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

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

20 Adventure Hampton frowned over this item of news. “So? I doubt your prophecy, friend Job. True, Day may not accompany us all across to Panama, but he’ll be there with the strongbox. Though I don’t like him, I don’t figure him as any petty rascally thief. Still, we’ll see.”’ ‘‘And bless me if I take a notion to your godly New Englanders, any of ’em! What’s this ugly old stone-face got against you?” ‘“‘He doesn’t like seamen,’ said Hampton, and smiled. “But his daughter does, eh? A fine lass. Bless me if I can’t read the end of this trail! Howsomever, I’ll go with ’ee to the parson’s door, Dick, and then to Glasgow packets.” The news of what had passed between Hampton and Jed Barnes speedily ran through the ship, gaining much in the tell- ing, so that by evening both the crew and the staggering but slowly recuperating gold seekers were half-convinced that the two men had fought that morning. Though he saw her down the deck once or twice, Hamp- ton had no further speech with Nelly Barnes all day; at the same time, he began to realize that the gossip must be hard for her to bear, since it filled all the ship and was swift to create dissension. His brother officers and many of the Beverly men who knew him, were warm to back his love- match; but the older men among the gold . seekers, all of them hard-headed New En- glanders of some position and means, were as swift to back up harsh Jed Barnes. Thus stood matters when, next morning, Hampton found the warm sunlight, a steady wind, and a running sea aiding the Hannah on her passage. All hands were about, high good spirits were in evidence, and the morn- ing opened briskly to popping of rifles as the younger men opened fire on porpoises or shot at marks. After breakfast, however, the skylarking was halted and the company officers assembled the gold-seekers on the maindeck for prayers and divine service. Then, after calling the roll, a meeting of the officers within ten minutes was announced, to be held in the main cabin, and the decks were once more flooded with laughing, eager men who indulged in sports and feats of strength amid the new banging of rifles and drift of powder reek down the wind. Hampton, off duty and enjoying a pipe near the scuttle butt, was looking on when he heard his name and turned. Approach- ing him was the trim and dandified secretary of the company, Adam Johnson, with Nelly Barnes on his arm. ‘“‘Kr—ahem, sir! Morning to you,” said Johnson affably. ‘I was asked to tell you, Mr. Hampton, that Mr. Barnes would like the pleasure of your company for a few moments. He is in his cabin below—Num- ber Three of the after cabins, sir. A fine day, eh?” “Very,” said Hampton, and found Nelly’s hand in his fora moment. Then he realized what had just been said, and looked at John- son with a slight hardening of his eyes. ‘““What’s that? Jed Barnes wants to see me? Then let him come——”’ The pleading Jook of the girl checked his words, and Adam Johnson chuckled. ‘‘Upon my word, sir, I think you’d do well to obey the summons! We must all be friends aboard; it won’t do to reach the gold- fields with dissension in our midst. United we stand, divided we fall—an exccllent axiom for our company, sir! I may drop the word in your ear that I’ve had a talk with Mr. Barnes, and I think you’d find it to your interest to see him.”’ Nelly smiled. “Indeed, Dick, Mr. Johnson is a very good friend! If you'll only bea little patient with father oe Hampton laughed, and clapped the spruce Johnson on the shoulder. | “My compliments to you, sir, and thanks! Indeed, I’ll go to the slaughter as patience personified, I assure you! Quite right, Nelly; I'd do more than this for one smile from you, and you may depend on it I'll meet your father half-way in the effort to get along peaceably.” With her smile to reward him, Dick Hampton started aft. He was both aston- ished and highly gratified by this occur- rence; Adam Johnson he knew for an honest, forthright man and a good friend. How Jed Barnes had been prevailed upon was a mystery, but no doubt several of the gold company had argued him into some appear- ance of decency. ‘“‘For Nelly’s sake I’ll do more than my part,’ resolved Hampton, as he came to the ladder and started below. ‘‘Perhaps the old curmudgeon has been made to see reason after all, though I doubt it. He’ll probably make certain terms with me—no doubt has been forced into it for the sake of general harmony aboard.” Glancing into the main cabin, where old comicbooks.cO inn