Adventure Magazine Cover, June 20, 1925 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

IOO silver mist, and appeared to be translucent. ‘The course of the river and its tributaries were cleanly pricked out by the fairy fringe of timber, and from the divide the timber was wonderfully sky-blue in color. For the background there was the Sawatch Range, hooded with clouds of ebony except where one snowy peak thrust its head into the glorious sunlight. Stretching down toward South Park was a long and beautiful valley. He hastened down to this, believing the worst of his journey was behind him. On crossing it he came to a low ridge, which had not shown from the divide. Once he mounted this he knew he was at last entering South Park. Now he dared to halt and build a fire and eat the last of his poor bread and slice of meat he had brought from the Frenchman’s place. It was late afternoon when he paused. Before he realized it the sun was gone and darkness was blurring the road. He dragged himself to his feet and limped on. He came to where the road split, one fork leading to the Salt Works, five miles away, the other to Cafion City. Without the sun he did not discover the branching of the road and having lost all sense of direc- tion he traveled down the right hand path. The round-faced man had said five miles of walking would take him to the Salt Works. He held on for two hours before he suspected he had lost his way. When he finally halted it was before the mouth of a lonely gulch. Discouraged, and faint from exhaustion, he set about making a fire of deadwood, determined to camp on the road until someone came along to tell him where he was. HE SOON had a blaze crackling, but had barely seated himself on his blankets than he was alarmed ==<—" by a stone rattling down the wall of the gulch. He jumped to his feet, fearing a bear was coming to investigate. A deep voice demanded— ‘“‘Who’s that down there?” Much relieved to hear a human voice, Eliis loudly replied— “A miner from up the Arkansas Valley bound for the Salt Works.” Discordant laughter greeted this re- sponse, and the stones rolled and rattled more rapidly as the unseen descended to the road.. “You're walking right away from the Adventure Salt Works. Must have taken the wrong turn,” informed the man as he came into the light of the fire. Ellis decided the stranger would be a fit denizen of the upland country among the red pyramids and castles. For he stood more than six feet in height and would weigh considerably over two hundred. But it was his countenance rather than his bulk CALIF. CROSSING fp | SUL gf | CALF: GutcH | | TWIN LAK. (U4 | SAND HILL PAS = ney: FT. CAT that suggested wildness and savagery. The forehead was low and the eyes small and deep-set. A thick black beard covered most of the face and reached nearly to the waist. Ellis felt repelled by the man’s appearance. “Come along to my hut,” invited the man in a hoarse voice. “Likely to have a big rain before morning.”’ “But where am I? called?” asked Ellis. “You're on the road to Cafion City, five miles from where you took the wrong turn. The little gulch making off the road ain’t got any regular name. Side I come down from is called Warder’s Hill. I’m the warder.”’ And he indulged in more of his uncom- fortable laughter. ‘Then he continued: “T’m Jonathan Leaper. My cabin’s up the gulch a ways. I’m kept busy rescuing fool miners who lose themselves. If you want rest and food come along. Not an- other cabin in twenty miles except at the Salt Works, and that’s ten miles from here.” “I can’t walk another mile,” groaned Ellis. “Don’t have to. ‘Thanks, with you. Ellis. ‘You fellers who strike it rich can pay for anything you hanker for,’? boomed the deep voice. | “But I haven’t struck it rich,” hastily What’s this spot Welcome to my cabin.” Vll be glad to take shelter I can pay for my keep,” said COMIGDIOOKSEEO