Adventure Magazine Cover — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

898 joined the group now—Gresham, to whom Sarrasco was still talking with animation punctuated by little gestures. The Amer- ican looked at him with polite attention and a smile which expressed absolute nonchalance. Vilip was near enough to recognize this now—the engine, with its load of trucks, was passing the group. The Italian looked round and then, with a half humorous gesture of resignation, took half a step in the direction of the launch. But in the very act of turning some thought seemed to strike him. He wheeled suddenly, impetuously toward Mr. Gresham again, colliding with him vio- lently. The American stumbled, failed to recover himself, and fell sideways across the track. There was a shriek from Katrine —a savage curse from Vilip—and the grind- ing sound of brakes crammed fiercely on. But the strength of Abdul’s arm would have availed little. The buffers of the en- gine actually shadowed Mr. Gresham’s face as Agnew stooped with a swift clutching movement and whirled him bodily aside. Rescued and rescuer rolled together on the embankment slope, dust stained, breath- less, but, thanks to Agnew’s swift energy, unharmed. The clamor of excited voices broke out. Esuli’s voice was uplifted in sudden quick anger directed at the “‘almost criminal awk- wardness”’ which his guest had shown. And the Italian? He flung out his hands imploringly—he abased himself—he fell upon his knees— tears streamed down his cheeks. They might forgive him, but he could forgive himself—never! Finally he and his effusive- ness were disposed of in the stern of the launch, which shot out upon the bosom of the lake. Esuli remained silent for a minute while he rolled and thoughtfully lighted a cigar- ette. ‘Excellently conceived and not badly attempted!’’ he conceded. “Who would have thought that there was such strength and quickness in that giant’s limbs?” Sarrasco sighed. ‘It was an inspiration —and inspirations are too much the chil- dren of Chance,’ he admitted. ‘Well, well! Many a skirmish is lost to the vic- tors before the battle is joined in earnest.” Esuli looked at him keenly. “It is to be joined then?” he asked. “The sooner the better!” said Sarrasco Adventure energetically. ‘“‘Dominiddio! the crass sto- lidity of the man! And I was tactful— heaven knows I was tactful as a doctor at the deathbed of his first patient!”’ ‘Which, in fact, you nearly were,” said Esuli with a smile. ‘“‘ However, let us look forward to another capital operation, where your rival will not be present to defeat us— your rival who, if I am not mistaken, let the significance of your display of imagina- tion escape him.” ) be, BUT if Esuli could have heard a ¥) conversation which was taking place on the wharfside he had just left, he would have understood that he did Agnew injustice. Gresham had drawn the Cana- dian aside. “You pile up your obligations, my friend!” he said. ‘First my daughter and then me. How am I to thank you?” The other frowned and shrugged his shoulders. ‘‘By saying no more about either incident, sir,’’ he answered, “‘and by letting me know how you met that assas- sin’s proposals.” Gresham made a startled movement. ““Assassin?”? he demurred. ‘“‘Eh, Agnew, that’s hardly fair!” ‘Heavens above us! As if there was room for mistake!’ cried his companion impatiently. ‘‘He did it deliberately, cal- culatingly. He tried to murder you! You had refused his terms, I take it, whatever they were?”’ Gresham looked at him with a sudden new emotion born in his eyes. ‘‘He tried— he tried to kill me?”’ he questioned. “He tried his very best! And failed. What did he ask?”’ Gresham hesitated. “The Campania Daregno—he only hinted it—he is not their paid agent, he informs me—might take over our liabilities here at cost, less five per cent. I refused to take him seriously. But I wonder 4 “You wonder?’’ Agnew’s voice held the core of impatience. ‘‘You wonder when you meet villainy unashamed—here?”’ Gresham shook his head. ‘I was won- dering if I had the right to risk a fight with such as Sarrasco,” he said quietly. “If he is what you think, what of his employers? And what of my employees? What of Thring and you?”’ “And what of the nations—the little peoples of the Balkan who are trusting to C© MICLMOOKS CO