Adventure Magazine Cover — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 Stella tried to clutch Dusty’s arm, as he sprang past her, but he tore away and ran into the tunnel. He could hear Wharton running ahead of him, but the passage was too narrow for fast work. Suddenly the cave widened to the pro- portions of a room, and Dusty saw that it was roughly furnished as a living quarters. Blankets were strewn on the floor, together with boxes and cooking utensils, and in one corner smoldered a small fire. An old barn- lantern was hanging to a rocky projection. As Dusty dashed into the room he saw Wharton’s legs just disappearing up what appeared to be a stairway outlet, and which proved to be a short ladder, leading to the continuation of the cave. Dusty went cautiously up this ladder and raced on through another narrow tunnel, which was very dark. Then he seemed to feel the jar of a shot and the muffled echo of an explosion. He forced his way around two almost right- angled turnings and fairly fell out into the light of day. He stopped and stared fool- ishly around. He was out at almost the exact spot where he had tackled Wharton, and, sitting on the ground, nursing his head, was Weary Willis. Weary looked up at Dusty and his mouth fell open, as if some one had severed his jaw muscles. Weary had a bruised spot over his right eye, which was already swelled to the proportions of an egg. “Well, I'll be ! he snorted. dead, ain’t yuh, Dusty?” “Uh-huh,” nodded Dusty. ‘Turned into a wind god. Did somebody come out here a moment ago, Weary?” Weary gawped toward the opening and back to Dusty. He nodded violently and rubbed his forehead. “VYo’re danged well right they did! I figured that you was dead; so I was goin’ back through the cliffs and climb back to the horses, and I got this far, when a evil spirit hopped out of that wall, knocked me upside down and flitted away through the entrance. I shot at it; but, shucks, there ain’t no use shootin’ at spirits.” “That was Wharton, who tended bar for Sapphire Smalley,” said Dusty. “The feller that handed me the knock-out drops.” “No?” Weary got to his feet and rubbed his head. “Do yuh mean to tell me that I let a bartender walk all over me thataway? By cripes, ’m goin’ “Vou’re Adventure Weary stared over Dusty’s shoulder and blinked rapidly. Stella had come out of the tunnel and was standing within a few feet of them. Weary tore his eyes away from her and looked out toward the en- trance. He cleared his throat and hitched up his belt nervously. “Did he get away, Dusty?” asked Stella softly. (¢ }?? croaked Weary hoarsely. “I’m glad yuh spoke, Miss Magruder, ’cause I was sure girdin’ m’ loins for a foot-race. I thought yuh was a ghost.” “Lotta ghosts around here,” observed Dusty thoughtfully, panting a trifle from his chase through the caves. ‘“‘Did—did he get away?”’ faltered Stella. “Yeah, he got away, Stell’; but I’ve got the deadwood on him, y’betcha.”’ Weary turned and walked to the edge of the slide above the lake, seeking to get a glimpse of Wharton, leaving Dusty and Stella alone, facing each other. “T ain’t quite sure who they all are, Stell,” stated Dusty, after a moment’s pause. “But I reckon you can tell me a lot of things, can’t yuh?” Stella brushed a hand across her face, as she stared down at the rocky floor, but looked up at Dusty and shook her head. “No, I can’t tell you anything, Dusty.” “You can’t?” Dusty’s face was very serious now. “You don’t know who brought yuh here, Stell’?” “ft didn’t say that, Dusty; I said I couldn’t tell you.” “Yeah, I : Dusty scratched his tousled hair and squinted into space. It was a trifle beyond his ken. “Yuh know who brought yuh here, but yuh can’t—” Dusty hesitated and the lines about his wide mouth grew tense. Stell’, yuh mean that yuh love—some- body—who— belongs— to— them — Sticky Ropes? Do yuh—Stell’?” Her eyes were filled with tears, as looked at him and nodded slowly. “More than anything in the world, I think.” ““____!? breathed Dusty. ‘“I—I didn’t know—that. Somehow—” Dusty turned and stared toward Weary, who was still watching for Wharton—‘‘somehow I kinda hoped Stella stepped in closer and put her hand on his arm. she CORMICGLOOOKS (C@