Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

80 Adventure The office was a large one-room structure of corrugated iron over a wooden frame- work, with a door in front and a window in the rear. A large pineboard table was its principal furnishing. Uncle Dudley unlocked the door and entered, followed by Sam whose eyes opened wide when he observed a Mexican in military uniform asleep on the table. It was a most remarkable uniform of dark greenish-blue decorated with scarlet stripes and gold braid. A black patent-leather belt which was worn outside the coat had attached to it two bulging pistol holsters and a sword. The Mexican was awakened by the noise and rose hurriedly from his improvised bed. A second later he had drawn himself to his full height of five feet and four inches and was busy examining his pointed mustaches with his fingers. Sam judged that this wasa very important feature of his morning toilet. Uncle Dudley’s six feet of leanness towered over the little man while Sam Tupper, stout and heavy muscled, looked in comparison very much like a blond bear. Out of courtesy to the visitor the ensuing conversation was in the Spanish language. “Did you sleep well?’’ Uncle Dudley asked. The visitor said he did, but he was rub- bing his back and screwing up his face as he said it. Also he examined Sam uneasily. “Allow me to present Mr. Samuel Tupper, my assistant,” said Uncle Dudley. “Sam, this is General Juan Jesus Cassiano.” Sam nodded and General Cassiano bowed. ‘“‘General Cassiano is commander-in-chief of the military forces of the provisional constitutional government of the Republic of the United States of Mexico,’ Uncle Dudley continued. The general seemed pleased to hear the full title used. Sam judged—and cor- rectly—that there was business afoot. ‘“‘And now, Sam, I would like for you to step over to the O. K. Eating House and get the general a beefsteak or something for breakfast. Don’t forget a pot of coffee. And while they are cooking it, get the papers on that car of freight.” Ecae FIFTEEN minutes later Sam re- r turned with a sandwich and a pot of coffee. The sandwich was cleverly constructed by slicing a loaf of bread down the middle and wedging into it one round steak, fried to a crisp. General Cassiano thanked the messenger then thanked Uncle Dudley, then excused himself to both for sitting down, and pro- ceeded to breakfast. “How is the car billed?” asked. ‘Rock salt,’? Sam replied. His employer smiled. “Very good,’ was his comment. ‘“To- night we will move that rock salt to the camp across the river. I have ordered five large trucks up from the ranch tonight. They will arrive about eleven o’clock. We will take everything in one trip.” ‘“‘What is it?” Sam asked. “Mostly cartridges,’ Uncle Dudley in- formed him, “but there are also two ma- chine guns.” “Oh,” Sam grunted, displeased with himself for being so stupid. Whenever there were revolutions in Mexico Uncle Dudley did a little gun- running as a sideline. Sam was thoroughly familiar with the technique and details of these operations and now wondered what was the matter with his wits; rock salt nearly always meant a revolution in Mexico. The Rio Grande could be forded about four miles from Santa Maria. This fact was unimportant to international com- merce, but whenever a revolution was in progress the ‘‘outs” hastened to occupy a hill in front of the ford. Later the “ins” or federal troops would arrive and attempt to dislodge them. If the two forces met unexpectedly a battle generally ensued. If one force was very much larger than the other the weaker force generally joined the larger force and all went fishing. Catfish were plentiful thereabouts. The place was very important to such civil war as Mexico enjoyed. It was marked on all military maps of the country as strategic. And even Sam so regarded it, having also caught some excellent fish there. ‘Have you any one who can set up those machine guns?”’ General Cassiano asked. ‘“‘No, I haven’t, General,’’ Uncle Dudley replied. “Why haven’t you?” Sam interrupted, smiling. “Uncle Dudley, when I was in France they taught us to assemble a machine-gun blindfolded. You just show me that machine gun and I’]l make it call me papa.” “The general will be very glad to pay Uncle Dudley CoOmiclbools.6 nn)