Adventure Magazine Cover — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

122 “The sooner the quicker, Kid,” replied Ward helplessly. “You're pretty fit as you stand; thirty days is just about enough to put an edge on you.” “Thirty days training time don’t look good to me,”’ said McCrady. Ward mentally cursed Trimble for hold- ing him down to thirty days training time. He felt certain that had he been authorized to extend the time to, say, sixty days he could have landed the contract without further effort. But Trimble’s word was law. “Well, you get five thousand no matter how it goes, Kid,’ he said wheedlingly. “Tf you’re afraid you'll lose to Lynn we’ll split the purse sixty-forty; that gives the loser a bigger divvy.” Kes ONCE more McCrady fixed his eyes upon the drifting cloud. He be ees was offered five thousand dollars simply for getting into the ring with Tommy Lynn. That sum would no doubt be in- cluded in his end of the purse, but even if he drew the loser’s end of forty per cent. of the purse the amount would be more than five thousand dollars; it would be nearer six thousand, provided the North Side arena got its full seating capacity and the admissions were graded right. He owed more than five thousand dollars. No matter, then, how the fight turned out he would draw down enough money to wipe out his debts at a swoop. “T might be able to get ready in thirty days,” he said tentatively. Ward’s heart gave a hopeful bound. He fairly snatched from his pocket the five bills Trimble had given him and held them out to McCrady. He knew that the sight of actual cash then would have more effect upon McCrady than the mere promise of a check later. “To bind a gentleman’s agreement, Kid,” he coaxed. ‘We'll sign articles at the Calu- met Club tonight at eight o’clock and post a check for the balance of the guarantee. Coming in, Kid?” McCrady looked at the money with eager eyes and his hand itched to take it. But at that precise moment occurred one of those incidents that are ever present in a affairs of men to change the courses of li and fortunes. A deep-throated whistle growled its warning to return to work for the afternoon shift. And with the growling Adventure of that whistle the expression on Kid McCrady’s face suddenly changed. “T’ll have to pass it up, Chick,” he sighed. “T’d like mighty well to go on with Lynn. I need the money and I need it bad. But— well, I can’t that’s all. The wife wouldn’t stand for it.” “Take a little time to think it over, Kid; a week, say,”’ pleaded Ward. .‘ McCrady shook his head and without another word turned and strode away through the gate. Ward watched him with disappointed eyes until he disappeared in one of the long buildings not far away, then he replaced the five bills in his pocket and walked away. es BOTH Trimble and Tommy Lynn ay) , were waiting for him when Ward got =~ back to Trimble’s office to report. “Well?” said Trimble, tipping his chair out from the wall. ‘Nothing doing, Ike,”’ said Ward. Trimble bit off an oath and Lynn scowled at Ward. “Didja see him?” “sure.” ‘‘An’ he turned you down?” asked Trimble incredulously. Yeu.’ c¢ })? exploded Trimble. He sprang to his feet, kicked the chair against the wall and began to stride the floor, muttering curses. ‘‘Now don’t jump on me, Ike, Ward truculently. “I did the could.” “T’ll say you done the best you could, an’ that’s about as good as a baby could of done,”’ sneered Trimble wrathfully. “Tt was your fault I didn’t land him,” Ward defended himself. Trimble shot Tommy Lynn a meaning glance. “Didn’t I say he’d try to lay it on me if he fell down, Tommy?” said Trimble. ‘T’ll say I did. How you figger it was my fault, eh?’”’ “He bucked on only thirty days training time, just as I said he would,” explained Ward. “Tf you had given me more elbow room there I could have——”’ “Veah! I bet you could,” snapped Trimble sarcastically. “I oughta give you hef to guarantee him we'd tie Tommy's hands behind him an’ blindfold him an’ shoot some dope in him before he went in > warned best I CORMICLOOOKS (C@