Adventure Magazine Cover, June 18, 1921 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

76 “kindling” that she would be glad to have him carry off, if he wanted it. A few moments of silence followed; then, seriously but reluctantly, he began: _ “Zora, you know what we're up against here. Trying to hook up with a Chinaman. Opium, Hurgronje says. It’s that big ruby, I’d guess. You know it’s dangerous to meddle with Chinamen.”’ “So I’ve heard. What’s troubling you most now?” “Tt’s really in the interest of that Chinese deal that you have Lord Bob tied to your ankles, isn’t it? You don’t care for him; do you, Zora?” “Why,” she demanded with a show of anger, “always Lord Bob? The day I find a man I care more for than that—” she snapped her finger—‘“‘T’ll tell you of him. That isn’t a promise, either. It’s a threat!” “Zora: 99 He was trying to be patient though his was far from being a patient nature. He asked earnestly, pointedly— “Zora, are you sure, absolutely sure, that Lord Bob isn’t that fellow that got us into trouble in Paris?”’ Her answer seemed one of justifiable irri- tation. “How many times must I tell you he isn’t? And don’t you suppose that J would know? Remy, you are a fool.”’ “Vou don’t love him; do you, Zora?” The man’s question was a threat. “Oh; love? Love! Ugh!” “A woman like you, Zora, has to love somebody.” “Lunatic!” ‘“‘And the man you love, I will kill!” the volatile dark-featured Remy cried, spring- ing up. “There’s nothing wrong about that,” she said with an elaborate pretense of in- difference. = ou!” “Wholly superfluous.” ‘He approached her earnestly and be- gan— “Zora, how much do you trust Hur- gronje?” She shook her head. “You know what Sin Chang wants. Slave girls and gems. Hurgronje wants to turn opium smuggler as a side-line. Crazy! And you know Hurgronje would give up drops of his precious blood quicker than the smallest ruby and Adventure “T wonder what became of those stones— Everhard got.” ’ “Zora, let us get out of all this—go to- gether—away.”’ He said it pleadingly, reaching to her hand, which rested on the table. “Again? I have told you that J would say so when I was ready to go. And where would we go? You're not afraid of Hur- gronje—so you say. Iam.” Zora!” Quick as a flash, passionately, his arms went about her—and he kissed her full on the lips. She was instantly alive with fury, and struggled, pushing and clawing. She shoved him off, and in a rage snatched up the “Dance of Death” from the table and flung it at him, angrily calling him names. With an oath that he would tame her, he rushed; she evaded him, then was caught, and whirling quickly, struggling this way and that, they struck the screen. It reeled and gently I gave it a little shove, so that it fell with a clatter to the floor. Both glanced toward it, and Zora gave a surprized, half- strangled little cry. Mr. Remy Cantello’s hands gradually lifted themselves toward the ceiling. He was confronted by a man in an overcoat, with a black soft hat pulled low, and the lower part of the face bound with a broad white handkerchief, and two guns. I presented an attitude of slightly ironic - politeness, which I thought would be in keeping with the character of a gentlemanly burglar. I had slipped on my coat and hat, brought behind the screen to be out of sight, and put on the handkerchief to be prepared for some such emergency. I had not an- ticipated the overturning of the screen so much as fancied that Remy Cantello’s in- terest in it would bring him closer. Zoronna perceived at once what I had in mind, and she gave me, or at least I fancied that she did, a frightened, wondering side- long glance. When I had quite carefully searched Mr. Cantello and appropriated practically everything that I found, includ- ing a bejeweled and razor-like stiletto, some papers, a note-book and his pocketbook— and also, because I had ardle to keep up, I took his watch, tie-pin, and rings—then I yanked down a curtain, and, tearing a strip from the costly fabric, instructed her to tie him up, after which I removed her jeweled collar, rings, and belt-buckle, jamming COmicbooks.com