Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

II2 you the thing, just as it stands, for thirty thousand—cash! She’s worth sixty thou- sand gross, but tffere’s the time and labor. You'll not make much out of it. You don’t work mines—you gamble with them. If we deal, I skin you!” Kelly had followed the old man’s figures closely, and found no fault with them. If the mine had been no better than McWhin- nie thought, it wasn’t worth the price; but Kelly knéw it was worth much more. “Tf twenty thousand—”’ he began. doctor shut him off promptly. “T said thirty! It’s not worth it, but you’ve just been educating me that a man’s justified in getting all he can. The mine brings me in nothing. Id sell it to another man for less; but if I sell it to you, I’m going to take it out of your hide. Take it or leave it!” Kelly made a pretense of reflection, but he was inwardly jubilant. The mine was a bonanza; there were millions in it, and the old fool didn’t know! He must have it! Thirty thousand was a joke. - “T’ll take it, Doc. But you'll have to guarantee that the ore will run the same to the grass. roots-——”’ “T’ll guarantee nothing! Hold on—I’ll guarantee an ounce to the ton—no more. I’m skinning you, I tell you, and glad of the chance!” “Good enough! I'll take it on your terms. Here’s the money, American notes.” He peeled off the bills and thrust them into the doctor’s hands, lest the old man repent his deal. “Now, Mr. Kelly, I’m not a business man; but I know enough to tell you that we'll have to ride to Juticalpa, the capital of the department, to make the deed. You'll sign an acceptance before the Juez de Letras de lo Civil. We'll be on our way. I'll have my man saddle up the beasts, and the cook’ll put us up a bit of lunch.” “Vou’re a hard chap, doctor, wanting to get me tied up in a registered bill of sale. You don’t trust me yet.” Kelly was al- most plaintive—but he was smiling. “T don’t; but it’s not that. The deed would not be worth the paper it’s written on without regular registration. Let’s be off!” The EIGHT days later Kelly burst into the doctor’s study, flung his hat into a corner, and spluttered a string of oaths. Adventure “Pretty smart, aren’t you! You’re a swindler! You cheated me on. that mine!”’ ‘“You’re wrong, Mr. Kelly.”” The doctor was all polite irony. “TI told you the mine was no good. Swindled you were—by yourself. You can claim credit for a fine job. The young lady whose money you stole on our first deal has her twenty thou- sand back; I’ve got the other ten in my pouch as a solatium to my wounded feelings. You’ve got the mine. Everybody’s happy, what?” | “Happy! You hypocritical old swindler! You outrageous liar!” “That will do!’ The words came like the crack of a whip. ‘‘Not another word! Out of my house!”’ Kelly had just. time to see the doctor tower over him, apparently twice his nor- mal stature. The next second the promo- ter felt himself lifted by the collar and flung over the threshold. “You’re a beauty!’ McWhinnie railed. “You were the fellow that wouldn’t whine at a trimming! You’d take your medicine and grin! Don’t like a dose of your own brewing, eh? Faugh!”’ Kelly dusted himself off, with a grimace that tried to counterfeit good will. “T’ll admit you skinned me handsomely, Doc. Give me back my money! You’ve left me flat!” “A good job, then. Give you back your money? Mee A _ Scotchman? Do you know anything?” Kelly’s hat, battered and dented, sailed out to him. The door slammed in his face. But just as it shut, PHN ST he heard his enemy wail: “Say, Doc! At least tell me how you doped that mine! That’s what gets my >) “1’M A guileless child o’ Nature, Boozy; but I’ve been thinkin’. I _ hae a notion something’s wrang wi’ that Kelly deal.” As the doctor paused, Boozy Bill drained his glass, and held it to the light suggestive- ly. But his friend did not take the hint. He stared keenly at the tramp; then— “What did ye do tae that mine?”’ Boozy chuckled. “Gimme another drink, or my tongue won’t work. Thanks. Do to the mine? I just gave it the Gold Cure.” Co DOOLK C@