Adventure Magazine Cover — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

134 which would have got himself made into a hero. But unlucky influences dominated his star. Middleton was about as easily caught off guard as the trained, cynical crook among enemies ever is; and he turned as he arose. He did not strike Burillo. He threw up his hand to ward off the blow, and warded it skilfully, but without anger. The broken dagger fell out of Burillo’s hand; and he shrank back, expecting to be struck down, perhaps shot. “T see you are sorry,” said Middtfeton with polished, insulting irony, bitter, menac- ing and mocking, yet quietly spoken. “Very sorry to have forgotten yourself.” Then in the tone that one might use to a strange dog— ‘Tie up his feet.”’ Burillo moved with nervous, fumbling rapidity, anxious to do what was expected, but continually jerking his eyes up ex- pectantly—afraid that he would be struck when not looking. “Now,” said Middleton, “back up to me with your hands behind you.”’ “What—lI ) “Shall I make my request more polite? Then please do it.” Burillo edged backward in haste, bringing -himself up to Middleton who tied the fel- low’s hands behind him; then warned: “Don’t open your lips, no matter what happens. And something will probably hap- pen. All right, ahead of me—into the hall.”’ With a parting glance at the half- strangled and explosively rageful Cabron, trussed like a chicken on its way to market. Middleton pulled the door closed after him and came out into the up-stairs hall. He could see no one of Cabron’s men, but heard movements below, and with a guiding push headed Burillo for the stairs. “Come down on your feet,’’ said Mid- dleton. ‘‘Don’t sneak.” So Burillo, who had been on tiptoes as if trying to slip across thin ice before it discovered his weight and broke, walked a little more naturally. Middleton followed close behind, masked, but easy of manner. He carried a gun in his right hand, and the left slipped into his coat pocket. As they started down the stairs some one below heard them coming. A burly shape crossed the hall and stood at the foot of the stairs looking up, no doubt with increased puzzlement as he made out the mask. Adventure “Here, what’s this?” he called hoarsely. Middleton did not answer him, but spoke roughly to Burillo; saying: “Go on. You get nothing by hanging back. Get down there, Burillo.”’ The squat figure at the foot of the stairs understood about Burillo. The situation looked more understandable to him, all ex- cept the strange person in the mask. Any- way, awaiting developments, he stood alone and did not call out as he might have done if his suspicions had not been somewhat diverted. “Here, who are you?” he demanded, a gun leveled on Middleton. “Get on down there, Burillo.”’ Then to the man: | “I? I was planted in the house to take care of this fellow. Here’s a little passport from Cabron. He’s cleaning up papers and letters in Burillo’s room.” As he spoke, Middleton turned slightly, holding out a piece of paper in his left hand for the fellow to look at; and the burly one took it and glanced down to see what was written on it. The blow caught him along- side the head with crushing force. Mid- dleton struck quick and hard. The fellow crumpled, stunned, nearly dead, sinking at the foot of the stairs. “Quick, out of that door,” said Mid- dleton, giving Burillo a shove and looking behind; for voices could be heard in the hall above where some sort of noise, like the thump of falling bodies, was being made. Cabron was lifting his legs in the air and _ dropping them to attract attention. man AS THEY went out of the front Rivie door into the chill, dark night, Mid- f= dileton caught Burillo by the back of the collar, half-supporting and _half- shoving him; and in a fast dog-trot, run- ning on their toes, they went almost two blocks and stopped before a limousine. The door of the car was jerked open by a quick, shadow-like figure, and Burillo was half-pitched into it. “All right, Harry. Middleton. And the car drove off, leaving Middleton where he stood. The inside of the car was unlighted. Burillo, at first mystified, then hopeful as he saw Middleton being left behind, felt his blood freeze as he dimly made out a menacing figure leaning forward from a “Go ahead,” said DOOK (©