Adventure Magazine Cover, November 10, 1924 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

14 gangplank and disappear behind the bul- warks, A sad thought occurred to him. The line moved forward swiftly now. Eadie looked about for signs of the coffee, but saw none. He even stepped out of ranks a bit to see down the pier. This secured him nothing but a growl from the officer and another from a big M. P. who was twirling his club a few feet away. Eadie found himself at the foot of the gang- plank undergoing a sharp scrutiny from a naval officer and the fat sergeant. ‘“‘Name?”’ asked the fat sergeant. “Eadie.”’ “Eadie,” repeated the fat sergeant, making a mark on his list. “Eadie,” muttered a sailor on the other side of the gangplank, with a similar list. Another sailor handed Eadie a slip of paper and Eadie mounted the gangplank. Another sailor at the top looked at the slip and directed the sergeant to go below and turn to the right, after that to make further inquiries. Eadie went below and to the right. Another inspection of his ticket. “Down that next ladder,” directed the eailor. Eadie went down. it stank. “Hey, sailor,’’ called the sergeant, ‘where shall I throw this pack? Anywhere?” “‘Nope,”’ said the sailor, ‘lemme see your ticket. Every man’s got a ticket with his bunk and boat station on it, an’ if you get into somebody else’s bunk, there’d be —— to pay. Huh, compartment G Four. Down that ladder.”’ “Down that ladder? For the luvva Mike, how far down do these ladders go?”’ “Quite a ways yet. Why, this deck we’re on is the troops’ promenade deck.”’ “Is that so!” muttered Eadie, and de- scended the next ladder. - There were no more ladders in sight when he reached the bottom. Just darkness and red steel walls and bunks, four tiers deep. There was a half-hearted electric light way off behind some bunks and voices came from that direction, but where Eadie was the compartment was deserted. “What’s your bunk number, soldier?” asked a voice. Still another sailor. He in- spected Eadie’s ticket by the aid of a flashlight. “Eight four,” he said. “Right here, that second one.” “That’s not so bad,” answered Eadie. “I expected I’d have to have that top one.” It was. dark here and Adventure “That’s a good bunk,” said the sailor. “A guy that’s in one of them hurricane bunks don’t get no lunch. spilled on him when we get to sea.” “What do you mean, lunch spilled on him?” “You'll see,” said the sailor meaningly. “It gets kind of choppy on the way over this season of the year.” ‘Well, condemn my eyes!’’ exclaimed the sergeant. . Then he cast his overcoat and pack into the bunk, laid his rifle atop and turned to go up the stairs again. A scraping sound made him turn his head. Some one was coming down the Aisle, brushing the bunks on either hand with his body. “Hyyuh!” called a voice. ae That bulk could belong to but one man. It was Hairy Jake. 3 “Hullo,” cried Eadie. this subcellar too?” “Yup,” said Jake, “way over the other “They got you in side. We must be kinda near the bottom here. Nice to get out if a submarine hits “Uae: SUBMARINE! Eadie felt a distinct egees4 chill about his heart. That thought at had never occurred to him. It would be along journey up all those ladders and if some green ocean water were coming down it might be an impossible one. “Let’s go on deck,” said Eadie. “It’s kind of close down here.”’ “C’m on,” said Jake, and they went up the ladder. The sunlight was warm upon the decks. The press of soldiers was very great, so that one had to move sidewise through the crowd and draw in one’s stomach to let others by. Eadie and Jake finally found themselves at the ship’s side, where they could see down into the pier. “T knew it,’”’ exclaimed Eadie, “look at that!” A man in a white apron shoved a tiny cart, in which was a coffee urn and a big basket of sandwiches. Two girls in those mean gray uniforms walked beside the cart, issuing out the coffee and sandwiches. ‘“‘An’ we missed it!’ exclaimed Jake, beating the rail with his hairy fists. ‘Now ain’t that distilled ——! My stomach’s emptier than a shavetail’s head!” Eadie’s company were all aboard and it was another outfit that was getting the CoMmicboolk A) (© =