Adventure Magazine Cover — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

an) 4 2 it Vs a3 ie N Yee ® Author of “Clothes and the Man,” “The Devil a Man Would Be,” etc. AT Ike Trimble chewed savagely at an unlighted cigar and glared out a window of his office. “Chick” Ward, his lieutenant ~ and man of affairs, sat on the desk reading a telegram dated that morning. “Challenge declined,’ he read. ‘Your man not in line for match with Nixon. Match Lynn with McCrady and will take on winner. Dunn.” “Well, that’s settled,” said Ward, light- ing a cigaret. “Tt ain’t settled!’ growled Trimble, turning from the window. “I’m gonna get that match with McCrady for Tommy.”’ “You say you are?” “T’ll say I am.” “Nix, Ike.” Trimble swore and flung his frayed cigar into a handy cuspidor, but immediately put another between his teeth. “Why won’t I?” he snapped. “Because McCrady’s retired and “Yeah! I know all about them retired birds. They retire till somebody hangs up a fat purse for ’em to snap at.” “Pll eat a hatful of mud if you get that match with McCrady,” Ward volunteered. “Money does it,” returned Trimble confidently. “But McCrady promised that-——”’ | ‘“Never mind about McCrady’s promises,”’ broke in Trimble impatiently. “I know a few things about Mister Kid McCrady. When he got married he plastered himself all over with debts. Bought a house over 9 his wife there in Mercer and furnished it complete on nothin’ but nerve. He needs the money, that bird. He’ll slip back in ring harness quick enough when we show him the color of our coin.” “T wouldn’t swear to it,”’ said Ward. ““He’s got to,” declared Trimble. ‘“Tom- my’s gotta have that match with McCrady or he marks time. You see what Dunn says In that telegram.” | “Tke, what’s Dunn’s idea wanting Tom- my to beat McCrady before he’ll give him a match with Nixon?” asked Ward. “That’s plain enough,” answered the other. ‘“‘You see, Chick, Nixon’s doin’ a few weeks in vaudeville just now an’ him an’ Dunn’s pullin’ down some tall money. Dunn knows mighty well nobody’d give a plugged jit to see Jack Nixon if he wasn’t lightweight champ, so to stall for time he’s switchin’ us off on McCrady.” -“Nixon’s a big four-flusher in my opinion,” . observed Ward. ‘“‘He beat Rooney out of the championship by the skin of his teeth; fouled him out of it, so it’s been said.” “No matter, Chick, Nixon’s the champ, an’ the champ does the dictatin’. If Marty Dunn says Tommy’s gotta beat McCrady before he can go on with Nixon, why Tommy’s gotta beat McCrady; that’s all.” “You take it from me, Ike, we got to go some to get a match from Kid McCrady.”’ “T ain’t takin’ nothin’ from you,” rejoined Trimble. ‘“Vll say I ain’t. McCrady’s gotta fight whether he wants to or not.” “Oh, I guess the Kid’s willing enough, Ike, only his wife jae 11g Go 0)(0 (6) = a EO)