Adventure Magazine Cover — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

948 rate, and a gun-play became necessary, one man would cause less trouble than several. The frayed condition of the gentleman’s tem- per indicated that he might prove obdurate. Mr. Connors cautiously drew his “‘can- nister”’ from his pocket and tested trigger and hammer. If the lone wayfarer quietly accepted the charge of the “guy wid de busted slat”? there need be no friction. If he lacked that large sympathy which should make him a willing rescuer, then he must have philanthropy thrust upon him. Mr. Connors meant to thrust it with the pistol. So he gave thanks that this was not a party, nor a couple, but only an unaccompanied chauffeur. When the injured man should be safely stowed in the tonneau the trusteeship of Mr. Connors would terminate. Then what? Life has its business exigen- cies even for those of us who are not materi- alists. Men who tour in motor-cars may be assumed to carry money. Why not first impress the gentleman into service and then relieve him of his valuables? Why should the doctrine of socialism apply as to the man who lay wounded and not as to this one who drove an automobile? The man in the road rose with a sigh of relief. He stretched himself, adjusted the pump and bent to his labor again. Mr. Connors sat watching. At last that too was done. The lone motorist put away his tools and turned wearily. Apparently the sight of the car fatigued him. As he did this Mr. Connors stepped out of the shadow and placed the muzzle of his revolver in impressive juxtaposition with the gentleman’s face. The gentleman had fancied himself alone. The discovery that he had been mistaken surprised him. It startled him. ‘‘Let’s see you stretch your arms up high,’ suggested Mr. Connors. The gen- tleman obligingly and promptly followed the suggestion. — ‘What is this, if I may ask?”’ he inquired. “Highway robbery?” ‘“‘Some of it is,” Mr. Connors assured him pleasantly, “‘an’ some of it’s ambulance service.” “Ym afraid I don’t quite follow you,” admitted the traveler. ‘Dat’s all right. You will foller me in about t’ree minutes,” replied Mr. Connors. “But before dat let’s see w’at youse got in yer clothes.” | Adventure wig CHE motorist offered no verbal Be protest. When one looks down a gun-barrel at one A. M. in a lonely road, silence is eighteen karat fine. This highwayman was carefully keeping a posi- tion just too far away for aclinch. At that distance the pistol gave him priority of rank and entitled him to issue orders. “Get over dere in de light an’ turn your pockets out!”’ directed Mr. Connors. “T’row everyt’ing down here by me feet. If youse got a gun in yer clothes I wants ter see it come out wid the muzzle pointed de oder way! See?” The gentleman saw. he said. ‘“‘An’,”’ pursued Mr. Connors succinctly, “let’s be on de level wid each oder. Don’t let’s have no holdin’ back. I wants ter see de linin’s of dem pockets hangin’ outside. You looks prettier dat way.” For a moment there was complete silence, while pocket contents showered on the grass at Mr. Connors’ feet. Mr. Connors secured for himself the gentleman’s coat, which hung over the tonneau door. There is a distinction between tribute- levy and vandalism. Mr. Connors left let- ters and papers undisturbed, taking only currency and articles of intrinsic value. Then, as they stood, with Mr. Connors unostentatiously in the shadow and the other gentleman in the full glare of the acetylene lamps, hands high and his pockets inverted, they heard a somewhat startled “T haven’t a gun,” exclamation in the road. A young woman emerged suddenly from behind the car, carry- ing a bucket of water. The tableau had not greeted her eyes until she reached a point where the screening framework ceased to screen. Then it appeared to interest her greatly. “Lady,” said Mr. Connors steadily, the pistol muzzle never wavering, “‘or ladies an’ gents, if dere’s a bunch of youse—please come round here an’ get in line an’ put your hands up. If anybody makes a false move, I croaks dis gent, an’ dat goes, see?”’ The lady came forward and took up her station by the side of the man. In order to raise her hands she had to set down the can- vas bucket with which she was burdened. Standing in the acetylene spot-light the young woman struck Mr. Connors as su- premely beautiful. He deplored the neces- sity of keeping her in a prisoner’s attitude and he admired the calm with which she Comiclbooks CO