Adventure Magazine Cover — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

The Sunshine Separator which he compared with heartfelt gratitude to a past of sneaking uncertainty. Still, though very happy in it all, there was one element in the new business that seriously worried Spider —so many things had to be left behind! This thought rankled in his mind as he sauntered out of old man McPhee’s saloon, the back room of which furnished a rendez- vous for the First Avenue ‘‘bunch,” en- abling them to meet in quiet retirement to discuss and devise expedients to force the hand of an illiberal public. Thus far, his Canvassing experience had shown him the futility of early calls, so he strolled leisurely along, his brain alive with ideas for the ad- vancement of the new business on broader and more profitable lines. Unbuttoning his overcoat, he drew out a gold watch and consulted it. It was a large open-faced watch with an engraved back, which stated in German script that the First Baptist Sunday-school at Port Holly, N. Y., testified their love and admiration for the Rev. Mr. Dowd by presenting it to him on June 3rd, 1908. It was an inherit- ance that fell to Spider from the fearless clergyman one bitter cold night in a sub- way crush. As he glanced at it, he saw it was a quarter after ten. Tle quickened his pace and in a few min- utes stood hesitating at the corner of Fourteenth Street and University Place, eagerly drinking in the business possibilities that lay dormant in the vicinity. His eye fell on a building across the street—a struc- ture of four stories that looked a veritable harbor of possibilities. Transferring his card-case to a pocket in his overcoat, he crossed the thoroughfare and entered the building. Inside, he halted before the tenants’ index, then passed on to the ele- vator and announced his wish to see Mr. Higley—fourth floor. II hal i@ paused, affecting momentary doubt; = then as the elevator descended, he walked with an assured, business air the length of the hall, glancing sharply about. At the farther end an office door stood open and he approached it quietly on his rubber heels. Apparently it was deserted, so he stepped softly inside and peered around with a critical eye for movables of requisite size and value, . 801 But the room appeared to be in a clut- tered up, dismantled state, for, except an old roll-top desk, two wooden chairs, two. typewriters and a cheap table, there was ' little else to be seen save bundles of tied up paper and a tall screen standing in one corner. Spider’s lip curled scornfully as he gazed on this desert of opportunity and he was about to leave in disgust when a deep, cheery voice rang out and a man suddenly stepped from behind the screen. ‘Well, neighbor, what’s the good word?” He was a large, full-faced man with a heavy mustache and a generous chin threat- ening to double. Healthy good-nature fairly oozed from his broad, genial person, and a pair of small blue eyes sheathed in fat lids twinkled invitingly as he spoke, He stood drying his hands on a dirty towel. Spider, thoroughly startled, quickly re- covered his poise and, removing his hat, bowed with a wan, Wintry smile. He hada sudden longing to run or back out, but, selecting a card, he advanced and presented it deferentially. The big man read it care- fully with good-natured interest. ‘Books, hey?” he inquired casually, still studying the card. ‘Yes, sir,’ replied the Ferret. There was a note of meekness in the tone. Until then ‘he had escaped interrogation, all former cus- tomers having disposed of him with a cold, crisp and emphatic “No!” He felt de- cidedly awkward and stood twirling his hat nervously. A puzzled expression overspread the fea- tures of the big man. His eyes raced from the card to Spider, then back to the card and again to the lean, nondescript little figure with its long, pointed face and shifty eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched. **Sit down,” he said pleasantly, motioning to a chair, and seated himself ponderously by the roll-top desk. His eyes still wandered from the card to Spider with a gleam of sup- pressed amusement. Spider lowered himself gingerly. to the edge of the proffered chair. A dubious, pensive expression settled on his face. He was a trifle suspicious and profoundly em- barrassed. The big man leaned comfortably back, still scrutinizing the card. “Mr. Algernon Talbot Fairweather, eh?” he read, emphasizing each vocable glibly. COmiclbook CO