Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

Easy “Losing your nerve?”’ ‘“‘In the meantime,” continued Carmelita disgustedly, ‘‘he’s carrying around in his vest-pocket a twenty-dollar gold-piece I had melted down into a button for him? Actu- ally, I don’t believe he ever goes near a jew- eler’s that he doesn’t have it weighed, to see if the last fellow was stringing him.”’ ‘Don’t you care! He’s got the button.” ‘fAs if I minded that! He might keep it and give me the laugh, if he was only a decent sort. But I can’t stand him, and that’s a fact.” ‘‘What’s he done to you, Carm?”’ asked Jim, eyeing her curiously. 7 Carmelita flushed. Her professional pride had been touched. ‘‘Oh, not much!” she drawled. ‘‘He won fifteen hundred from me playing seven-up, for one thing,” she added, pulling a wry face. “Never! From you? How-did-he-do- ie : ‘“‘He cheated, the loafer! How else would you suppose? When he didn’t palm an ace or a ten-spot, he begged—with High, Low and Jack in his hand. There isn’t a single unclubby thing that fellow wouldn’t do. His gallantry is of the gutter type, and he shakes hands like a jelly-fish! Ugh!” “T can see that the Honorable Morris Manahan is ‘in Dutch,’” said Jim. ‘‘And yet,” he mused, “women wonder why their votes are not wanted!” “You can cut that out, Jimmy! ever saw me crying for suffrage.” “Huh! You don’t have to,” grunted Jim meaningly. Carmelita’s dancing eyes ac- knowledged the clumsy compliment, though she only said dryly: “Tf you think you can last until you get a square meal, let’s beat it before folks begin to drop in to dinner. Here! take this twenty and load up with bacon and beans, and the other items of that Alaskan a la carte you’re so used to. I'll get the car and meet you at that store we passed—about a block down on this side of the street.” ‘“‘Suppose your friend won’t come through for a share in this Easy Gold Syndicate, what then?” whispered Jim as he hefped her on with her automobile coat. ‘““Then,’’ said Carmelita sadly, ‘‘ we'll hand him the ‘brick.’ It jars my artistic soul to think of it, Jim, but, well, after all, the old games get the money quickest.” ““Surest thing you know!” admitted Jim. “I thought when it got down to cases we’d No one Gold 985 have tocometo it. I’m properly loaded for it, so whenever you’re ready, just whistle.” VI easy THERE never had been a minute Bx,ee since Morris Manahan’s itching ame palm had felt the cool weight of the magic little button of yellow metal that he had wavered in his intention to keep on the scent until he located more. He had not doubted Carmelita’s story, though he tested hermemoryandimaginationsorely. Warily confident, however, she showed neither eagerness nor impatience; so, between them, they played a waiting game. Not, indeed, until there came seriously disturbing letters from his friend and sup- porters at home did Manahan begin to grow restive. ‘“See here,’ said he one morning, “I’ve got to get back to Buffalo. What about this Dutchman of yours? I’m beginning to think he’s a myth. When did you see him last?” “About a week ago,” said Carmelita. ‘He wouldn’t even listen when I mentioned you, and told me not to come up again till he sent for me,” she added ruefully. “Said he’d soon be able to get along without thanks to any one.” “Does that let you out, too?” asked Manahan, after considering her a moment in silence. “No, I don’t think he’d break faith with me,” replied Carmelita. ‘Dad got him out of too many tight places years ago, and he’s a grateful old customer, in spite of his surli- ness. But he seemed in a hurry to be nid of me and get back to his work. I shouldn’t wonder if he’d hit on some way to produce gold in larger quantities.” “Vou’d better see him to-day,” sug- gested Manahan. “Why not take me up there with you?” “Oh, I wouldn’t dare—not without his consent!”? she said quickly. ‘‘We might drive up to a place I know, and leave the horse and buggy. Then, when I goup, you can follow me—say that you happened to see me from the road and came after me, thinking I’d like company. I'll introduce you and you can do the rest!” ‘All right, that’s good enough,” agreed Mananhan. 3 Two hours later, Carmiélita, switching the grasses and bushes in passing, and stopping ) (© CloOOOLKS CO