Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

When Good Fellows Get Together 5 his shyness forgotten, was doing the talking Captain Kennard was appraising him keenly. He saw a slender young fellow of medium height, with a clean-looking, sensitive face. Close-cropped, slightly wavy red hair—the C. O. wondered how much temper that fiery thatch indicated. He was well satis- fied with his latest charge however, even though he did give an impression of eager boyishness that was yet to be verified by his work. According to his artillery record Ransom was no weakling by a long row of beans, despite his youth. ‘Most of the fellows are taking naps ex- cept those, on patral. I suppose you’ll be wanting to get cleaned up after your flash- ing progress on the McMullen express.”’ The captain’s attractively homely face lighted up with a wide grin. , “Youre lucky, though, at that. I’ve spent thirty-six consecutively dirty hours on that same trans-county flyer.” -“That’s about a day and a half too long,” answered Dave, rising. ‘‘Did you say I had tent number two?” “Right. Your stuff will be in there by now, unless it got bumped off along the route from San Antonio somewhere. You'll meet the gang at supper-time. The show- ers are in that building at the foot of the walk, past the tent-line.”’ “Thank you, sir.”’ The captain strolled to the door with him. Although Ransom was not tall, the C. O. was shorter by several inches. Neverthe- less, there was a quiet forcefulness apparent in the level eyes and somewhat lined face that the younger man had been quick to feel. ‘“You’re coming to a flight of good fellows, Ransom,” said the captain as Ransom turned to go. ‘‘This bunch gets there; we’ve got a record to be proud of and one to live up to. I think you’ll catch the spirit— and remember that unlike any other branch of the service, we are doing work in peace- time that is nearly as dangerous as our war service, and of immediate importance. When it comes to a pinch, the main thing is to make that patrol!’ For some strange reason Dave could not say what he wanted to, but his expression was satisfactory as he saluted; his eyes meeting his commanding officer’s without wavering. “Good kid,” thought Captain Kennard as he watched his subordinate turn the corner. “Young, all right, but got the stuff.” II AN HOUR later the young observer was luxuriously clean, moderately | cool and immoderately happy and satisfied with his lot. He gazed around his small, square, wooden-floored tent with affectionate ownership. He still had that queer feeling of shyness when he thought of the experienced veterans of the flying-game with whom his lot was cast—‘‘like some —— green freshman” as he expressed it to himself—but he assured himself that that would wear off. His resolution hardened. He’d show ’em! He allowed himself to drift off into hazy dreams of accomplish- ment that would put his name alongside the magic names that stood for stardom in the Air Service. A low hum came to his ears and he strolled to the tent door. He quickly picked up the ship, coming from the east- ward patrol to the Gulf, evidently. He watched it steadily, a little smile on his face. “Hello! You must be that reformed artilleryman!” _ He turned to meet a couple of twinkling brown eyes set in a very tanned face. The owner was chastely arrayed in a bath towel and slippers. He was evidently making the board-walk promenade from bath-house to tent. “Right you are—name of Ransom!” laughed Dave. “My name is Miller—first name Pete. By way of warning, never call me Petey. It outrages my dignity.” ‘*As befits a recruit, I’ll make careful note of that. Is that ship coming from patrol?” “Yep. Tex MacDowell and ‘Peroxide’ Hickman. Only don’t call him Peroxide. They’re our popular movie stars, you know, or maybe you don’t.” “Yes, I heard about it, but I didn’t get to see the pictures. Where did Hickman get the name ‘Peroxide’? ”’ “Well, you see he and Tex were up at Donovan Field and George—that’s Hick- man—being one of these —— fools that crawls all over a ship for excitement, was doing some aerial daredevil stuff for a movie- weekly man. They arranged it up there for Air-Service recruiting publicity. As a wat) COmicloo oN UM) ©