Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

Safe for Sam “Not them!” proclaimed the night man. “Youll see!’’ His guess was well founded. He had no more than ceased speaking when a voice came from out the darkness at the foot of the tower. “Seeley!” The single word floated in through the open door. A triumphant glare shone in the eyes of the man called. But the words that came to his lips were frozen by the ac- tivity of the other man in the tower. ‘‘Not a word, not a move, but what I or- der!’’ commanded Lee in a low but decisive tone. ‘Here; step over toward the door!” The third trick man did as directed and Wheeler retreated toward the rear of the office. The voice from below called again. ‘Seeley!’ “Tell them to come up!” Wheeler. Seeley moistened his lips: then raised his voice. “Come up!”’ he called. Feet pounded on the steps, hurrying. Then through the doorway burst Dusty and Shark. “What happened?” bellowed Shark’s deep voice. ‘‘What’re you trying to _ pull off here? Trying to double-cross us?”’ The angry pair had never glanced toward the rear. But it was from there the next words came. “‘Not him; me!” said Wheeler inelegantly. “Hands up, all round!” The latest comers whirled about in the di- rection Seeley was already looking. The sight of the man there-with the pistol, com- ing on top of his recent savage disappoint- ment, seemed to drive Shark to abandoned recklessness, to extreme folly. With a scorching oath his hand swept back of him and a gun gleamed forth. “Drop it!” shouted Wheeler. His pistol flamed, the shot crashing in the office with startling abruptness. - Shark spun around, then keeled over, his own pistol exploding harmlessly at the ceiling. ‘‘Are there any more?”’ Wheeler’s voice was grim.’ “TI hate to do it. But if neces- sary I’ll blow all three of you down!” There seemed to be no more. Dusty’s arms—and Seeley’s as well—were raised high. Lee stepped forward and took a pis- tol from the former’s hip. He picked up the fallen man’s gun, dropping both in his pocket. dictated 67 “Now, then,” he said, “you two look after the big fellow. I suppose he’s the man that’s been troubling Loomis. But no matter. I think you’ll find I only creased him. A little water from that bucket’ll bring him ’round.”’ The pair busied themselves as directed while Lee moved to the telegraph table. Standing sidewise, his weapon ready, he opned, thestrain wire key. sai ver OM yehe said to the dispatcher, Sr bitin ig, Wheeler at ‘WN.’ Send +o@ light snging with some police boys out here just asifast-asythe wheels will turn.” The sounder sputtered incoherently a few times; then: “What you talking about?” said the astonished dispatcher. ‘‘What’s ‘‘T’ve got three candidates for the pen here and I want to get them off my hands,” ~ stated Wheeler. ‘“‘They wanted to stop Ninety-Two and spoil one of those silk cars; but they didn’t. She’s by and gone OK. You hurry up, now. I'll have to sit and watch ’em till you get the officers here.”’ ‘For the love of Henry!” said the dis- patcher. But he was trained to grasp things quickly. “Allright, boy! I'll get ’°em there in about an hour. OK!” As Lee closed the key he heard Shark groan. The big man blinked, stirred, and sat up, assisted by his fellows; he looked around stupidly. - But after they had given him a drink of water he appeared to gather his faculties together better. “Get a clean hand towel out of that cup- board drawer and bind his head,”’ said Lee. ‘“‘Not bad, is it? I thought so. Yes, wind it around. Pretty good, eh? Want to sit ona chair? Allright. Dusty, kick some of those chairs in a row over there and all of you be seated.”’ A few minutes later the three prisoners sat side by side facing Wheeler, the latter sit- ting with his back to the telegraph table, several paces distant from them. Shark sat in the middle of the three, apparently little the worse for wear, although decidedly morose. “Well, boys,” said Lee cheerfully, his gun resting easily on his knee, “‘we’ve got a social hour or so to pass away before help comes. Let’s be agreeable and knock off the minutes pleasantly. Who’s got a tale to tell? Seems to me some of you fellows ought to have. For instance, how did all this come about?” COnmiclbooks Cc C@