Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

The San Marcos Affair together. And by the time he saw Watriss leave he had made up his mind as to one thing. Directly he himself arose and went out, leaving Bissel still at the table in the corner. When Crane for the second time that day entered Superintendent Munn’s office he was pleased to find that tie official had not yet gone. ‘Would you like to have an evening’s good entertainment?” said Crane as he stepped in. Munn looked a trifle astonished. He noticed that the agent’s face was soberly serious; but a high light was dancing in Crane’s eyes. Just what do you mean?” asked Munn. **An evening’s diversion,” insisted Tom. “It'll be interesting, I think. Perhaps even more than I think. Better come along and enjoy a few hours away from dull care. We'll be adventurers and spy upon the wicked.” Something seemed to stir in Munn, some- thing in him seemed to respond to the ap- peal of this gay and handsome youth. His own eyes sparkled. “If you'll promise not to lead me into paths which a sedate man should be wary of?”’ he said. “T’ll do that,” answered Tom promptly. “Don’t worry along that line. And you must promise to sort of let me take the lead, you know; and if I don’t answer fully all your questions please don’t be offended. I’d rather let things unravel as we go. You'll find it worth while, or I’m mighty much mistaken.” “Agreed,” said Munn succinctly. ““What’s the first move?” “We must get to San Marcos pronto,” said Tom. He looked at the clock on the wall of the superintendent’s office. It pointed to five-ten. ‘‘Number Three leaves here in twenty minutes, but she isn’t scheduled to stop at San Marcos. Id like to have you give her an order to drop off two passengers there today—the two being you and I,” “The general office doesn’t like me to stop Three at points not scheduled,” said Munn doubtfully. ‘Number Sixty-Five leaves at seven. She stops there. Couldn’t we wait for her?” “I’m sorry, but we can’t,” replied Tom. ‘We want to get there ahead of Sixty-Five.”’ He knew well that Number Sixty-Five was 85 the last train that night for San Marcos. Consequently he figured that Officer Bissel of necessity would travel on it. And it was no part of his plan to have the officer see Munn and himself journeying together to San Marcos. “Very well then,” said the superintendent with decision. “I'll give Number Three the order. be FROM east to west the E. W. & aepyy T. dips in a gentle quarter-circle ——— curve toward the Mexican line. San Marcos lies at the very southernmost point of the dip. A lazy town, dozing in the sun. Five hours tight riding will take a man on horseback from it to the border. Toward dusk on Wednesday evening Number Three slowed up at San Marcos depot and Munn and Crane dropped off. Without quite stopping Number Three then pulled out and on. The superintendent and the agent en-. tered the station. Crane closed and locked behind them the waiting-room and office doors. Before the big stationery cupboard which stood in a rear corner of the office he paused. It was a huge cupboard, flat- topped; over seven feet high, fully eight feet wide and almost four feet deep. In it were kept practically all of the station supplies; all manner of forms and sheets on which the station reports were rendered and a varied assortment of other articles, On the flat top reposed a miscellaneous line of things: lanterns, tall bottles of ink, extra lamp-chimneys, two galvanized fire-buckets, a bristly desk-brush, a feather duster, a small brass torch—most of it strung along the edge in imposing array. “T’ll have to dust that up,” said Tom, looking at the cupboard’s flat top. He smiled at Munn’s questioning countenance. “It’s to be our observation post,” he sup- plemented. Tom set to work forthwith. The bottles and buckets and lanterns along the front edge of the cupboard he was religiously care- ful not to disturb; but the litter behind he cleaned out thoroughly, disposing of it in various drawers and inside on the shelves. Between the stationery cupboard and the rear window stood a stout stand, to the top of which was secured a heavy iron copy- press that was used when impressions of reports were made. Tom pointed to this when he had finished his cleaning up. COmiclbook ©