Adventure Magazine Cover — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

126 As the time came near for unmasking he was more and more convinced that there was a tension among both his friends and those who gathered round Garth. It even seemed to make itself felt throughout the hall. There was more subdued whispering and gathering in small groups on the side- lines—more vanishing and reappearing of Garth’s imps in black. Dan still kept his gaze focused on Me- phisto himself. Drake managed to get the Senator within earshot of Dan to say: “Tam getting more scared. That snake is hatching something—I wish I knew what.” “For tomorrow night, you mean?” Sands asked quickly. “He would have no object in doing anything tonight.” . “Probably,” Drake said moodily. “But he’s got us on the hooks and he knows it. It’s all my fault. I wish it were tomorrow night—and over.” . “Look how he follows Lina about,” growled the Senator. ‘He’s doing it just to terrify her and annoy Brendon. I'd like to get a grip on his dirty throat.” Drake turned his head toward Dan in mute appeal, but Wheeler gave no sign of hearing. He had not spoken to the Sen- ator since their set-to twelve hours ago, and he could not do it now although he was stirred by what he had just heard—moved to cold and fixed purpose. The two older men gone, Dan began to move his lips silently—a bad sign—as he thought grimly: “They are scared of they don’t know what—better be! Garth always springs his trap first. They expect him to do it to- morrow night—and so he won’t. He’s try- ing to scare the girl, so they’ll go home with her—that’s what we won’t do! Everything all balled up—nobody knows anything—all scared blue—nobody on the job. But me! I got to get action. This thing has gone far enough—too far!”’ He looked about him to see how the ground lay just as the signal came to unmask and threw his own mask aside. All over the hall the masks came off, and dancers stopped where they were. Through the chattering crowd Wheeler picked out the dehorned head of Mephis- topheles. Garth-was smiling more insolently and brightly than ever—and coming toward his corner, toward the door of the fencing- room. Adventure “Dan!”’ He was startled by the soft voice of Lina Westcott, and she was at his side—looking up at him with great, frightened eyes as she said shakily: “Don’t look at Mr. Garth; but I am afraid, Dan! The man has got me scared— almost to hysterics. Now he is unmasked I can’t stand that smile—it makes me feel unclean. I don’t want to frighten the others —and he’s coming again now.” ‘““‘What has he been saying to you?” Dan muttered as Brendon came up. “Said he was leaving tonight—in two hours—that he was saying good-by to all but me, but he would see me again! He said it twice.” “The animal is going to den up!” the Senator’s heavy voice broke in on the other side of the girl. “He is going to hide and work under cover until tomorrow night, so we won’t know what to do—so we can’t keep watch on him.” Sands stopped, seeing he was frightening her still more. Drake came close to his daughter to whisper: ‘“‘Never mind, Lina—we are all here to take care of you. Do you want to go home? We will take vou now, if you like.” “T think I feel safer here—where you all are.” She took Brendon’s arm on one side and Dan’s on the other. “There he comes again!” she whispered in a fascinated, helpless manner, staring fixedly at the insolent face approaching. GARTH drew slowly nearer—smile and look singling out the girl. It was a look that insulted—outraged —and it was as if he held her helpless, with *the strong men about her unable to inter- fere. “T am saying good-by,” he purred softly at Lina. to you.” His slow, deliberate emphasis made every man’s fingers itch for his throat. “Take her away. Keep her right here,” Wheeler said distinctly in the Senator’s ear. “Tell young Streator to stay with you.” It was his first word to the Senator that night, and Sands started, then hastily obeyed. Dan detained Drake and Brendon with a hand. “Garth! Remember what I told you!’ Wheeler faced the smiling boss, and the “But not to you—only au revoir GOMIGOOO S Co