d stick close until they’d see where Gip, the third man, was riding on Ninety- Two. Consequently when he had reached a point about fifty yards from the roadway, Lee increased his speed. With his plan of procedure well in mind, he made his way to the east; the tower was his objective. *‘T’ll look in on Seeley!” he said. A few minutes later he noiselessly crept up the outside stairway. Peeping through the glass of the door at the top, he beheld Seeley seated at the telegraph table peering out the window to the west. The new op- erator was bending toward the window eagerly, his attitude that of a man nervous and anxious. With the greatest caution Lee twisted the door knob. As he feared, he found Seeley had turned the lock. From his pocket Wheeler than drew something squat and hard. With this he tapped gently on the door, taking care to stoop down so that he was well in the shadow. There were quick steps inside the office. Then Seeley’s voice at the door. “Who is it?” “Dusty!” gum LEE spoke in a husky voice, just == loud enough, he judged, to pene- trate to Seeley’s ears. i “Quick, Seeley! Open up!” Without hesitation the new operator turned the key. The door swung open. Lee swiftly stepped inside and thrust his pistol against Seeley’s ribs. “You'll do as I say, Seeley!” he said in his natural voice. ‘Raise your hands!”’ As Loomis’ successor heard the voice and as the light in the office fell on Wheeler’s countenance, he was the picture of in- credulity. “Wheeler!” he exclaimed—but didn’t for- get to put up his hands. “Right, first guess.”’ Lee stepped close and ran his hand over the night man’s gar- ments. ‘“‘No gun, eh? All right; vou can put ’em down. Move up to the block le- vers and follow exactly the directions I give you. I'll stay back here, away from the windows. Hand me your train sheet.” Without a word the third trick operator lifted the sheet from the desk:and passed it to Lee. With quick, experienced eyes the latter glanced over it, then handed it back. “The block ahead for Ninety-Two is _ zipped past. Adventure clear, I see,” he said. She’s getting close.” He moved back a step, keeping his gun on Seeley all the while. “Now just what ‘Is your little scheme for Ninety-Twoe” he asked then. ‘Were you intending to hold her up for a fake order, or message, while your buddies raided the silk car?” The conjecture was a good one. By the swift expression of amazement on the other’s face Wheeler knew that he had scored well. “‘That’s very good. “You !” said Seeley. ‘“‘How— how——’” “Howe” said Lee. ‘Well, from different things.” ’ His words were cut short by the long, roaring whistle of the fast freight, calling for the block. ‘“‘Ninety-Two!”’ said Wheeler sharply. ‘Now, then, Seeley! Grab that eastbound lever and pull ’er clear!” The night’s man face was desperate. Like some animal at bay he glanced hungrily from left toright. But there was no getting away from the composed man who faced him. “Quick, Seeley!’’ Wheeler’s voice was no louder, but it had become cold, deadly. The pistol moved never so slightly in his hand. ‘Pull that signal clear!” With something like a snarl Seeley, per- ceiving his position hopeless, -grasped the lever and swung it far back. Number Ninety-Two’s whistle rose twice, sharply, in acknowledgment. Then at a forty-mile clip the engine swept by the office, the vi- bration causing the whole tower to tremble. One by one the cars of the fast freight Then the caboose. Seeley let the block fall back. His lips were twisted; drops of perspiration stood on his fore- head. “You fool!” he cried at Lee. done it now!” “No; you have,” returned Lee evenly. “Think of poor Gip—all alone on Ninety- Two, wondering why she didn’t stop!” The wrath in Seeley’s eyes grew deeper. “You think you’ve played !”’ he cried. “Well, you’re not wrong! You’ll never get away from here alive! Dusty and Shark will see to that!” “IT expect that pair’s beating it away in their little old truck,” returned Lee. ‘‘Ask- ing each other what happened, and figuring on where they’d better get off.” “Vou’ve cConmiclbool C@©