Adventure Magazine Cover — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

48 man had talked like an educated, even cultured citizen. “Well, if he didn’t have the carburetor it doesn’t make a of a lot of difference who he is,”’ was the colonel’s summing up. “What are we going to do about the other man?” “He may be right here in McMullen but if he was how in blue blazes would we know him? From the twitch I saw when the cap’n here mentioned Fitzpatrick it looks like that old skunk might be backin’ the play, but none o’ his men that’s’ known at all around here is in town or I’d known it. Howsomever, if he is backin’ this deal it’s a cinch that the other bird is on his way from here—and in view o’ the fact that the rob- bery was pulled around nine-thirty and the San Antonio train leaves at ten = “T believe that’s good reasoning, sheriff,”’ Mr. Brewster cut in tersely. “This pal got out o’ the car, walks calm- like to the depot, gets on the train and no- body knows what his face looks like. That’s the slick part o’ the deal. If I wire ahead they got to search everybody on the train on a wild chance in San Antonio. It’d be a of a job for me to tell San Antonio everything and without the benefit of any kind of a description. And this bird would probably get off some place this side o’ the city—no, I don’t believe he would at that. “Givin’ the brains behind this deal full credit, I think Fitzpatrick—if it’s him— would figure that we’d figure they was makin’ a break for the Rio Grande and double-cross us by goin’ North.” The weather-bitten old sheriff was think- ing aloud and there was scarcely a rustle on the part of his audience while he was speaking. Then Tex MacDowell, who had been lost in thought raised his eyes as an idea struck him. “Sheriff, if that man is on the train there’s a thousand ways we could slip up, wiring ahead. If the captain says the word and you’re wilting you and I can take off at dawn, catch that train, land somewhere and do the searching ourselves. It takes it twenty hours to make the two hundred and fifty miles to San Antonio, and it lays over at the Junction for four hours. It won’t be half-way to San Antonio by seven in ‘the morning. We’ll travel at ninety miles an hour and overhaul her in an hour and a half. It may not be strictly Adventure legal procedure to search her, but if you don’t think it’s the right thing I’ll hold her up, do it myself, and let you arrest me for it afterward!’ 7» |THE pilot’s eyes were glowing—a UY different sort of .a glow than the 8 Sflusual joyous dancing light with which he met a sudden test. Apparently Tex for once was taking Fitzpatrick’s enmity seriously and realized the full import of what was happening. The sheriff smote his thigh enthusiasti- cally. “Suits me fine!” he declared. Tex glanced questioningly at the captain who nodded shortly. “Better take that extra-tank ‘Jenny,’ ” he said. “‘It’ll be easier to land it.” Jimmy Jennings, one of the McMullen pilots, glanced at his wrist-watch. “Two thirty now—you can take off in a couple of hours,” he said. Sergeant Cary started for the door. “T’]] wake up some of the boys and we'll start getting the ship ready right now, sir,” he said. He had forgotten his former inti- macy with a full colonel and was a soldier again as he saluted Tex, who was engineer officer of the flight, and went out the door into the night. “Just what are you planning to do, MacDowell?” inquired Colonel Brewster. “Catch the train, fly ahead of it until we come to a field close to the track, land and flag the train, sir.”’ “Well, the best of luck, my boy.‘ I’m going to bed—this excitement is too much for an old man. Good night, gentlemen.”’ “Not me,” said his brother. ‘I’m going to stick around.”’ “Won’t Clara and the Chicago clubmen hear some wild tales of the border when you get back!’ gibed the colonel as he started for the «door. “The adventures of our leading architect will be good copy for the Tribune, Charley.” “T’ll admit all this is a new experience for me. I had no idea that this country had any characters like Fitzpatrick left,” Mr, Brewster told the sheriff. ‘My nephew by marriage, Dave Ransom, was telling me something about him and I’d like to hear more.”’ “Yes, I know Ransom,” said the sheriff. ' “Fine boy, sir, and he married a fine girl.” “Natalie is all right,” admitted her uncle, ' ° CORNICLOOOKS (C@