Adventure Magazine Cover — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

sled Wheeler and the Nameless Order he had called up the servant from below to tell him to repeat what Dan had said before leaving. It seemed that Dan had waited for some time for Lu Yan to return, and then had gone without leaving any message. “Again it was my fault,” Lu Yan com- muned with himself. “I should have returned more promptly—perchance I could have persuaded the youth not to venture out again, to risk his life among foul beasts. He can hardly succeed alone among so many —my faith is based only on his surpassing skill and quickness in the handling of men— my hope is only that he may return sound in body. Verily human affections bring suffer- ing as the day brings darkness in its train.” He was about to try once more to compose himself to the perusal of the noble truth as to the real Nirvana, when he stopped with his shell-rimmed spectacles half-way down his nose. Was that a sound at the door below? It was nothing—he was a disturbed old man— possessed by fancies— That was something! A knock—a step on the stairs—three at a bound—the curtain swept aside. “Been at it again!’ Dan stopped in the door accusingly. “T told that toddling highbinder down- stairs to tell you I was all right—not to worry—and I bet you’ve been doing nothing but! It’s all over—anyhow I couldn’t sleep with the Crimp on my mind, but now we’re all cleaned up to date and I am due to sleep about nineteen hours by Scotty’s big chro- nometer.”’ As he spoke Dan was relieving his pockets of his black shiny wig and goggles, also of a pair of walnut shells so scraped as to fit inside the cheeks and to change the voice beyond recognition. He apologized: “T had to try my own hand at the disguise business and it worked! I feel so good I’d have a fit if I felt any better.” “Vou have not been in Scotty’s place alone!” “Maybe not—but look what he loaned me! This pack of kale was inside his vest, and I didn’t disturb the hard stuff. But look at the kettle! One of the kind that tells who’s the next President—and inside the case is the name of the poor cuss he stole it from—probably at the bottom of the bay long ago. I wish Id given his dirty claw one more twist and put it on the blink for stay-so.”’ 107 Dan exhibited the gold watch and made it strike. “It is enough that you return unhurt— more than I have merited,” Lu Yan said contentedly. “I have been planning how we may avoid the risk of attempting to rob Ardmore. It is still more——”’ “That was dead easy—he had his all in neat packets.” Dan pulled the packs of bank-notes from another pocket, tossed them on the table and sighed like one content. ‘“‘Now if I can have a cup of real tea I'll hit the hay.. And a few of those cakes. Hello, Ike! Good boy! How’d you knowI © wanted them?” As the new man had appeared with his special favorites and the tca all prepared, and disappeared smiling, Lu Yan said: “He, too, has watched for you anxiously —he has become your devoted admirer at sight. You will need help to remove the stain.” “How do you get the darn stuff off?” Dan was enjoying the cakes. “T got some in my eye. Did Ikey Down- | Stairs tell you about it?” ‘‘No—he was too deeply concerned for your safety.” Lu Yan sat down to feast his eyes on Dan’s enjoyment, and to listen with twin- kling eyes. “Well, I got an eyetul of it, and while I was doing a ghost-dance I said things—the stuff gouged until] my ears rang—I yelled to Ike to call out the Fire Department, and he got off to a running start—me after him as blind as a new kitten. “We'd be running yet if he hadn’t taken a header down-stairs. He left the rug that threw him, all fixed for Dan—I turned over twice—never touched a feather—and sat on Ike at the bottom. “TI thought I'd never get enough breath into him so he could see the joke—I don’t think he’s got it figured out yet.” “The American sense of humor is difficult for the tinted races,’ Lu Yan observed soberly. “Tinted! Wow! And you’re one of ’em!”’ Dan’s half-smile flickered for an instant. “Speaking of tinted—I’ll bet Garth turns a few fancy shades when he runs against the results of this night’s work. Iam getting to to hate that bilious bird so I shall hate to lose him! I do love him sol”? ‘““*My son,’’? Lu Yan quoted solemnly, GOMIIGooOoO S (© iin