Adventure Magazine Cover — page 141: 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 Dan proceeded to pull the covers off as a demonstration. “Wait! They’re in the next room—and everybody prancing about on tiptoes. T’ll get ’em.”’ While Dan was getting into his freshened raiment he was keen for explanations. “What blew up anyhow?” he asked first. “The Lina W. There was a time-thing— infernal machine of dynamite that Garth had put in the hold,” Brendon said in a half-whisper. ‘The two men on the boat were his—took the place of the others while we were at the ball.” “Then he didn’t change his plan?’ Dan interrupted. “Set it ahead a day, that’s all-—a long- headed scheme that almost got us. All evi- dence would have gone up with us in the explosion, don’t you know, and he would have been at sea on. the Kron prinz—she went last night; or this morning, I should say.” Brendon sobered suddenly. “We should all—if it hadn’t been for you we’d all be—where Garth is now.” “T hope not,” said Dan dryly. “He went in the right scenery anyhow. But it was the Brahmin who told me to look out for trouble after the fight was over.” Dan spoke with respect. “T’d like to know how he knew.” “Saw it in the crystal perhaps,” said Brendon. ‘They do some odd _ things. The prince says you were under the protec- tion. I don’t know what he means.” Dan thought of the order, but he kept silence about it. “Perhaps he thought I was carrying one of the Twins,” he said cheerfully. ‘How about something to eat?” “T have made ’em get a big steak ready.” The voice came from behind Brendon. The Senator stood in the doorway—he was flushing like a bashful boy, uncertain of his reception. “Doc Harrison said be mighty careful what we fed you, and so I picked out that steak myself—weighs three pounds,” Sands finished shyly. “Senator, you have got about all the brains in the U. S. Senate.” Dan held out a hand, which the Senator wrung heartily as Dan added in an under- tone: “Thank you! I am no talker.” “No. Fighting’s your game,” said the Senator briefly. 131 No further mention was made of their falling-out, nor of the cause of it—Dan’s mining shares that brought him a handy income within the year. ‘“‘Now the ladies want to know how much longer you’re going to keep them waiting to be presented.” - The Senator’s face was again full of genial satisfaction. ‘Where are they?” Dan got up, and on hearing they were in the big living-room adjoining, went out at once with a brisk step. Only his head felt a trifle light and balloonish. _ “Dan—can you ever forgive me?” Lina came to him with hands outstretched and moist eyes full of entreaty. Dan was stunned—stood trying to figure out what there was to cry about. You never could tell what a woman would do next! ‘What you been doing now? What’s it all about?” Dan looked at his. friend, Mrs. Sands, in appeal. ‘““Here—dow’t. What’s the joke?” He snatched away the hand that the sen- timental girl was raising to her lips. ‘““You—hurt!”’ he said, and reddened pain- fully. ‘Did I hurt the poor arm?” The girl looked up with an April smile. ‘You must let me kiss the place to make it well, then!”’ “You will have to stand worse than that, Dan,” Mrs. Sands consoled him. ‘The whole thing—or most of it—has leaked out unofficially, and you are the lion of the day. Didn’t you see the big bank of flowers in your room?” 7 “I supposed it was fixed for the wedding.” ‘““No; they have come in all this forenoon —for you, from the clubs and from various individuals.” “Makes a man feel like a fool just the same,’ Dan protested. “Youll have to sneak into town after dark,” said Brendon, “‘or they will meet you with bands and present you with the keys of the city on a gold platter—all that sort of thing.” “Td rather have a few good skeleton pass-keys,” said Dan. “And what I am looking for is that platter of steak.” The manner of disappearance of the steak convinced Dan’s hosts and friends that he was no longer to be cast in the role of pam- pered convalescent; but he continued to be lionized, greatly to his exasperation and GOMIGHOO S C@ iin