Adventure Magazine Cover — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

The King here, draining money out of the country all the while.” “Why didn’t you arrest him?” “We gave our word to the French that he should have complete protection and immunity. It seemed a good thing to us to have such an influential banker here; he has international connections. As recently as yesterday, twenty minutes before that ultimatum came, he was in this room assur- ing me that he would be able to solve the credit difficulty within a day or two.” “Would you like to send for him now?” suggested Grim. “T doubt if he would come.” “Well, have him fetched!’ Feisul shook his head. “Tf other people break their promises, that is no reason why we should break ours. If we can defeat the French and force them to make other terms, then we will expel him from Syria. I leave at midnight, Jimgrim.” “To defeat the French? You go to your Waterloo! You’re in check with only one move possible, and I’m here to make you realize it. You’re a man after my own heart, Feisul, but you and your Arabs are children at dealing with these foregin ex- ploiters! “They can beat you at every game but honesty. And listen: If you did defeat the © French—if you drove them into the sea to- morrow, they’d get away with all the money in Beirut and you'd still be at the mercy of foreign capitalists! Instead of an indepen- dent Arab kingdom here you’d have a mix- ture of peoples and religions all plotting against one another and you, with capitula- tions and foreign consuls getting in the way, and bond-holding bankers sitting on top of it all like the Old Man of the Sea in the story of Sindbad the Sailor! “Leave that to the French! Let them have all Syria to stew in! Go to England _ where your friends are. Let the politicians alone. Meet real folk and talk with them. Tell them the truth; for thev don’t know it! Talk with the men and women who haven’t got political jobs to lose—with the fellows who did the fighting—with the men and women who have votes. They'll believe you. They’ve given up believing politicians, and they’re learning how to twist the politicians’ tails. You'll find yourself in Bagdad with- in a year or two, with all Mesopotamia to make a garden of and none but Arabs to deal with. That’s your field!” in Check 55 Feisul smiled with the air of a man who recognizes but is unconvinced. “There are always things that might have been,” he answered. ‘‘As it is, I can not de- sert the army.” “We'll save what we can of the army,” Grim answered. ‘“‘Your Syrians will save their own skins; it’s only the Arabs we’ve got to look out for—a line of retreat for the Arab regiments, and another one for you. It’s not too late, and you know I’m right! Come on; let’s get busy and do it!” Feisul’s smile was all affection and ap- proval, but he shook his head. “If what you say is true, I should only have the same problem in Mesopotamia— foreign financiers,” he answered. “That’s exactly where you’re wrong Grim retorted triumphantly. He stood up, and pointed at Jeremy. ‘“‘Here’s a man who owns a gold-mine. It lies between Mesopotamia and your father’s kingdom of the Hedjaz and its exact where- abouts is a secret. He’s here tonight to make you a present of the mine! And here’s another man’’—he pointed at me—‘“‘a min- ing expert, who’ll tell you what the thing’s worth. It’s yours, if you’ll agree to abandon Syria and lay a course for Bagdad!”’ fake CHAPTER XIV “Vow'll be a virgin victiml” EISUL was interested; he couldn’t help be. And he was utterly convinced of Grim’s sincerity. But he wasn’t moved from his purpose, and not even Jeremy’s account of the gold mine, or my professional opinion of its value had the least effect toward cancelling the plans he had in mind. He was deeply affected by the offer, but that was all. “Good , man!” Grim exploded sud- denly. “Surely you won’t throw the whole world into war again! You know what it will mean, if the French kill or imprison vou. There isn’t a Moslem of all the mil- lions in Asia who won’t swear vengeance against the West—you know that! A direct descendant of Mohammed, and the first outstanding, conquering Moslem since Saladin fi: “The Allies should have thought of that before they broke promises,”’ said Feisul. ‘‘Never mind them. them!” an- swered Grim. “It’s up to you! The future oi civilization is in your lap this minute! 1?? MICLOOOKS (©