Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

Om the other actors laid alongside it, in a line with scores of other loads all roped in worn canvas covers. ‘There was every indica- tion of orderly but swift and sudden flight; and only one reasonable deduction possible Dawa Tsering voiced it: ‘‘Women — trouble! It is the same thing! ruin in the end!” Ommony sat down on the trunk and suddenly jumped up again. A woman’s voice cried out of darkness from an upper story. “Did you hear that?” “So screams a woman when the knife goes in!’ said Dawa Tsering pleasantly. He was having an entirely satisfying time. “Look to thyself! There is room to hide dead men in this place, and none the wiser!” But Ommony was not quite sure the woman’s cry did not hold a suggestion of laughter. A Tibetan unlocked the door of the great hall in which the rehearsals had taken place, and Maitraya emerged in a tantrum. “Krishna! This is too much!’ he snorted. “Is that you, Gupta Rao? What do you think of it? To lock us in like criminals! To take our luggage—by the Many-Armed Immaculate—what is happening?” The other actors trailed out after him, the women last, peering over the shoulders of the men in front. One of them was half hysterical and, seeing nothing else to be afraid of, screamed at the dog. Ommony retreated into darkness. Dawa Tsering fol- lowed him, immensely free as to the shoul- ders, like an old-time mercenary fighting man who foresaw trouble of the sort that was his meat and drink. “Have you a weapon, Gupta Rao? If you asked me, I should say you would need one presently!” Ommony dragged the Hillman down be- side him, and the three—he, Dawa Tsering and the dog—sat with their backs against the wall in impenetrable shadow, out of which they could watch what was passing in the ghostly candlelight. “How many women has the lama with him?” asked Ommony. “Oh, lots! I never counted. There are one or two I had my eye on, but the crafty old Ringding looks after them more care- fully than an Afghan watches a harem. He and the chela are the only ones who can get within talking distance. Never mind. We Trouble — women! They bring a man to 127 will have our opportunity now, unless I am much mistaken.” “Why didn’t you tell me about these women before?” asked Ommony. “Oh, I thought you knew everything. Besides, you are probably a gay fellow yourself. I don’t like interference. If you and I should love the same one——’”’ The lama stepped into the wide of candle- light, entirely unexcited, Sanding was with him; the chela counted all the loads twice Over. “Wait while I get my yak-hair cloak and — the other things,” said Dawa Tsering, and disappeared. : The lama said one word, and Samding promptly commenced a roll call from mem- ory In a clear, commanding voice, beginning with a string of northern names, following with Maitraya and all his actors, Om- mony’s almost last. It was as thrilling as a roll call on a battlefield. 3 “Gupta Rao?” Here.” “Dawa Tsering?” “Coming!” “And the dog?” Ommony whispered to Diana and she bayed once. Everybody laughed, includ- ing the lama, who stood so upright that he could have passed for a young man until Samding came and stood beside him, when the contrast exposed the trickery of dark- ness. The lama spoke in low tones to a Tibetan, who repeated the order to others, and in a moment all the loads were on men’s heads. There was a prodigious number of them; men had arrived like ghosts, apparently from nowhere, and the discipline was per- fect. Not a man spoke. There was no sound except for a grunt now and then and the rutching of heavily loaded bare feet on the paving stones; and not a woman yet in evi- dence except Maitraya’s actresses, who seemed too much frightened to make a fuss, or else too much interested to be frightened; it was hard to tell which. If there was another order given Ommony did not hear it. The procession started across the courtyard, in through the stable door into which the lama’s carriage had vanished when they first drove in that morning; some one opened the door from inside. The lama stood in the courtyard watching, Samding beside him counting, GO JOO! nn)