Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

30 “Quick! Take that window, Sawyer, and cut out that sob stuff. Here’s a gat. Watch they don’t rush the door, Plessons, and [’ll stir up the All Highesi.”’ He turned just in time. As the Kom- mandant was crawling through the door Tony leaped, seized him by the leg, dragged him back like a pig without the squeals, and poked a revolver against his ear. But von Muhlhauser, possibly guessing his captor’s reluctance to shoot, silently tried to fling himself on Tony. But he had started too near the ground for a fair chance, so that Tony easily twisted him off his feet, got him down and knelt on his stomach while Plessons tied him to one of the table posts. “He’s got guts, all right,” admitted Tony as he arose panting. The independent firing had ceased at a gruff command in German. The strange hoo-hooing continued. “Yes,” agreed Plessons, “they didn’t cave in like some of ’em do.” “Prussians, shouldn’t wonder. They’re mean, but they aren’t white-livered. Lis- ten! Guess some officer or non-com’s pull- ing ’em together. But I bet we’ve got ’em puzzled. They’ll know who it is, but prob- ably won’t know how many. Sawyer, drag out the professor and let’s have a look at him. That’s it.” “Help! Help!” promptly yelled the Dok- tor in German at full-lung pressure. “Heh,” growled Sawyer, “shut yer head, will yer?” “Let him be,” said Tony. ‘‘That’s just what we want—to let them know he’s alive. Go to it, professor!”’ But the professor, understanding En- glish, refused to comply. “Now you, sergeant,” continued Tony, addressing the big form looming in the gloom, ‘‘tell your people that we’re going to stick you and the professor in the windows and the Kommandant in the door, so if any one shoots they’ll get them. Understand?”’ ‘Ja,’ answered the sergeant; “but I gan not do dat until the Herr Kommandant gommand me.” “Oh yer won’t, won’t yer—— “For ——’s sake, shut up!” exclaimed Tony furiously. ‘You’re worse than a hysterical old woman. Keep your mouth shut until you’re told to speak.” “What’re yer giving us? Ain’t I——” “Plessons, put a bullet through that fool » Adventure if he butts in again. Now, sergeant, your Kommandant i isn t talking just now ds ““Sergeant,”’ came von Muhlhauser’s voice in German, giving Tony the lie, ‘‘tell Herr Oberleutnant that he is to consider us dead and to charge, putting each of these men to to the sword instantly—no matter what the cost, for this valley must be saved for the Fatherland. D’you hear?” “Ja, Excellenz,’’ assented the sergeant in a deep, grave tone. “But they will slay me/” broke in the Herr Doktor. ‘And what then will become of the future?” “Silence!” commanded von Muhlhauser sternly. “Gag that man—dquick!” snapped Tony. “Herr Oberleutnant Schnitzel!” the ser- geant had begun in stentorian tones when Plessons’ fingers quashed the rest while Tony rammed a handkerchief into the Kom- mandant’s mouth. “What were they gassin’ abaht?” queried Plessons as he completed his job. ‘“They’ve got sand,” said Tony gravely. “But we can’t take fancy chances. What the are they up to now?” %. wounded officer had crawled away. ‘What are your orders, Excellenz?’’ re- peated the voice in German. “Herren Excellenz, Doktor, and the ser- geant are our prisoners,’ shouted Tony in broken German. ‘‘Come—come— What in ’s negotiateP—come to talk!” “Who are you?” “‘American explorers.” Interrupting them came another swirl of hoo-hooing louder than before and at the tail the single hoarse scream. “You must surrender,’ came another German voice but in English. “You are en- tirely surrounded. We have a machine gun—ja, two!” “That doesn’t matter. We have three prisoners—your chief as well.” “That is not regulations of war. You gan not shoot prisoners. I haf been in America.” ‘“‘Cripes!”” muttered Plessons. saucy?” ‘“Shouldn’t talk so much about that, Fritz,” retorted Tony. ‘‘And this isn’t war anyway. You’re just bandits. This isn’t your territory, and you attacked us and A HAIL from without brought him mm | to the edge of the door. The “Ain’t he CoMmichoolk Wh) CO 5}