Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

I20 ‘None, save it be to dislike the other,” I replied. ‘But I am obliged to ask your father for the second time if he condones assassination in the dark.” Her eyes widened with horror, then dark- ened with stony anger. “Sir, you are monstrous impertinent!” she exclaimed. “How dare you suggest such a thing?” “Because it occurred a quarter-hour past.” ‘“‘And because you are assailed by some foot-pad in a disreputable part of the town, is that a reason for you to charge Master Murray with assassination?” she demanded with high contempt. “Oh, I have proof,” I said airily. But my anger grew with hers. It mad- dened me that this girl, who I knew was honest, should be arrayed against me, should hold for me the contempt of a clean woman for a man she deemed a traitor. “Look you, Mistress Murray,” I went on haughtily. ‘The watch are now searching for your father’s emissary. The garrison are to be turned out. Any moment Master Murray is like to receive a summons to go before the governor. He has overplayed his hand this time. He——”’ The door behind her opened again, and Murray himself come out. “T thought I heard voices— Ah, Master Juggins hi “Ormerod,” I interrupted suavely. His eyebrows expressed polite astonish- ment. “To be sure. Forgive my stupidity. It hath gone so far as that already, hath it? “Tt hath gone so far as attempted assassi- nation—for the second time,” I retorted. ‘‘Assassination? Tut, tut,’ he rebuked me. ‘“‘Master Ormerod, you use strong lan- guage. And who in this little town of ours would seek to murder a gentleman new: landed like yourself?” front. VA Sy “Does Murray know this scalp?” He permitted an end of the lock of Boll- ing’s hair to show through his clinched fin- gers. Marjory shrank back in terror. Mur- ray’s face became convulsed with passion. ‘“**Sdeath!” he swore. dead by this savage’s hand I shall know the TA-WAN-NE-ARS stepped to the “If Bolling is, Adventure wherefore of it! What? Do the Iroquois take scalps within the city?” Ta-wan-ne-ars laughed, and slowly opened his fist to reveal the single lock of hair. “‘Ta-wan-ne-ars only takes the scalps of honorable warriors,” he said in his smooth, low-pitched voice. ‘‘But the Red Death escaped tonight by the width of these hairs. Does Murray think Ga-en-gwa-ra-go would have been angry with Ta-wan-ne-ars if the tomahwawk had struck true?” Murray wiped beads of perspiration from his face. “So ’twas Bolling!” he muttered. “Curse the knave! What hath he done?” ‘“‘No more than attempted to murder me, sir—as I have attempted to tell you,” I an- swered ironically. Marjory came forward, hands clasped in expostulation. “It isn’t so! Itcan’t be so! Tell him he lies, sir!’ she pleaded with Murray. He put her gently to one side. “Peace, peace, my dear,” he said. ‘‘You do not understand.” “But Bolling is the man you called ‘Red Jack!’ ” she expostulated. ‘You presented me to him. You told him to be sure to re- member my face. hair and his evil looks.” “The man is likewise called ‘The Red Death,’ Mistress Murray,” I said. She turned to me, tears in her eyes. “Oh, sir, pray you, do not bait me!” she cried. ‘‘I would not believe you before, but that is the man’s hair, beyond a doubt.” “And what if it is?” said her father kindly, drawing her to him with one arm. “Ts that any reason why you should exnregs« shame?” ee “‘But he was one of your people, sir. oh told me——”’ [ “Tut, tut, my dear Marjory. You are new to this New World of ours. The iron- tier is not like Scotland. We must work with what tools we find. I say it to my sor- row—”’ and he said it furthermore without even the twitch of an eyelid—“I am com- pelled occasionally to consort with men I might prefer to do without.” He gave his attention once more to me. “In a word, Master Ormerod, what hath happened that you approach me in so hos- tile a spirit?” “In a word, Master Murray,” I replied, “vour man Bolling, or “The Red Death,’ as he seems to be known in these parts, tried © MICLOOKS You jested about his . C©