Adventure Magazine Cover — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

THE PENNSYLVANIA LINE Pisa tity,” agreed Farquar, “that so ad- mirable a character should be so suneriable.”’ ““Whist!’’ Wayne came to the rescue of the badgered artillerist, who was biting back both a smile and a rebuke that he literally dared not utter. ‘‘Pay no atten- tion to such cacklings, Major, but tell me what you know of this man, Fallen.” “°Tis nothing, sir,’ answered Van Ku- ren, with sure distinctness. ‘Not one defi- nite item can I recall concerning him, yet the name sounds as familiar as my own.” ‘“‘A name known in York, perhaps?”’ half asked, half reflected Wayne. “Nay, tis just meyond by reach!” Im- patiently the major brushed his hand’s back across his brow. ‘Something flits without merembrance!”’ And the goslings were just opening their mouths to emit more impertinence, when the sentry halted in the doorway. “Begging your pardon, sir,” he said to Wayne, and excitedly presenting arms as he spoke, “but Jemmy, the Commodore, has just passed the word that the brigade has broken camp and is paraded under arms on the grand parade!’ “What? Already?” gasped the general, and then he turned, militarily, to issue an order. “Hi, there, you niggers!’ he shouted through the door that led back to the cook-house. ‘Saddle up Milo and the other nags quick!”’ “Begging your pardon, sir,’’ repeated the euard, “but Jemmy, the Commodore, says as how you'd best stay out of it for a while yet.” ‘‘____ and ——!”’ cried Wayne, his cheek mantling with a hot scarlet. “Ves, sir,” said the man firmly. “He says the men are now past reasoning with, and that Fallen is a-haranguing of them till they’ll do something desperate, the first excuse that’s given ’em. He hopes you'll stay quiet here at headquarters, till he sends you word it’s time for you to come talk to ’em.” Wayne was clasping the caped riding- cloak of dingy blue under his chin. His jaw was granite as it was thrust out over the collar. “You tell Jemmy, the Commodore,” he ordered crisply, “that J am in command of this brigade, and that he can go to —— with his—”’ “Yes, sir,” said the sentry. what Jemmy said you’d say, sir.” “That’s 17 “What are ye planning, lad?” asked Stewart anxiously. “To go put that sergeant-major of Colo- nel Butler’s where he belongs—in the guard-house,”’ answered Wayne; and there was a gleam of pleasure in his eye, a note of exultation in his voice, as he announced the modest project. “Oh, losh, he’s madder than _ usual! groaned Stewart. ‘“‘Anthony, did ye never hear that discretion is the better part of valor?” “The time for discretion is past—”’ began Wayne. “Nonsense!”” said the Scotsman brusk- ly. “Discretion is a virtue never out of season, by reason of its rarity. Jemmy’s quite right. Your appearance at this junc- ture would be the very thing to touch them off, while if ye leave the Line long enough to this fool, Fallen, he'll talk them tired, and they’ll turn in, peaceful as babes, to sleep it off.” “In other words, sir,’ snapped Wayne, his color mounting again, ‘“‘your advice to me is to desert my post in the hour of great- est need!” “Nonsense!” repeated Stewart. “TI ad- vise nothing of the sort. I beg you to hold your hand, when a wrong move will inevi- tably produce disaster! Mutinous men are kittle cattle to drive. For a little, then, let Fallen do the driving. Ye rebuked Bittings sorely just a moment ago for the very act ye are about to commit yourself, wanton provocation.” Wayne’s eye traveled from face to face, but found no sign of encouragement. Even the goslings seemed to approve Stewart’s stand, and Bittings showed only a strained repression. “The colonel’s right, General,” said Van Kuren. ‘Wait till you hear from Jemmy again, before you make your move.” “For Jemmy, with all his lunacy, can see farther through a millstone than most,” said Ryan, “particularly when it’s men that are on the other side.” ‘And he’s in far better position to judge what course is best,” said Farquar. ‘‘As he is on the ground, and we are not.” “IT am ready, sir,” said Bittings, in his most restrained manner, ‘‘to carry out any order you may give.” “Moreover,” said Butler thoughtfully, ‘the brigade might be in worse hands than those of my sergeant-major. To do the COMICLOO© S CO