Adventure Magazine Cover — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

108 “‘heware of the corruption arising from the wish to injure. It corrodes the spirit as rust darkens bright steel.’ ”’ ‘Dan was eating with absent enjoyment, but after Lu Yan had finished he suddenly looked up. ‘“‘How’s ’at?”’ he asked sharply. Lu Yan slowly repeated the quotation. Dan seemed to be saying the words under his breath, and to revolve them carefully. His eyes narrowed and wandered round the richly furnished room, searching,and lighted at last upon the Buddha—sitting plump- cheeked and sleepy on his pedestal. He pointed at it his porcelain teaspoon, accusingly. “He was the boy that got that off—for money!” “It is indeed a part of the Teaching of the serene Tathagata,’”? Lu Yan assented. “One of the Five Hindrances to Nirvana.” With a face as bland as that of the image. “Sure! He would.” Dan nodded. ‘Too fat and sassy—that lad.”’ But he kept turning his long, level eyes thoughtfully toward the eternal figure of contemplation upon Emancipation from Things. At length he admitted: “He looks darn satisfied with himself and comfortable, at that. It must feel good— maybe he knew.”’ After regarding the revered Tathagata for a time, tolerantly, he tipped his head sidewise to peer at Lu Yan out of narrowed lids. “It may work—but as for me, ‘gimme more action or gimme the hook!’ How’s that for a quotation? I made it to order— after Pat Henry. Pat was real American— pure Irish; the poisonest kind of American —and he believed in scrapping. Yes’m! He didn’t sit cross-legged on the floor till his brains turned to lard and his eyes turned in. And he got dis stuff put in the Fifth Reader—that’s better than the Five Hin- drances—what? My word!” Dan’s face softened attractively as he was reminded of Brendon. He went on softly: “p wonder if Drake and Brendon get back tomorrow—today, I mean. Now there is a lad I don’t wish to injure—not a-tall—if he is British and wears riding-britches. You ought to see ’em—Mm-mm! Hush! Let me tell you—if that lad—” again returning to the round-cheeked Buddha who seemed to draw his eyes—“‘if he ever sees Brendon Adventure —Lord Percy Brendon—in his British Britches—he’ll Crack his Crystal—you hear mel” “Are you never weary?” Lu Yan asked wistfully. ‘“‘Sure—that’s what ails me now. I never slop over and leave my face running like this when I’m in my right mind. Please wake me before night some time. to go to the big dance, in costume. night!” And Dan went to his room, admiringly winding his new chronometer on the way, like a boy with a new toy or his first watch. Good CHAPTER XIII VV was not the only one who had a narrow escape from death at Bridge Cafon. When Ghost Garth told his story of the “accident” that had swept Koloi and Wheeler to their death, Dalton and Luke Wood, as well as Adam Kinney, looked from Drake to Brendon—then at each other. By a nod or shake of his head Duke Drake could have started a lynching-party that would have rid him for all time of his most dangerous enemy. | For it was as open but courteous enemies that he and Garth started to return to San Francisco. The declaration of war came that same night before the Kinney’s fire, after the others had gone to bed. Garth by that time had become settled in his conviction that there was something keeping up the spirits and courage of Drake and Brendon. His wonderful intuitive read- ing of faces was not needed to tell him that they were not depressed by despairing bereavement. Brendon might be kept up by the prospect of winning out on his mine, but Drake—he was sure—had another shot in his locker. _ “T am on to you, Drake. Either you did not send both stones by the Indian, or it didn’t go down the cafion with Wheeler. What’s your cold hand? There’s ee up your sleeve.” He did his best to read Drake. “T answer no more questions, Garth.” Drake met his eyes steadily. “YT am sick of your cold cruelty. You’re no man at all—just a demon. But I fear you no more than Wheeler did—and he laughed at you. From now on it is war to the knife—and God help you!” “T am sorry for you Drake—you’d be I want GOMIIGooOO S (©