Adventure Magazine Cover, October 10, 1921 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

Safe for Sam him on; but this way he’ll not object.” “But if that’s all you’re after, why don’t you and Sam just trade tricks?” “Td do that,” said Lee, “only it would spoil all the rest. The people who are work- ing so hard to get Sam off have a man al- ready picked for the third trick. I’m pretty confident I’m not wrong there. If I took third it would gum up the machinery; the thing wouldn’t develop. . And that’s an- other reason why I want, some time off. Now that it’s gone this far I want to see the thing develop; and I want to be free to watch it.” “What do you think it will be?” said Powell. “T don’t know yet,” returned Lee. “But it'll be something. I’d gamble on that.” ~™ | THE division operator thought- m<} fully stroked his chin while he re- a8 garded Wheeler with a half-humor- ous, half-serious expression. ‘““You’re a case, Wheeler,” he said then. “T gather that you consider this matter too deep for our police, so you’d better lay off work and look after it yourself. Isn’t that right?” Lee grinned a trifle. “Well,” he conceded, “I suppose it does appear something like that; and for want of a better description I’m willing to let it stand that way. Only please don’t forget I’m in dead earnest. I’m bound I’m going to make third trick safe for Sam Loomis!” “You make me curious,” said Powell. “All right; I'll take a chance. After we fix Loomis on first, what comes?” “As I said, I’ve figured there’ll be an ap- plicant for third at “WN” right off. I'd like to have you let him take Loomis’ old job. Probably he’ll be recommended by some one in your office.”’ “Brayle?” said Powell. eyes were grave. Lee hesitated an instant. “T think so,”’ he admitted. His questioning “You believe he’s mixed up in this?” - pressed the official. “Mr. Powell,” said Lee, ‘‘I don’t like to say. The thing will work itself out. Ihate to cast reflections without actual proof, however positive I may feel myself.”’ “T see,” agreed Powell. ‘Very well; we'll let it go at that.” He paused. “But sup- pose nothing comes of it within your fifteen — days?” “T imagine something will,” replied Lee. “But if nothing does we’ll have to wait. I expect to lay low, to let it be undérstood that I’ve left Willowburn. That will please the plotters; and of course if I’m not around Loomis can keep on working first.”’ ‘You'll not want me to mention anythinz- of this to Brayle?”’ “Oh,.no; not a word. Don’t let him think you’ve any inkling that something may be wrong. You might let him happen to see the messages about my suspension.”’ “T understand,” said Powell. “I'll do as you suggest.” “Then I guess that will be all,” said Lee. He arose and made a step backward. “Thanks, very much. I believe we'll find we ve done the right thing.” “If it does turn out that way I’ll see you lose no time over your lay-off,’’ promised the division operator. ‘“‘That’s not been worrying me a bit,” re- plied Lee. He turned to the door. ‘‘Good- night!” ‘““Good-night!”’ said Powell. It was shortly past eleven at night, when Lee Wheeler entered the dispatchers’ room in the Gray Junction depot building. The third trick dispatcher looked up from his desk. ‘Hello, Wheeler,” he said. - “Have you anything going west, Tom?” asked Lee. ‘I'd like to get back to Willow- burn and all the fast cars that stop there have gone.” “‘There’s a crew to be called for three- thirty,” answered the dispatcher. ‘“They’ll take a light engine and caboose to the other end. Afraid that’s the best in sight.” ‘Well, if that’s the best it’ll have to do,” stated Lee. ‘Would you mind giving ’em a message to drop me off at Willowburn?”’ 63, “Sure,” assented Tom. “And if you want — to take a nap while vou wait go into that next room. You'll find a bench there and some old cushions. I'll see you’re called in time.” ‘“That’ll be fine,” said Lee. ‘‘How’s she going? Everything moving good?” “Pretty fair,’ advised the dispatcher. “About all I’ve got to worry me now is to get Ninety-Two over the road. She’s just left the west end. Not so bad now as she'll be tomorrow night.” “That so?” “Yes,” said the gossipy Tom. ‘‘Under- stand she’s to haul some cars of silk. The cCoOnmmicloooks C@