Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

98 ‘‘T’ll play one more hand,’ he announced. Outside was heard the creak and rattle of another rig arriving, and presently the door opened and Manchester Jimmy was usher- ing a new group into the smoke-filled room. Thorson was conscious of the stir occasioned by the new arrivals, but he did not trouble to look up. It was not until he heard some one say: “How do, Mr. Bradley?” that he lifted his eyes from the cards. Bradley was standing facing him, the table between them. He was chewing a cigar, and for several seconds the two men looked at one another without a word. “T’ll stay,” said Gaston, tossing in a chip and following the play. “Vou like taking chances, don’t you, Thorson,” said Bradley. The woodsman made a bet and drew an- other card before replying. “Always did, Bradley.” The rough, careless banter about the table died down; it became so still that the clink of a chip rang loudly; and in that silence the forgotten, but unforgetting, Smith awoke. The first thing that his sight fell upon was Bradley’s broad back. His eyes roamed higher, and a savage light of recog- nition gleamed in his bloodshot orbs. His toe kicked against the empty champagne bottle. Slowly and craftily he bent forward and grasped the tin-foiled neck in his pudgy hands. With a twisted grin on his face the maddened fool rose to his feet behind Brad- ley. Gaston was the first to see him, and in the same instant Smith heaved the big bottle high over the mining man’s head. “Look out, Bradley!’’ cried Gaston, but the latter, suspecting a trick, stood like a rock, never even moving his eyes from Gas- ton’s, until the bottle crashed viciously upon the crown of his head. Then he sagged for- ward as a great tree falls, caught at the edge of the table, held himself from the floor by the tips of his fingers, while his brain wrestled to clear itself from the stunning effects of the blow, and slowly, painfully, but steadily, opened his eyes and fought back upon his feet. “Got ’im!”’ gloated Smith fiendishly. “Got th’ man I was looking for. Led me off the floor and locked me ’n a room. Cheated me out of dance with peach. Did me dirt, and I got e The words died in his throat with a gurgle, and his face went the color of new tallow as Bradley, his senses clearing, turned Adventure slowly around. For an instant Bradley was weakly swaying on his legs. The next he threw himself upon Smith. One hand caught the broker’s throat, the other grasped his middle. With a heave Bradley plucked his victim free of the floor, and slammed him shoulder high against the wall, so hard that the lamps in the ceiling danced, and pinned him against the logs. He held him there for several seconds, then released his hold and stepped back. Smith dropped to the floor and lay still. Without looking at the man again Bradley put his hand to his head and calmly explored his wound. “Call the rig back if it’s gone, Jimmy,” he commanded, stalking toward the door. ‘“The poor fool’s made me need a doctor in a hurry.” Xx M79 “THORSON, I want to give you <8 some sound advice,” said Crow- ley on Monday. Gaston had come to his office to apply the poker winnings of Saturday night on account. ‘‘Sell out. You have powerful enemies in camp. Soon you will find, if you continue to log, that you are up against a stone wall. Your business dealings with me have shown me that your word is as good as gold, and I like you. That’s why I tell you this; take the best price you can get, and sell.”’ - “Why do you say that, Crowley?” asked Gaston. ‘What do you know?” “I can’t tell you specifically, Thorson, without violating. a business confidence, which I won’t do. But as a good business man, if I were in your position and knew what I know, I tell you plainly I would sell out and be glad of the opportunity.” ‘“‘Bradley’s been talking to you, eh?” ‘‘Not one word. But I happen to know the Universal Syndicate’s plans. I have been told that I might inform you that your business is included in them.”’ ‘““Have you been told,” said Gaston, “that Bradley offered me ten thousand dollars, and when I refused told me that I was done for in this camp?” : “I knew that an offer had been made you. That isn’t a fair price, of course, but Mr. Bradley, holding the position that he does, naturally will not come to you with an increased offer, after—well, after cer- tain things that have happened. But I have inside and positive information that CoOMmiclsoo (©