Adventure Magazine Cover — page 183: what you’re looking at

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

$ Spe aS — é Pe = 2 3 = See = a 3 Rich Cncoks” - Pe ye ‘curtains, saw the man walk hesitantly up = and down: the sidewalk before our house and glance continually, indecisively toward it. Yang attracted my attention and I peeked through a corner of the window. That was Sone undoubtedly a fellow I wanted to see. eS I hurried to a chair and sprawled in it. Shortly I heard a hard rap on the door. ~ I called out— — ~ “Come in!” The door did not open. I called out again. Then it opened slowly and Mr. Steve Ellis filled the doorway. He was a big man with sharp, definite features, slow in his movements.and deliber- ate. He did not need to speak for one to know that he was embittered. But his voice, though not loud, had a kind of husky insolence. He wore a felt hat of light gray that he took off reluctantly in the doorway. He was a little uneasy but not nervous. His fingers were steady. His coat was of dark brown material and double-breasted. He closed the door by reaching out behind his back and did not take his eyes off me. “Won’t you sit down?” I asked.’ CN a" He glanced about a little furtively. No one was in sight. My hands rested on the arms of the chair. “You are Mr. Ellis, I believe. I’ve been expecting you.” He made a slight start of surprize. Ai, Py “Ves. I’m Steve Ellis. You are that E: fellow Smithers?” oe It was a cross between an accusation and oe a question. es “T’ve used that name. Yes.” — “And you call yourself Everhard, pe -. -. too?” ae _ Again the suggestion of a question with «an undertone of contempt: / ~~ .“You came looking for trouble?” I 2 te asked. ‘That rather surprized him but after a _ pause, after a moment of study, he said between clenched teeth: Yes, you dirty little tin-horn four-flusher, I come lookin’ for trouble. I’m going to give you the beatin’ of your life.” E I did not move, though he leaned for- = ward as if to rush. With a suggestion a _of sarcasm I replied: ---—s “T- see. You find out that a man weighs en about fifty pounds less than you and decide be = to beat I him up. i believe that the oe as ae as es _ Yang, from his tireless station behind the system is designed to teach a man such caution, is it not?” He replied by swearing at me and brac- _ ing himself as if to jump. He was consider- ate enough, however, to tell me that there was just one way that I could escape being beaten-up—that was to give him the little. black steel box. “Indeed?” He cursed me. He was rather infuriated because I did not seem to be frightened. He told me that he would have killed me but he had promised the Governor not to kill anybody. “I see. Governor Walsh let you out on condition that you would steal for him.” “You keep that talk up and I’II——” He did not finish what he would do. He stopped. “Just why do you think you would like to try to kill me?” He assured me that I knew, and then went on to mention his wife. “And _ so,” I said coldly, “you killed her?” “T did not!” he shouted. her! God, I loved her!” I told him that a lot of love he must have had when he eagerly believed lies that made her out to be disreputable. “Don’t preach to me!” he cried. _ “Preach to you? Preach to the devil, sir. If it be preaching to say that you are a jealous coward and cur, make the most of it. You had only one ‘friend while you were in the pen and that was your wife. And when you came out you killed her be- cause she had to let rooms to keep from going hungry, and you bargain with a crook- ed governor for a pardon.” He threw back his coat and jerked at a gun-handle. “Of course you are ready to shoot a man you think unarmed.” I had not moved. My legs were extended _before the chair; my hands were on the chair’s arms. “Try it and see how many policemen pounce on to you.” He looked about hurriedly. I smiled. _ “You are very simple and a little stupid. Don’t you know the police are looking for you? Don’t you know I came here so you would think it was easy to find me alone. I got your letter and your threats. Do you think I would be here alone to receive a— ee “T never touched. ~ — ~ -,/ 5 oo tae stent . Jute 7 _~ ale - i> = 7. Fen xf Fe OSE 3 5 wwe . €oO So <a ee = Ad “cf Ee: A ty xt : <" hs a * his aay Ps 4 be od CLE “a v, “hi fey ne ¢ ot RP ha SE RTS di omic Oe Con