Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

South, West and North Day? Why, there’s the man himself ye were seeking! No wonder he demanded why ye sought Winslow or Dias, was afraid to speak out——” A groan of mingled fury and bitterness broke from Dick Hampton, as across his mind burst realization of the truth. Dias —James Day in person! No wonder Day had said that Dias was his bitterest enemy; true enough in all conscience! Hampton waved his friend to silence, lowered his face into his hands, sat gripped in furious and futile quest of memory. One thing after another flooded in upon him, now that he understcod the truth. This adventurer must have operated under a dozen names; no wonder that Job War- lock had heard of the filibuster Day, and again of the supposed Mexican Dias. Hampton saw that from the moment he had told James Day of his errand, he had been marked for death. At first eager to enlist a lieutenant and assistant, Day had then become more desperately eager to get rid of a man who might surprize his secret at any time. And with this, abruptly, the whole affair began to broaden out in the light of that letter from Eli Hampton. “Tf we'd only learned all this a day sooner!’ and Hampton lifted his head, with another groan. ‘Now we’re helpless.” “Better late than never,” said Job War- lock cheerfully. ‘‘We’ve done well to find this much of a key, matey; it don’t take many words to understand the game friend Dias is playing now, eh? No wonder he wanted to be rid of us. No matter what happens now, he’s won his game.’’ This was horribly true. It stood out clearly that Day, or more truly Dias, was one of those vultures who were now preying upon the flood of gold-seekers pouring across the isthmus or working up the west coast— not Americans only, but men of all nations. Owing to the expense of the journey, the average gold-seeker carried enough money to get him to his destination, and this was no small sum. Dias, then, was not only a vulture, whose activities were clearly exposed in the letter from Eli, but was carrying on his activities on a large scale; Hampton stood aghast at the man’s incredible audacity. Coming to New England, Dias had swiftly organized his company, with very plausible secrecy, from picked men of means. Perhaps the 27 wealthiest in that company had been Jed Barnes, and none of them were poor men. Lured by the prospect of an assured and swift California passage under experienced auspices, they had trusted themselves to Dias—and what would be the end of this affair? “Damnation, damnation!” cried Hamp- ton, as the prospect burned into him, tor- turing him with the anguish of his own futility. ‘Those whom he can’t rob and strip along the isthmus, he’ll pack into his schooners at Panama and rob on the way north—they’ll never see California at all! He’ll land them somewhere in Mexico, penniless and broken—he’s not a man but a devil! If we were at Chagres 3 “Take it calm, matey, for it can’t be helped,” said Job Warlock coolly. “If we were at Chagres this blessed minute, wait- ing for him, what could we do? Nothing. You’re a convicted murderer, I ain’t nothin’ but a common A. B., more or less. De- pend on it, he’s greased them dago officials to the limit. And who'll listen to us aboard ship? Nary a one, be sure of that. He’s got them poor fools eating out of his hand, matey. Now listen here! Has the rascal got his eye on the lass, think yer” Hampton started, then shook his head. He had with his seaman’s papers that letter from his brother Eli, and got out the oil- skin packet. He showed Warlock the let- ter, which sufficiently removed any such conjecture as the bosun bad put forth. “Well, then, you and me better go to Chagres and look up this here Injun, El Hambre,” said Warlock. “Bet you a plugged two-cent piece we can work fine with him. Injun does it, every time. But if Dias ain’t stuck on the girl, you can be sure it was him knifed the old man; sure as shootin’, matey!” Hampton nodded thoughtfully. “Ves, but it can’t be proved. And he’s probably scheming for all the money Jed Barnes had. What will become of Nelly, then? That devil won’t spare her es The blood rushed to his face. Warlock laid one powerful hand on his arm, restrainingly. “Steady, matey! Brace up the yards and sheet home; she ain’t goin’ to suffer in a hurry. She’s safe enough far’s Chagres, and likely them other women will look after her to Panama. It’s there that Dias will work his deviltry—there and after, up the MICLOOo! nn)