Adventure Magazine Cover — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

A Pot of Gold for em. When they do clean up they hit for the races or play the high life. Broke ina week. “Right now the whole tribe’s on my neck. We just floated a big company, and I haven’t got anything for ’em to sell.”’ ‘Maybe I can fix that,’’ said Elliott. The stout man’s little eyes contracted. “Oh. Come into my office.”’ Pete followed Elhott into # luxurious room planned to impress investors, whether millionaires or pikers. Pete felt awed amid such magnificence. In- the presence of mahogany, costly carpets, priceless vases and exquisite pictures the old desert-rat was so stupefied that he handed over his money-belt almost apologetically when asked to produce it. “You simply can’t let this proposition pass without: looking into it,” urged Elliott. The blue of Markum’s eyes glinted steely at sight of the yellow-streaked samples. He produced a cigar, soon clenched by a puffy jaw, and drummed on the table or jiggled in his swivel-chair. He was one of nature’s rarities, a nervous fat man. “Looks good,” he admitted gruffly. “It is good,” Pete found courage to say. The little promoter’s cold eyes seemed to bore through him. “‘Where’s your mine?”’ Pete described it. “Got good title to it?” Pete explained that. The promoter waved aside his descriptions of gunmen and tough citizens. Those were side issues. “Nobody in it but you and your partner, this fellow Hall?” “No, sir.” Markum turned to Elliott, whose social position claimed his deference. “TY might look into it, Mr. Elliott. Of course it'll take some time—got to get reports from experts—but if it’s anything like the samples I might take a flyer if it’s only to keep my salesmen busy.”’ “IT hope you can. Tom Hall was an old friend of mine and I want to see him succeed.”’ Elliott arose. “If you take it up notify my attorneys so I can invest a little. I must be going.” Elliott soon disappeared. Markum turned his fujl attention on Pete and squeezed out every ounce of information the miner pos- sessed. When this third degree was over the pro- 19 moter arose. The suavity he had bestowed on Elliott was gone. His manner was gruff and curt. ‘“T’ve promised I’d look into this, and I will. I’m goin’ to send two minin’ engi- neers down there to look it over. You tell your partner to meet ’em. I'll give you five days. Be here Friday afternoon.” Pete trod on air as he returned to the gas-lighted room in his cheap lodging-house. The terse, snappy, business-like air of the promoter impressed him as much as the promoter’s overpowering office. Pete felt rich already. 1 HIS next job was to find Pacific , Avenue. Casting out most of the =i traces of Pacific Street, Pete started next morning on his self-appointed mission. But when the funny little cable-car bumped along a picturesque street and brought him into an environment of palatial homes and walled gardens he grew a little nervous. What in thunder was he going to say to the girl anyhow? The conductor knew the house, and the car brought Pete to his destination inexor- ably. Dumped off in front of rose-gardens and shrubbery that fronted a brown-and- white English mansion with gabled roof and latticed windows, Pete found his heart fluttering strangely. It looked easy enough in the desert but here things seemed different. “Well,” he finally decided, ‘they can’t do no worse’n kick me out. Here goes.” He strode manfully to the doorway and rang the bell. After a time the door was opened and Pete found himself in the pres- ence of a pretty, neatly dressed blond girl with rather bold eyes. Pete gulped. He stared and took off his hat. He stood on one foot and then the other. Perspiration began to roll down his face. The girl stared back. Apparently she was waiting for him to speak. He drew a breath and took the plunge. ‘“'Tom’s rich,” he blurted. The girl looked blank. “Who is?”’ “Tom. Tom Hall.” The girl stared some more. “Well, what do I care?” Pete stepped back. His jaw dropped Then it clenched. His beard jutted out belligerently and his eyes blazed with wrathful contempt. cComicbook C©