Adventure Magazine Cover — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

The Beneficent Burglar frantic pacing of the floor disturbed his com- posure, he demanded: ‘““What’s your trouble?”’ “Trouble!”’ exploded the visitor. ‘‘Trou- ble! Why it’s plural multiplied by many, then squared and cubed an ‘Well, just for a starter, give us one or two and build up from that,” suggested Mr. Burrow placidly. ‘Another girl, I'l bet.” “Another girl!’”’? snorted Mr. Copewell. “There isn’t any other girl! All the rest are counterfeits! ‘There never was but one girl, and I’m going to lose her!”” This with deep stress of tragedy. “You must help me.”’ “Certainly, Pll help you.” Mr. Burrow waved his cigarette with airy assurance. “But what’s the matter? Can’t you lose her yourself?”’ On the facetious and Honorable Alexan- der Mr. Copewell permitted the withering blight of his scorn to beat for one awful mo- ment in silence, then he proceeded to en- lighten. “I’ve got to steal this girl, or it’s all off. You’ve got to help steal her!” Mr. Burrow appeared shocked. “But my dear lad,” he demurred, ‘I’m supervis- ing a police force and a city administration in the interests of Righteousness with a large R. I doubt if it would be just exactly appropriate for me to gointo the girl-stealing business on the side.”’ ‘““All politicians steal,’ dogmatized Mr. Copewell, who had failed to be properly impressed with the piety of the new admin- istration. “It’s time you were learning your new trade.” “Tf it comes to that,’’ explained Mr. Bur- row with a smile, “I have subordinates who——’”’ “‘T tell you this is serious!” interrupted the other tempestuously. “It’s desperate! is “Tm very busy,” evasively sug- gested the new political power. “Tf you’re too busy to help an old friend who needs you,”’ stormed Mr. Cope- well, ‘you can eternally go to a! “Hold on! Hold on!” placated the other before Mr. Copewell had enjoyed the oppor- tunity of designating the locality to which Mr. Burrow had his permission to go. “I merely meant to point out that when you want something done, it is well to go toa busy man. The other kind never have time.” 93% CHAPTER II THE PLOT OF AN ELOPEMENT R. COPEWELL crossed and stood tensely before Mr. Burrow. When he spoke it was with the hushed voice of a man who divulges an unthinkable conspiracy: “They are going to send her to Europe!”’ “You don’t tell me?” observed Mr. Bur- row pleasantly. ‘“‘Well, what’s the matter with Europe?” Mr. Copewell looked as much astonished as though he had been suddenly called on for proof that Purgatory is not pleasant in August. His voice almost broke. ‘They are sending her—so that she may forget me!” ‘You can senda girl to Europe,’ reassured his friend, “‘but you can’t make her—sane.”’ “They don’t have to make her sane—she is perfectly sane now!”’ retorted Lewis with commendable heat. “Then why,” inquired the lawyer logic- ally, ‘‘should it be necessary to send her to Europe?” “Tt’s not necessary. It’s hideous!”” Emo- tion strangled Mr. Copewell. ‘They are packing her off—because she loves me!” “Oh!”? Mr. Burrow’s voice was apolo- getic. “I thought you said she was sane.” Mr. Copewell’s reply may be omitted. In fact the Editor insists upon its being omitted. The following is an inadequate indication of its tenor: ‘‘——! !! ty ttt! Hy 1 2? @eeoen0e “Going to send her to Europe,” mused Mr. Burrow as though he had not heard. Then he inquiringly raised his brows and added, “‘ Who?” “Who? What?’ repeated Mr. Copewell, bewildered. “Who are they going to send to Europe? ”’ “You are insufferable! That’s precisely what I’ve been telling you—the One Girl— Mary, of course—Mary Asheton.” The Honorable Alexander Hamilton spoke soothingly: “‘ You just said the only lady in the world. You didn’t say which only one. Statistics show that in America alone there are perhaps twenty millions.” “Mary!” breathed Mr. Copewell with fervor. “¢Mary is a grand old name,’”’ recita- tively acknowledged Mr. Burrow. “Who objects to this match between you and this young person, Mary?” | b] COMGHOO YN| () ©