Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

38 hat, turned to the occupant of the carriage. Somewhat to his astonishment, he per- ceived that not only was she quite composed, but was smiling at him in entire absence of fright or alarm. Also, he noted that she was a rarely beautiful woman, with darkly vivid Spanish coloring and a peculiar golden glow to her skin which might have come from the sunlight splashing through the interstices of her dropping Leghorn hat. Jewels flashed on her fingers. ““Muchas gracias, sefiores!”’ she exclaimed, not in the long Mexican drawl but in the more precise and lisping accents of Castile. ‘‘T owe you more than thanks; I am in your debt. ‘Those bandits shot one groom and the other went down when my horse was killed—you are not hurt? Praise to the saints!”’ Hampton bowed, not forgetting that he must play a part. “‘Sefiora, the opportunity of serving you is its own reward. With your leave, I will help my friend revive your groom : He rushed to the aid of Warlock, who had quieted the horse, and between them they got the stunned groom revived and on his feet. The latter, his fears appeased, looked at the dead bandit leader, and crossed himself. “It is he, El Tigre, the dreaded outlaw. But who will pay for my horse——” “T will pay, fool,’ came the woman’s voice, with an authoritative ring in it. “Go and see whether your companion is alive—thcugh I think he was shot in the head and done for. Then return and hitch up the remaining horse. Sefiores, to whom do I give my thanks? Are you travelers, as your appearance would indicate, cr pala- din knights sent by the saints to aid me?” Job Warlock, bowing, grinned widely and made answer. ‘‘Neither and both, sefora. Being basque, we are noble, since every Basque gentleman is a noble by ancient rights; and having tired of plantations in Cuba, which we have sold, we are now traveling to the iand of Eldorado, to seek California gold. I am Hernan d’Etchevain, and my friend here is Antonio Estramure. Sefiora, we kiss your hands and feet.” To all this stately Spanish speech the woman paid little heed, save to one word, for her eyes were devouring the two men. Hampton found those dark and liquid eyes unaccountably piercing, and behind their Adventure beauty was a poise and quiet control unusual in such a woman. ‘“‘Basque!”’ she repeated. ‘“That explains the accent, and also the swift action. Se- fiores, since you are bound for California, it happens that I. may be of aid to you. Come to my house at five this afternoon— , the House of Yellow Tiles, in the Calle de los Hermanos.”’ Hampton bowed assent, and at this in- stant the groom returned, with word that his fellow was dead. Hampton and War- lock helped him get the remaining horse patched up with the harness, and in another five minutes the carraige moved away toward town, with a last farewell from the unknown lady. When the equipage had disappeared, Warlock dug his friend in the ribs. “Ha! ‘Little black bull came over the mountain’—did ye note the hit ye made, Dick?~ She has an eye for wide shoulders, eh? J’ll bet she’d like to see ye show up without me! And no name mentioned, neither—she’s some fine lady. Look out ye don’t get a knife from her husband to- night. A knife’s a poor dinner, as the Injun said when he rubbed his belly: “Shut up,’ said Hampton, but frowned as he spoke. ‘“There’s something about her what I don’t fancy.” “Then I'll keep the appointment, and glad to leave ye behind!” Warlock chuckled. “Let’s be moving, for we have work to do. Aye, her house is in the same street with the inn—you stop behind, and I’ll go meet the lady, right enough!” . “We’ve other things on n hand than playing fast and loose in Panama City.” “Aye, but she can help us get north! That’s a shot in your locker, matey.” Hampton returned no answer, but struck into a rapid stride. He was not so pleased with the adventure as might have been; beautiful as the woman was, something in her face chilled and startled him; he could not forget the singular poise of those dark eyes. However, he made no comment as they continued their brisk pace, and Job did not again break in upon his silence, Suddenly the road which they were following made an abrupt turn, and then emerged without warning upon the highway, two miles from the city—a wide road here paved with cob- bles, chain gangs of convicts at work in- stalling the stones farther on. The towers micloool C© inn