Adventure Magazine Cover — page 133: 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 until tomorrow night. And that’s where the shoe pinches—‘Aye, there’s the rub’—and it will be a rub that'll take some hide off, or I’m a Hindw!”’ As he could see trouble thickening ahead, however, Wheeler was coming out of his fit of the sulks. He didn’t care to see Sands yet, and he was vexed with Drake’s doings, but he must see Lu Yan—as soon as he had got a few words with Brenner. CHAPTER XV RAKE and the Brahmin arrived at Lu Yan’s abode almost at the same instant. The leather roll had hardly been delivered by the bearded priest with rever- ent ceremony when Drake’s knock was heard at the door below. As the latter en- tered the room Lu Yan welcomed him with suppressed delight: “You have succeeded, then—you have both in your possession? Indeed the faith of the prince was well founded. You will no longer laugh at his beliefs, for all the prophecies are about to be fulfilled.” “You notice I didn’t bring them both myself,” said Drake, smiling slightly. ‘“That looks as if I took some stock in the notion that it’s not safe to have them both at once.” “Was that your reason?” Lu Yan asked seriously. But without waiting for an answer he turned to the priest. “Where is Wheeler? Is he safe?” “He is safe, and on the way hither,” was the instant answer. The speaker withdrew into himself and into the corner of the room at the same time. Drake’s expression of satisfaction disap- peared at Lu Yan’s question. He spoke out frankly: ‘“T am worried about Wheeler. He is offended with the Senator, and he is in one of his silent spells. I don’t know what to do about it, and I am afraid he will do something reckless.” ‘How did it befall?”? Lu Yan asked almost in a whisper. Drake was telling of the flare-up at the Senator’s when Dan’s step was heard on the stairs. He entered and flashed a look about the room that took in all three men and their expressions. Then he said to Lu Yan in his accustomed tone of almost affection- ate friendliness—almost a filial affection: “That’s the last time I wear this outfit anyhow. I am going to the big ball tonight in a different make-up.” Drake let out an almost audible sigh of relief as he hastened to say: “Then you are all right again, Dan? The Senator was very much hurt this afternoon —he thought you understood that he wanted you to make his home yours, and it never occurre is “That’s another thing altogether!’ Dan interrupted sharply. “I am going to the ball all by my lone self, and not tagging after anybody. The Senator needn’t worry about me—I’ll take care of myself. I can do it—at least as well as you and he have done up to date. What did you want to throw the game for? Garth has a walk-over now!” : “What do you mean?” Drake stood up uneasily. ‘‘We were through with the secret pass- age, if that’s what you mean, and I thought it best to throw Garth off the scent. He doesn’t know now whether I am carrying the gem I just bought from him or not. And moreover——’”’ He stopped and his mouth dropped open. Dan took it up where Drake left off. His tone cut like a knife. ‘““VYes—exactly! Moreover—what does he do? He sits down and figures it out; finds the passage I got out by. Then what does he do? He sits down again and does some remembering! He goes over all he has said and all he has framed up in that room. He knows we are wise to his plan for tomorrow night—so he’ll change that plan! ‘So you see it now, do you? It’s about time! What are you going to do now?” Drake dropped on the couch again—his face in his hands—and sat so long that the other three became uneasy. Dan showed no mercy, however, but said still more cuttingly: “Your flourish of throwing that cold hand won you fifty thousand—and may lose you your life along with some others. It wasa great stroke—I congratulate you, Mr. Drake! Shall I have the pleasure of seeing you at the ball? I take off my cue to youl”’ He dragged off his cue and false scalp with a flourish, and passed out to go to his room. . Lu Yan had listened in silence and with growing alarm. “What is this concerning the loss of life? Is this some more of the—humor that I find it so difficult to understand?” 123 GOMIIGoOO S (© inn