Adventure Magazine Cover — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

The Beneficent Burglar endured the compulsion. Her eyes even seemed to be dancing a trifle as she looked at the somewhat abject Mr. Burrow. “Please, Mr. Highwayman,” she naively requested, “‘would you mind if I poured some water into the radiator?” She added reassuringly: ‘‘It will keep both hands quite busy. The machine can’t go on until we do that, you know, and we’d like to get home— when you are entirely through with us.” Mr. Connors considered the proposition. ‘“‘Go as far as yer like, lady,” he assented at last. ‘But let dis gent keep close ernuft fer me ter watch youse both. If his hands comes down, I’m afraid I’ll have to hurt somebody, see?”’ As the young woman lifted the full bucket with a surprising strength for such slender arms, the gentleman assured her that he re- gretted his inability to assist. The young lady laughed. “Dat will be about all fer dis part of de job,” said Mr. Connors. ‘‘Now fer the ambulance.” “The what?” questioned the young woman. ‘‘T’se sorry ter trouble yer, lady,”’ apolo- gized Mr. Connors, “but it’s like dis: Dere’s a guy up de railroad track w’at’s got a busted slat. I’se got ter borrow your benzine-buggy ter take him ter a doctor.”’ ‘‘Now see here, you infernal pirate!” The gentleman took one belligerent step for- ward and halted abruptly as he recognized how close it brought him to the ominous muzzle. ‘‘You’re asking too much!” ‘““Me?” questioned Mr. Connors in an in- jured tone. “TI ain’t askin’ nothin’. I’m tellin’ yer w’at I wants done, an’ yer don’t need ter git fresh about it, see?” ‘Ts there really an injured man? Is this true?” asked the lady. Evidently she was willing to be reasonable. ‘“‘Honest ter Gawd, lady!” Mr. Connors spoke earnestly and his eyes wore their frankest appeal. ‘Dis guy is liable ter croak if he don’t git a doctor. He’s a pore skate. Meself, I don’t know him personally, but I’se sorry fer him.” ‘Some disreputable drunk!” growled the gentleman savagely. ‘“‘Some contemptible hobo like this man here.” “Tt occurs to me,” suggested the young women in a level voice, ‘“‘that up to this point you have been very obedient to this person you call a contemptible hobo. At all events I’m not going to leave an injured 949 man by the roadside. I’m going with this person. Do you care to come along?”’ “Oh, he’ll come along all right,” Mr. Con- nors assured her. ‘‘I needs him terrun decar.”’ 3 THE gentleman’s face went white wee §=with anger; then, as he turned his eyes on Mr. Connors, his expression grew quizzical, even amused, and a light of sudden recognition came to his pupils. “Mr. Rat Connors,” he said with deliber- ate courtesy of address, “‘I congratulate my- self that I have fallen under the bow and spear of so distinguished a crook as yourself. I retract the ‘contemptible hobo.’ I have just recognized you.” “Mr. High-Brow Reformer Burrow,” re- plied Mr. Connors with instant promptness, “t’anks fer dem kind woids.”’ “May I inquire,” purred Mr. Burrow, “how you knew me?” “After you, after you!” returned the young gentleman modestly. “How did yer git hep ter me?”’ “You see,’ explained the Honorable Alexander suavely, ‘‘the Chief of Police was speaking of you this morning. He had a good deal to say about you.” Mr. Connors grinned, as one whose great- ness has been duly recognized. ‘Will yer give me best ter de Chief? Will yer tell ’im I’m well an’ doin’ business an’ I hopes he’s de same?”’ “T shall be honored to do so,” declared the Honorable Alexander gravely. “T shall also look forward with pleasure to a meeting when all three of us shall be present—you, the Chief and I. But you haven’t told me how you came to recognize me.” Mr. Connors smiled broadly. ‘Yer name was printed in gold letters on yer pocket-book—an’ I kin read.” “Oh,”? murmured Mr. Burrow. Mr. Connors waved his weapon with a gesture of energy “Let’s beat it,” he suggested.’ ‘Dis busted-up guy’s liable ter git homesick.” CHAPTER IX ON THE RAILROAD TRACK MR. RAT CONNORS superintended the arrangement of the car. The Honor- able Alexander was requested to take the wheel, and the lady to sit at his side. Mr. Connors disposed himself in the tonneau, C© MICLOOKS CO