Adventure Magazine Cover — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

Ito they were not just ordinary women. He was in love. The Lina W. was graceful as a racer, repainted white, with a cabin that would hold a score of people, and rechristened by the Senator—intended for use as a private ferry and pleasure-boat. ‘“‘We shall keep her in the new boat-house at Sausalito, when we are not cruising and picnicking round the bay,’ Mrs. Sands explained as they admired the freshly fin- ished craft. ‘Now we are on the water, the two men can not hear us. What is the mystery about Dan? He is not dead—s he?” “No, he is not. He is alive and well—I hope—and somewhere in the city. But for the present at least he is supposed to be dead. All this must be kept an absolute secret.” Drake told the breathless women the chief points of the cafion expedition and its purpose. So tense was their interest and excitement that he had no trouble in keeping back certain aspects of the situation that might prove awkward and complicating. He gave them some idea of the value of the two wonderful jewels, and he related Dan’s exploit on the bamboo poles with dramatic effect. Their excited delight threatened to carry them beyond safe bounds. “Be careful,” he warned, “not to show anything by word or look that may give Garth a hint that Dan is not dead and the gem lost withhim. Idonot know how much he suspects—you heard him—saw his nasty grin. If he finds out Dan is still above- ground, and thinks he is still in possession of the second diamond, he is able—has the power—to put him out of the way in a moment! “Everything depends on keeping the whereabouts of that second gem from Garth. Perhaps the lives of more than Wheeler hang upon that one thing, and its hiding-place must be kept a secret—a secret that can not be too closely held. I do not dare to tell a soul—not even you. I have told nobody.” He looked for a second at their dilated eyes and white faces before he added: “TI must ask you moreover to restrain all natural curiosity—not to ask questions about it—not to allude toit. It is hard, but I know you will do it.” “T think Garth suspects,” Lina said after some thought, coming to the core of the Adventure matter at once, “‘but that he can not explain the situation to his satisfaction. He may solve the thing-at any moment—he is a fiend at guessing, and he may stumble on a clue any time. He will have the city scoured for news of Wheeler. But—”’ she looked up with a brave smile—“I know Dan Wheeler and Duke Drake—and I have seen you both in a tight place before. I know you will win 9 She included Brendon in her smile, and he could not get out a word. | “But wasn’t Dan splendid!’ She clapped her hands with delight. “And isn’t he—oh, isv’t he just having the time of his life? Can you imagine any- thing Dan would love more than the chance he has now to ‘mix in,’ as he’d call it? If I could have one wish—I’d wish to be Dan Wheeler right now!”’ Meeting Brendon’s adoring gaze, she had the grace to flush most becomingly, and made toward him a little involuntary move- ment of reparation. His lordship was clean strain, however. He spoke up with generous enthusiasm that held no tinge of jealous envy. ‘“Rath-er, by Jove! Who wouldn’t be Dan Wheeler if he could, don’t you know? He’s the sort of chap that any fellow ad- mires—the sort to get a——”’ He was about to say, “V. C.,”’ but recol- lecting that he bore that award for courage himself, colored painfully. “What I mean to say is, you know—he belongs to the knight-errant class—King Arthur and the Round-Table Knights—all that sort of thing, if y’know what I mean?” “We know!” Mrs. Sands patted his arm comfortingly. ‘We are not likely to forget with examples before us—don’t you know!”’ She finished with affectionate raillery. She was very fond of Brendon, but did not wish to appear to be pursuing him, for the sake of Lina. She at once reverted to her first inquiry. “That brings us back to the question before the house—where do you suppose Dan is at this moment?” “T am hoping to get news of him at Lu Yan’s,” said Drake, “if you can have me ferried across after we have reached Sausa- lito. And now tell me—” to his daughter— “‘what has been doing in the social whirl?” ‘We have been overwhelmed with atten- tions—especially from the English and other COmiclbooks (© iin