Adventure Magazine Cover — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

PEM td LM IAL Adhd heice g OGY 0H WITLI v9) MEN OF THE 'A FOUR2PART STORY \ ” —— PART Ill Ly Gordon Young Author of “Bucking Fate,” “Bluffed,”’ etc. The first part of the story briefly retold in story form. 3 MBS. HELENA HOLDER LOUDEN, sister of Frank Holder, whose millions had been made in Texas oil, was giving a house-party; ome of her many attempts to “‘break into” fashionable New York Society. One of the entertainers, a girl named Javotte, had attracted attention by her black-masked face and clever dancing. Although many speculated as to her identity only Frank Holder knew. He had found her in some cheap cabaret and had fallen in love with her. That night when Javotte went to her room she found a masked man concealed there who robbed her of her jewels. He warned her not to marry Holder, and Javette_was in terror lest her past life had been discovered. “‘P’ease, p’ease tell me who you are,” she begged in broken English; but the man refused to raise his mask. : While they talked screams sounded through the hall; another woman had discovered the loss of her jewels. Quick as light, the masked man slipped from the room and_was gone. The crack of a re- volver sounded as he shot out the lights, warning the guests to stay in their rooms. Holder, thinking only of Javotte, hurried to her room and then brought her secretly to a tower chamber where she would be safe until he and a private detective could get her away next night. During the day the black-masked man obtained admittance to Javotte’s room and revealed his identity as ‘Black Wolf,’ a notorious character of the underworld. Javotte, who feared he would betray her forced marriage to a gangster, promised to help him escape that night. 3 It was dark, without moonlight; and together they slipped down-stairs after the detective to the car which was to take Holder and the girl to the city. With infinite quiet Black Wolf overpowered and bound the detective; then when Holder appeared he ‘had already taken his place as chauffeur. Followed a mad ride through the night while IIt Javotte, hysterical with fear, told Holder that the driver was Black Wolf. The car drew up at a lonely spot, and the masked man opened the door. . “It’s a good place for a murder,”’ he murmured. “But we'll postpone it,”’ he continued. ; He had seen the look of sheer terror.on Javotte’s ace. me really loves him,” he thought; ‘‘and if so, WwW ) Holder seemed as impassive as ever. He re- vived Javotte by fanning her slowly with a news- paper in which was an account of the murder of Javotte’s gangster husband. Finally it caught Javotte’s eye, and she became radiant. Holder had been trying to make her see it for ten minutes. With a corps of detectives in his pay he knew far more than any one suspected. WHEN Javotte married Holder it was a subject for discussion in underworld circles as well as in those more fashionable. Billy the Dude and Jerry Peete, two of Black Wolf’s devotees, sat in the latter’s apartment and speculated as to how the affair would affect their chief. While they waited for him to come back they were startled by the peremptory entrance of a haughty young woman, who ignored them and proceeded to make herself perfectly at home. She informed them that her name was Leela—which was sufficient toidentify her at once as an important member of the “lawless set.” Meanwhile Middleton, returning from a success- ful robbery, was nearly made the victim of a gang battle; but the vigilance of Silkeen Harry, his chauf- feur, saved him. He hurried on to his rooms and was surprized at seeing his unexpected guests. As he entered Leela started visibly and exclaimed— “Black Wolf!” Presently the two men left him to talk alone with her. ‘“‘I came to warn you,” asserted the young wo- man. She went on to tell him that his life was in imminent danger. For a moment she forgot to DOO (C@