Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

98 “F’r the Sons o’ Oolah, kunnel. don’t you trust me?”’ ‘“‘What—thenP” went on Colonel. Tunk with measured reserve. ‘Gosh, I done my best, kunnel! Laffed and gagged around there with the preacher while him and Stivers’ man loaded on the nuts. I helped ’em load up, but I was sure scared to be seen lookin’ f’r one with the sign o’ the Oolah. But I climbed on the truck and rode back to town, nearly rackin’ my poor old bean wonderin’ how to get word to you to head off this nut business before they gets ’em into the church. I almost wept, kunnel, argyin’ with the preacher as how you'd be disappointed at not gettin’ to sort o’ look them nuts over. 3 : “‘He tells me you can get yours at the church, and while I was fantasticatin’ around that, Zeb Peters comes hoofin’ out of the crossroads an’ the preacher gives him a ride in. Kunnel, I didn’t dare to show any more int’rest in them nuts after that than a mud turtle would in a wimmin’s fashion book. Trouble was with me, kunnel, I was carryin’ a gunny-bag, an’ it’s just got so some folks in this town cain’t carry a tube o’ tooth paste without this fool Zeb won- derin’ what’s in it.” “A gunny-bag, seh?” pursued Colonel Tunk dispassionately. “Well, jest in your int’rest, kunnel. You plugged em, and marked ’em, an’—Shucks —I thought——” Colonel Tunk waved Mr. and strode to the hotel steps. “There goes the last of ’em, kunnel—f’r the benefit of them Bashy-Boozooks, the parson was tellin’ of!” faltered Mr. Gilfish. “Seven gallons an’ a half, more or less, 0’ popskull, goin’ in the missionary fair; an’ when some o’ them old ladies git them coconuts home—Oh, Lordy!” ‘“‘There’d be a rush to save the heathen such as was never seen since the crusades, seh!” “Preacher got ’em all—upside down an’ backward!”’ moaned Mr. Gilfish. “Diplomacy,” went on Colonel Tunk grandly. ‘‘Finesse, seh,-such as common minds cannot fathom!’ And buttoning his frock coat, Colonel Tunk departed. Mr. Gilflsh stood watching the par- sonage. The truck drove away. The sheriff strolled to the Court-house Square. Rev. Mr. Tuttle disappeared in the base- Shucks, Gilfish aside Adventure ment recreation rooms. Mr. Gilfish nibbled reflectively. “Finesse,” he murmured, “mebbe’ll sur- prize this old fool Tunk! Let’s see?—At SIX O ‘clock all them Baptists’ll be home f’r supper.” THE Reverend Richard B. Tuttle was perhaps the only citizen of ~~ Mississippi City, Mississippi, who habitually dined between six and seven o’clock, and he was seated, filled not only with the tenderest of fried chicken but also the fondest expectations of the success of his entertainment for the benefit of the missionary fund when he happened to glance from the parsonage window to the little church next door. It seemed that a light had faintly illu- mined the dusk. In the church basement were twelve gallons of ice cream, ten cases of assorted ‘soft drinks, cakes, sandwiches, fancy work of all kinds; and everything was to be sold for the heathens’ good and solace. Therefore visions of predatory boys from the depot gang, perhaps, raiding the contributed edibles, came to Parson Tuttle’s ~mind at once. The mysterious light flashed once more. Preacher Dick arose alertly. “Got to see if those kids from across the tracks are loitering around for mischief,” he muttered, and went straight across the lawn to the basement door. ‘“‘They spoiled the Ladies’ Aid sociable by swiping all the ice cream before-hand last spring. And now, when we got all the old backsliders in town like Tunk and Bran- dagee and that pious old hypocrite, Gilfish, so strangely interested in the heathens’ wel- fare I don’t want anything to interfere with this bazaar!” As he put a foot on the basement stairs, a sound came from the dusk below. It was a soft, elusive glug-chug as if some one was shaking a bottle. Preacher Dick peered in curiously. By the foot of the inner stairs was the pyramidal heap of coconuts, the latest contribution to the Cause, and over them bent a figure which held a flashlight that was turned first on one and then an- other of the brown spheres. Dick Tuttle tip-toed softly nearer. The intruder picked up one coconut after another, laid them down, reached for others, shook, smelled, listened with intent care and sighed. DOOLK C@