Adventure Magazine Cover, November 10, 1924 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

Peasant Wit he be warned, I must take my chance with him. I do not wish to take this chance. “T could shoot you and settle the matter. But I will not do this. Instead I will leave it to your decision. You have a child there. the shelter of the stable. When your husband arrives we will be waiting for him. I will not miss—rest assured of that. Iam a good shot, and I will wait for point-blank range. “The rest I leave to you. Call out if you wish. Give your husband his chance. I will make no attempt to prevent you. But in that event I will first shoot the child. What follows will be my affair. I ask only your judgment upon that first shot.” He halted a moment that his words might sink in, and summed up calmly: “You see? It is very simple. Husband or child—I leave it for you tosay. At least you must lose one of them. Your choice will be interesting.” Madame Borel did not reply at once. For a space she seemed lost in thought. True, she snatched the child to her arms, but the action was wholly subconscious. In the end she spoke with the same quiet earnestness as before. Nothing, it seemed could break the calm with which she had armored herself. ““M’sieu,”’ said she, “I can not believe you. I have heard of you—I know what you are. But you will not do this, you can not doit. It is too much.” The Wolf smiled —a harsh, mirthless smile that twisted his thin lips wryly. “‘Madame,” said he, “you are hard to convince. I see that I must abandon words for deeds.” Seizing his revolver, he rose from the chair. Having balanced himself, he reached for his paling. 7 “Come,” he ordered, when this was ad- justed. ‘‘We are off to the stable. Bring the child or give it tome. Again I offer you your choice. Only you must make it quick- ly. Ihave no time to lose.”’ Without further protest Madame Borel moved forward, the child in her arms. The Wolf nodded a sardonic approval. “That is better,” he observed. “Yet, in the coming affair, I should give you a word of advice. It will be far easier to make a mistake than to repair one.”’ By now Madame Borel was abreast of him, and he paused to bow mockingly. I will take it out with me behind . 67 “After you, madame,” said he. “At least we will observe the proprieties. And remember—no tricks. I shall be just be- hind you.” In proof of his words he followed her out, his revolver covering the generous breadth between her shoulders. Cam ARRIVED at the stable, the Wolf Py.# | looked about him, planning his at- ‘ tack. It was small, this island. The house, the out-buildings, were hemmed in closely by the bushy circle of china trees. To the west, a gap in these trees gave en- trance upon the prairie. And from this gap a hard-beaten path led straight to the stable door. An easy ambush. Swinging forward the door, the Wolf motioned Madame Borel in behind it. Following her, he steadied himself and waited. He was silent now, his: mockery gone, his every sense concentrated upon that fast-darkening gap in the trees. Tensely the Wolf awaited his warning. It must come soon now from the vast, silent sweep cf the prairie. Waiting also, Madame Borel soothed the half-sleeping child. Once she glanced quickly through the crack of the door at the dark inside of the stable. If he saw her, the Wolf paid no heed. Ten minutes more and the farmyard was still. It was dusk now, the dim, misty dusk of the prairie. Hobbling out, the Wolf stationed himself at the edge of the door. At all events he must see. And the horse- man would ride from the open into the gloom of the trees. It was still a good ambush. But not for long. Would the other never come? Swiftly the grayness thickened. It was almost dark. Now Madame Borel strained forward. Like the Wolf, she was tense, expectant. For the moment her calm was all gone. Then, from outside on the prairie, came the long-waited sound—a thudding of hoofs on short grass. Without turning, the Wolf gave his order. “The child here, beside me,” said he. The moment had come; nor did Madame Borel hesitate. At once she set the little child down, silencing her half-sleepy whim- per with a touch and a word. “Be still, Adita,’’ she murmured. must not make a sound.” And she added quite steadily an instant ater: “Vou COmiclbook C© 5}