Adventure Magazine Cover — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

I22 “No. But there are plenty just across the hall, in the gaming-room.”’ Garth looked into Drake’s blank face with suspicious inquiry. “T will throw you a cold poker-hand to see whether I pay you the other fifty thousand or get the diamond for nothing—doubles or quits. Are you on?” “Yes,” Garth said after a moment. “Come on.” He stepped to the door, and behind his back Drake signaled to Dan to get the gem _ from the safe while they were out of the room. At the same time he was saying to Garth: “Lock this door while we’re out—I am taking no unnecessary chances.” ‘‘We shall be where we can see it all the time,” said Garth, and again: “‘What are you up to? I don’t see why you don’t take it with you if you are——” His voice became muffled as he withdrew from the door, but he had set the spring- lock. Dan hurried down from the mantel, muttering to himself: “He didn’t know I had my keys. I might have gummed his game—whatever his game is. I don’t believe he knows what he is up to. No wonder he’s got Garth guessing. Maybe that is it—to get Garth rattled. It looks fishy to me—looks as if Drake’s foot has slipped—but I’m not supposed to do any brain-work.” As he muttered to himself, however, he was using the duplicate key and taking the leather roll from the safe. Putting it safely inside his loose Chinaman’s frock and his vest underneath, he was back in his cubby- hole before Garth’s key rattled in the door. “You win this time,’’ Garth was repeating as he entered. ‘‘But luck always turns some time. Here’s your money.” “Thank you.” Drake pocketed the roll of notes he had given the other man just a few minutes before. Garth, meantime studying his face intently, asked— “Aren’t you going to take the roll with your” “NO.” Drake turned to the door. “Not now.” “Shall I see you at the ball tonight?” Garth asked, as if to make talk. “It is my farewell appearance, you know. I am leav- ing town for good in the morning.” Adventure “T expect to be there,” said Drake. “So long.” He left the office without another word. Garth stood in the office, alone, motion- less, listening acutely. Presently he sat down. “T expected he’d come back and get it,” he said half aloud. “He’s up to something. Why did he want this door locked?” There was another moment of ‘silence. Suddenly he started from his chair, so sud- denly that his feet slipped on the carpet. He hurriedly unlocked the door of the safe— looked in the top drawer—then pawed through the others. As he straightened up, Dan got a glimpse of his face, pale and anx- ious, and heard him curse under his breath. Without an instant’s hesitation Wheeler beat a quick retreat—up to the linen-closet and into the upper hall. One.of the bed- rooms here was Brenner’s—he had ‘an idea it was the one whose door stood ajar—and he stepped inside. He peered through the crack on the hinge side of the door until he saw the linen-closet door open part way —watched Garth poke his head through, look along the empty hall, then withdraw his head and shut the door. At last Garth had found the secret getaway passage that had served him—Wheeler—so well. That was the end of thai! Again Dan muttered and growled under his breath as he made his way out of the building. ‘“‘Now he das done it! J may be a fool— but there are others!”’ He was referring to Drake, the astute gambler and diplomat, but that was not what he called him in his mumbling dis- content. - But there were things to be done now— lots of things. He first looked all along the dark alley for the Brahmin’s white turban. It was barely in sight—in a dark doorway. Dan raised a hand and beckoned—the man came swiftly. “Take this to Lu Yan quickly—it is valuable. “Yes. One of the Twins,” he added. The priest’s dark face lighted, and he made a profound salutation before he touched the leather roll. Then he hid it in his robe and went away from there with a speed that aroused Dan’s admiration. ‘Some sprinter for his age!’ he remarked as the turban vanished. “He will get to Lu Yan before Drake does. Well, they’ve got 7em both now—if they can hang onto them GOMIIGooOoO S C@