Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 166: what you’re looking at

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

156 us, still black with ooze. So close he was that the reek of it struck our nostrils; and mingled with it was the smell of raw spirits. On his mired hip was a bulge of familiar outline, and I knew that Lily- White Hand had sought solace from ’Tonio, the camp’s bootlegger. He glared at us palely, his, white lips frozen in a mirthless grin. “IT am neither Korah, Dathan nor Abiram, old fool,” said he softly. “No; but I am like the unjust judge.” With his thin, ugly laugh he swaggered past us into the hotel, swaying a little on wide-set feet. The deacon spat reflectively. “He feared not God, neither regarded he man.’” The old gentleman was thor- oughly grounded in the _ Scriptures. ““Wey-ell, wey-ell!”’ Sally Putnam touched my shoulder; she had come out of the house, unnoticed. “I told you he had a devil!” she whis- pered. | And with that the rain began again, and Jack Mack hailed me from across the street, and I must harness my own horses and 4r--e out along the Ridge Road. It was late enough when I finished my day—after ten o’clock. But I walked down to the Putnam House, none the less, intent on warning young Roberts against Lily-White Hand. Yet what could I say? That he had cursed a swamp for muddying him? Roberts would laugh. At least, he had quit work before noon; and by now he must be thoroughly drunk. That: was something. _ I found the young engineer in his own room, poring over reports. He had been in Buffalo all day, on the trail of some elu- sive shipment of rails, but I had no news for him. “Oh, yes!” he laughed. “Hand told me; he fell into a puddle. Had to come home and clean up. He walked across the flats rather than make the big wagon an extra trip. Mighty decent of him, I call it.” “Why didn’t he go back to work?” I ‘had already made sure he hadn’t. But Roberts laughed again. “The men wouldn’t do any more until tomorrow because the swamp made funny noises. Superstitious lot, these old ground- hogs.” “The man ’s drunk on bootleg whisky.” “Nonsense! Why,, I was talking with -among themselves. Adventure him two hours ago. He’d had a couple of drinks, of course; so would you, after that experience, wouldn’t you, doctor? But he was cold sober. Why, he’s gone back to Camp Two tonight, for some office work.” “Or to visit ’Tonio,” I grumbled. Just then some one knocked, and the voice of Phil Riley, Mrs. Putnam’s hired man, called— “Wanted on the phone, Warren!” We had adopted young Roberts; was he not to marry Mary Belle? Wherefore we no longer ‘“‘Mistered”’ him. The boy rose, yawning. “Aw- right, Phil! Be back in a minute, doc.” But I followed him down, for it grew late. As he took down the receiver of the hall phone I lingered, without knowing why. “Hello? . . . Camp Two? What’s wrong, Flint?” The phone emitted a shrill, tiny scream. ‘Trouble . Dagos fight- ing. ... ” Icaught. “Get Mr. Hand . Not there? . What? I don't understand. Oh, never mind. Find him; and I’ll be right down.” He turned to me. “Something wrong in Camp Two. A lot of Italian laborers drunk and fighting Hand must have start- ed home. I'll go right down.” He took the stairs three at a time, and was back ina breath, buttoning his mackinaw. ‘Wait, Warren!” I called. “Have you got a gun?” He turned back, to show me a flat, stub- nosed automatic, at which I grinned. “Ever see drunken wops fighting?”’ Roberts shook his head. , Well, I have. Before I settled here I put in two years as contract surgeon for the Structural Steel people. You may be one grand little engineer, my son; but as the big boss you’ve a lot to learn. Wait a minute.” Riley had disappeared; but he came at my shout. “Phil,” said I, “‘just lend me that old ten-gage, will you?” Phil grinned, rasping a stubbly chin. “W’y, sure, doc. A fine night f’r pa’- tridge, ain’t it?”’ It was pitch-black and raining again. “Yes,” said I grimly. ‘Got any buck- shot?” ‘“‘We-ell—why, I guesso. Few shell left over f’om that trip las’ Fall, up into Her- kimer County 3 COmicloo YN () CO