Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

The Doom Trail He glowered. ‘Have a care, sir,” he warned. © “You are a scoundrel,” I finished. He made a gesture of magnificent dis- dain. ‘Let it pass, let it pass. Your opinion, Master Ormerod, is of little moment to me. What I seek is an accommodation of our mutual desires.” “As howe” He pursed his lips. ‘Look you, Master Ormerod,” he replied, “I have you fast here. I have also the chief, your friend. I have in addition one you love.” “Before you proceed further,” I inter- rupted, “I wish you to answer me one question: Whose child is she?” He hesitated, and regarded me sidewise. “Oh, well,” he said after a moment, “‘it might as well out now as later. She'd tell you herself, I suppose. The maid is the child of my sister.” “And her name?” ‘She is a Kerr of Fernieside,” he an- swered pompously. “I should add, sir, that I have been at particular pains with the girl, having an especial affection for her.”’ “Oh,” I murmured politely. cial affection.” “Even so.” He bowed elegantly. “T have treated her as my own daughter. Her father was lost in the ’15, and since then, seeing that her mother was dead, I have made her my charge. She hath been well educated in a dame’s school in Edin- burgh.” “Well, of that we will say no more,” I said. “I find it unpleasant to hear you talk of her.” He frowned, but made no reply. “You consider us as hostages, then?” I continued. © “Yes. I might as well admit to you that I am surrounded here. The Iroquois have sent out the largest war-party ever I saw.” “You are: helpless, but you attempt to impose terms,”’ I said. ‘Pardon me, sir; I am not helpless,” he objected. “If the worst comes to the worst I shall give intelligence to my oppo- nents of my intent to blow up my house and my hostages and undertake to fight a way through the Iroquois. Better a “An espe- 127 death in such fashion than captivity and disgrace, let alone the torture-stake.”’ I considered this, and gaged him as capable of doing all that he said. “Ves,” I assented finally; “being what you are, you have advantages on your side. What are your terms?” ‘“‘A safe-conduct for me and my people to Canada.”’ “So that you may restore your trade : again?” A look of sorrow flitted over his face. “T- can not restore it, Master Ormerod. That fact is indisputable. My one hold upon public opinion was my success and the power it gave me. Let me fail and lose my power, and my influence is dead.” “Yes,” I agreed; “that is true.” “Moreover,” he went on, “‘my savages are killed or scattered. My organization is gone. My most valuable servants are slain.” 7 ‘And Mistress Marjory?” - He regarded me oddly. “Do you care to sue for her hand?” he parried. “T shall wed her, if she pleases,” I responded; “but I do assure you, sir, I have no intent to approach you in the matter.” “You make a grave mistake then. I should like to settle upon her a jointure proportionate to her birth and heritage.” My first sensation of amusement was turned to ridicule. “Murray,” I said, “you seem not to. understand that honest men and women want nothing of your bloody, ill-gotten money. I know that Mistress Marjory will uphold me in this. All we ask of you is that you should disappear, erase. your- self.”’ He flushed, but had himself in hand im- mediately. “You have insulted me more than enough, sir,” he said with dignity. ‘Let us end this interview. Are you prepared to go outside the stockade and secure con- sent to the terms we have discussed, giving your word of honor to return here after- wards?” I bowed. “T will do so, but first permit me to acquaint my companions.”’ And as rapidly as I could I informed the Senecas of the upshot of our talk. All heard it with relief, save Ta-wan-ne-ars. , cComicloooks C@