Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

The Blond Spiders shot one of our men without provocation. Also you’ve got another American here. Now come across if you know so darned much about the States.” Came a pause and the hum of voices dis- puting, the while the hoo-hooing continued. “Vot you vant’”’ the interpreter shouted. “‘The release of any white prisoners you may have and the handing over of this prop- erty to the proper authorities; and,” he added, quickened to sudden heat by memo- ries, ‘‘the freeing of these poor ——s you’ve mutilated. And take your medicine. That’s that. Get me?” “You go to ——, you dirty Yank!” bawled the voice. : “Fine!” responded Tony savagely. ‘But you'll have to come and send me!” ‘‘__ ain’t he the lad?’’ commented Plessons. ‘Don’t you fink his ma learned him properly!” “Bull,” growled Sawyer. “‘That’s enough,” snapped Tony. to your window, Sawyer.” Obediently Sawyer hopped on his one leg to his post. Guttural talking was going on beyond the huts on the other side of the street. Again rose that queer, hoarse scream like a madman in pain, and to the persistent murmur of the hoo-hoo was added the strange clinking of metal. “Herr Amerikan!’’ hailed the officer who had first addressed them. “Hello!” “Tf you will surrender we will allow you to go free,”’ he continued in German. ‘You understand?” “‘Ja, I understand, lieutenant,” replied Tony in English. ‘Tell him, you hyphen _ American, that we don’t surrender on any terms but our own.” A mumble of voices and then— “The Herr Leutnani says,” came again the interpreter’s voice, “‘we shall gome and take you, and if the brisoners are injured you shall dig your graves, ja!’’ “‘And very naice, too!’’ commented Ples- son’s sotto voce, “and I’ll bet him half a quid they’ll do the diggin’, my oath!” “Come right along!’ bawled Tony. “Only be careful you don’t shoot your own men and say we massacred ’em!”’ Then, untying von Muhlhauser’s bonds which fastened him to the table post, Tony dumped him in the corner on the door side, saying: “Say, Plessons, see those other two fel- “Get 31 lows are in the opposite corner, will you? They can’t possibly get winged there.”’ “Righto, gov’nor!”’ assented the Aus- tralian. “But say, Mr. Westlake,” butted in Saw- yer, not so fresh this time, “‘ain’t yer going ter stick ’em in the winders like yer said?” “Of course not,” retorted Tony. ‘That was only bluff.” “But them Huns did it wi’ women and chil is “Shut up!” snapped Tony. ‘What in —— d’you know about it anyway?” “He’s finkin’ of the cinema what he’s seen,’ said Plessons with a laugh. For once Sawyer had no comeback save an inarticulate grunt. “Tl take the door, Plessons, and you'd better take the two windows. Guess they’ll get us anyway by one of ’em if they do rush us. And just one thing. If we’re out of luck—get this, Sawyer—don’t let ’em take you prisoner.’ “I’m wiv yer, gov’nor!”’ “—___!”” was Sawyer’s succinct comment. Then, preceded by a slight commotion in the corner, suddenly a voice broke. “Schnitzel!” roared the Kommandant in German. “Charge for God and the Kaiser!’’ Profiting by the movement in his removal to safety, von Muhlhauser had worked loose his gag. As Tony leaped to replace it there came an answering shout. “YT wish I knew how many men they’ve got,” remarked Tony conversationally as he gathered up his revolvers. ‘‘What’s the odds, gov’nor!” said Ples- sons from his window. ‘Nah then, this is where the bloomin’ balloon goes up!” he added, and as a sharp, guttural command rang out he opened fire. “‘Wop! Got-Yer, ol dear! Ev’ry time—yer hits—Aunt Sally —yer gets—a coker nut!” From each of five opposite huts on the street darted four or five men, belching scarlet flashes as they ran. Tony, from one side—he would have been shot to pieces had he stood in the door —emptied both revolvers and clubbed his rifle. As they closed in he yelled to Ples- sons, who, grabbing another rifle, leaped for the other side of the door. “Bat ’em as they come!” gasped Tony. “Get us—anyway—from the window!” Then just as the foremost of the charg- ing soldiers butted foolishly together in the doorway and were shot and clubbed, there CoMmiclhool A) © 5}