Adventure Magazine Cover — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

your ugly face out of here,” 92 I angrily cried. He smiled down on me viciously and ‘muttered: | ‘“T swore I’d cut your comb, my young cock, and I’m about to do it. Major Wemyss, eh? Ho! Ho! You should have seen the major’s face when I told him and Captain Harrison of the scurvy, rebel trick you’d played! Major Wemyss swore he’d take toll from that uncle of vours.”’ “Even Major Wemyss can burn his fingers,”’ I carelessly rejoined. ‘‘While for you, don’t think for a minute any time will le wasted in bolstering up a raw provincial’s efforts to take his revenge.”’ With that I gave him my bask and stared through the narrow grated window. He fumed and raved for a bit, but finding neither dignity nor satisfaction in the scene, he at last called the gaoler and departed. m@ THE day passed without more aa visitors until the shadows of late = M8 afternoon began darkening the base- ment and the lantern was lighted and hung at the entrance. When I heard steps com- ing toward the room doing service as my cell, I feared my uncle had thrown discretion to the winds and was about to compromise himself by visiting me. Then I classified the gaoler’s heavy, spiritless tread. The other set of feet was too light and nervous ever to be my uncle’s. It was Posby, and his fresh young face was filled with sym- pathy. The gaoler hung the lantern up outside my door and walked away. “T’ve only a minute,” jerkily informed Posby, thrusting his hand through the grating. ‘‘The town rings with your arrest. Your uncle hasn’t been dragged into it yet. His noté to Major Fraser testifies to his ignorance of your acts. But there are those who are keenly set against you. Is there anvthing I can do, consistent with my status as an officer? I'd never make the offer if I didn’t know you were far more deserv- ing of decent treatment than all these cursed pig-headed provincials who’re flock- ing in for commissions now they think the war is won. Flocking in and getting ’em, by gad! Ever since old Gates was whipped every man-jack over here who owns a few acres and a few slaves wants to wear the uniform. Almost queer you never asked for a commission.” I laughed and the relaxation steadied my nerves. @ told him. Adventure “Of course that sounds verv off,” he hastily apologized, his face flushing. ‘But I never meant it that way. I meant with so many blusterers asking commissions it would have been fearfully proper for you to receive one.” I was beginning to doubt my loyalty to his Majesty. I had not advertised broadcast my claims to neutrality. In proclaiming it to myself, however, I re- served the right to choose my allegiance. And Posby was too good a fellow to be let in for anything rough because of his liking for me. ‘There’s nothing you can do, captain,” ‘‘The charges against me would be ridiculous if his lordship could under- stand all that’s behind and around them. I’m guilty of helping a woman escape from a gang of brutes.” ‘Of course! Of course!’ he impatiently cried. “‘I’d ’a’ done the same. And at the least you can truthfully swear that, so far as your knowledge goes, the woman wasn’t up to any game to harm his Ma- jesty’s cause.” “T couldn’t vouch for her loyalty to his Majesty that far,’ I replied. “I only know that under similar circumstan- ces I would rescue her if I could, even though I knew she was Marion’s best spy.” ‘‘__ q fiddler! But that’s poor talk to take before the commandant,” he ruefully protested. ‘“‘Accept my thanks for the basket and go before vou’re tarred with the same stick,” I urged. He flushed angrily and growled— “T’m not one to turn tail because there iS dangel - ‘Your enemies can swear to that!” I heartily declared. ‘‘T’ll gladly call on you for help if there comes a time when you can help me without forgetting your uniform.” ‘If a woman’s in a beastly mess the first thing to do is to get her out of it,’ he mut- tered, as if arguing with himself. ‘Then there’s time enough to consider her stand- ing. uncle. He’s sent enough jugs round to headquarters to have some influence left with his lordship. This thing must be quashed before it grows too big. No chance, eh, to make it out a quarrel be- tween you and that big lout of a‘North 199 Friend Jim, I’m going to see your . cCOmiclboolks ©