Adventure Magazine Cover — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

The King in Check in a royal straight flush. Mabel’s queen. Hadad’s a knave. He looks it! Keep smiling, Hadad, old top and I’ll let you for- give me. Rammy’s the ten-spot—tentative —tenacious—ten aces up his sleeve—and packs-@ ten-ton wallop when you get him go- ing. What’s Narayan Singh? The deuce?” “The joker,” answered Grim. ‘Are you in on this?” ‘Sahib, there was no need to ask. What your honor finds good enough—your honor’s order S “Orders have nothing to do with it. We’re not in British territory. This is unofficial. I’ve no right to give you orders,” said Grim. ‘“You’re free to refuse. I’m likely to lose my job over this and so are you if you take part in it.” - - Narayan Singh grinned hugely. “Hah! A sepoy’s position is a smaller stake than a major’s commission or a gold mine, but I likewise have a life to lose, and I play tool’ Grim nodded curtly. It was no time for returning compliments. “How about you, Mabel? We can man- age this without you, and you’ve a husband to think of ——” _ “Tf he were here he’d hate it, but he’d give permission.” “All right. Now Hadad. What about itr” “‘Am I to obey you absolutely, not know- ing what the——”’ Grim interrupted him: “The proposal’s fair. Either you with- draw now and hold your tongue, or come in with us. If you’re in I’ll tell the details; if not there’s no need.” “Wallahi! What a sword-blade you are, Jimgrim! If I say yes, I risk my future on your backgammon board; if I say no, my life is worth a millieme, for you will tell that Sikh you call the ‘‘joker” to attend to me!”’ “Not so,” Grim answered. “If you don’t like the plan, I'll trust you to fall out and keep the secret.” “Oh, in that case,” answered Hadad, hesitating. “Since you put it that way— well—it is lose all or perhaps win some- thing—half-measures are no good—the al- ternative is ruin of the Arab cause—it is a forlorn hope—well, one throw of the dice, eh?—and all our fortunes on the table!—one little mistake and Hélas—Finish! Never mind, Yes, I will play too. I will play this to the end with you.” 57 ‘So we’re all set,’ remarked Grim with a sigh of relief. Instantly he threw his shoulders back and began to set his pieces for the game. And you know, there’s a world of difference between the captain of a side who doesn’t worry until the game begins and Grim’s sort, who do their worrying beforehand and then play, and make the whole side play for every ounce that’s in them. “Mabel, you’re Lawrence. Keep silent, be shy, avoid encounters—act like a man who’s not supposed to be here, but who came to help Feisul contrary to express com- mands laid on him by the Foreign Office. — Get that? Lawrence is a shy man anyway .- —hates publicity, rank, anything that calls attention to himself. The more shy you are, the easier you'll get away with it. Fei- sul must help pretend you’re Lawrence. The presence of Lawrence would add to his prestige incalculably, and I think he’ll see that, but if not never mind, we'll manage. Any questions? Quick!” You can’t ask questions when you’re given that sort of opportunity. The right ones don’t occur to you and the others seem absurd. Grim knew that, of course, but _ when you’re dealing with a woman there’s just one chance in a hundred that she may think of something vital that hasn’t oc- curred to anybody else. Most women aren’t practical; but it’s the impractical things that happen. “Suppose we’re captured by the French?” she suggested. . “That’s what’s going to happen,” he an- swered. ‘‘When they’ve got you, then you’re Mrs. Mabel Ticknor, who never saw Law- rence and wouldn’t recognize him if you did.” “They'll ask why I’m wearing man’s clothes, and masquerading as an Arab.”’ ‘‘Well, you’re a woman, aren’t you? You answer with another question—ask them just how safe a woman would be! They may claim that their Algerians are baby- lambs, but they can’t blame you for not be- lieving it! Anything else?” She shook her head, and he turned on Hadad. ‘Hadad, lose no opportunity of whisper- ing that Lawrence is with Feisul. Add that Lawrence doesn’t want his presence known. Hunt out two or three loyal Arabs on the staff and tell them the plan is to kidnap Feisul and carry him to safety across the COMiCOoOoks Cc C@