Adventure Magazine Cover — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

Om “Because if you do, no harm will come to you; and if you don’t you'll go to jail.”’ The Hillman’s hand crept instinctively toward his knife, and the policeman made ready to swing for the back of his head with a hardwood club. ‘“‘Are you a fool, that you don’t know a friend when you meet one?” asked Ommony. ‘“‘T have met enemies and women and one or two whom I called master and many whom I have mastered—but never a friend yet!” the Hillman answered. ‘‘Who art thou?” “Come with me and learn,” said Ommony. The Hillman hesitated, but the crowd was distinctly beginning to gather now— a little way off, not sure yet, but alert for _the first hint of happenings. It grew clear to the Hillman that escape might not be easy. “T fear no man!” he said, turning his head and recognizing the policeman, who was hardly two-thirds his size. He spat eloquently for the policeman’s benefit, missing him neatly by about the thickness of a knife-blade. *‘Whithere”’ he asked then, looking straight into Ommony’s eyes. Fal stret to. led the way across the 2 street to Chutter Chand’s shop, | —aant where he halted to let the Hillman go in first. “Nay, lead on!”’ said the Hillman, step- ping aside. “No. For you have a weapon and I have none. Moreover, I have said I am a friend, and I prefer to be a living friend rather than a dead one! Go in first,” laughed Ommony. The Hillman laughed back. There was none of the solemnity about him that en- shrouds the men from the northwest fron- tier. Eastward along the Himalayas, where the smell of sweat leaves off and the smell of rancid butter begins, laughter becomes part of life and not an insult or indignity. He swaggered into the shop with no more argument, and at a nod from Ommony walked straight through to the office at the rear. “Krishna!” exclaimed Chutter Chand. He jumped for a corner, seized a two- handed Samurai sword, drew it from the scabbard and laid it on the desk. “T will let my snakes loose!’ he almost screamed in Hindustani. 73 But the Hillman sat down on the floor, on the exact spot where the lama had been, and Ommony sat down in the chair facing him, motioning to Chutter Chand to resume the other chair and be sensible. “But this is the ruffan who came and threatened me!” said Chutter Chand. “That knife of his is saw-edged! Take it from him, Ommonee!”’ The Hillman appeared to know no En- glish, but seemed to have made up his mind about Ommony. Friendship he might not believe in, but he could recognize good faith. He watched Ommony’s face as a child follows a motion picture. ‘What is your name” asked Ommony. “Dawa Tsering.” “Where are you from?” “Spiti.” “Oh, my ——!”’ exclaimed Chutter Chand. “Does he say he is from Spiti? all fiends who come from that country! It is there they practise polyandry, and their dead are eaten by dogs! He is unclean!” “Who is that lama who was in here just now?” Ommony went on. “Tsiang Samdup.” Chutter Chand did not catch that name or, if he did, the name meant nothing to him. Ommony, on the other hand, had to use all his power of will to suppress excite- ment, and even so he could not quite con- trol himself. The Hillman noticed the change of expression. “Aye,” he said, “Tsiang Samdup is a great one.” ‘Who is the other who was with him— the young one?” “His chela.” * ‘“‘What name?” 3 “‘Samding. Some call him San-fun-ho.” “And what have you to do with them?” Instead of answering, the Hillman re- torted with a question. “What is ##y name? Say it again. Ommonee. That sounds like a name with magic in it. Om mani padne hum! Who gave thee that name? Eh? Thy father had it? Who was he? How is it a man should take his father’s name? Is the spirit of the father not offended? Thou art a strange one, Ommonee.”’ ‘““Why did you come in here some days ago and threaten Chutter Chand?” asked Ommony. *Disciple. MICLOOOK They are — C© in