Adventure Magazine Cover — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

I1I2 “I am sure that it is best to keep the hiding-place of the second gem a secret— known only to you, until the moment of delivery—and in the mean tithe to strive to get possession of the one that Garth has.” “That is the great difficulty,” Drake said solemnly. “Tt is difficult, but I hope not impos- sible’—Lu Yan did not look hopeful—‘if we can keep Wheeler’s existence from com- ing to the knowledge of Garth. I have only one servant in the house, and his discretion I can depend upon.”’ “Dan could get that stone from Garth,” said Drake, but without faith. “The prince would not receive it—he believes absolutely that their power would be gone if they returned as they went, by theft,’ Lu Yan answered. “Where is Dan?” Drake looked round. “TY thought I heard some one shout.” There was a sound like a distant wail of distress, coming from down the passage. Lu Yan rose anxiously. The wail rose toa long yammering, howl half-smothered and restrained like the chest-bound cry of a nightmare that makes one’s spine crinkle with fear. Then a heavy thump shook the floor and was followed by steps approaching down the passage—barefoot steps. Dan stood in the door in nightshirt and blanket—rubbing his eyes with one hand and clawing at the elusive blanket with the other. “That makes six times by actual count,” he announced, ‘‘and it’s a-plenty. The last time I fell up, with the cafion on top, spilling water all over, and the walls squeezing my head. I’m going to quit before something happens: Hello!/—hello! Glad to see you, Drake:”’ He stepped inside to get the light out of his eyes, for the afternoon sun struck in through the window. “T am giad to see you!” He shook hands vigorously and flushed with surprize and pleasure. “Just wait until I get some pants, will you?” Drake smiled his rare, slow smile. “T certainly will—you look good to me, Dan.. Last I saw of you, you were on those bamboos in the cafion—you seem to be on them yet! Get into some clothes, since you are so shy—we want your advice.” Dan was already off down the corridor. Presently he reappeared, buttoning as he Adventure came, with his curly hair still tousled and making him look about eighteen years old. ‘Was that last remark sarcastical?’’ he asked as he tied his tie before a small mirror in a gold frame, and looked over his shoul- der. “I am no good making plans ahead of time—I can do it better on the spot, or afterward.” “This is near enough to being on the spot,” Drake answered, ‘and your schemes always work—that’s the point. How are we to get the stone Garth has got, if we can’t buy it or steal it?” ‘“‘What’s the reason we can’t steal it?” Dan immediately wanted to know. “‘Because the prince won’t take it.” ‘What if he doesn’t know?” — “Lu Yan would know, and he won’t buy it.” | ““Hm!’’ Dan rubbed the back of his neck thought- fully. He had asked the first questions mechanically, thinking meanwhile, and now he stood for a minute, staring Buddha in the face, before he flashed his quick half- smile. Then he sobered as quickly and stretched himself with a yawn. ‘**Scuse me! Oh, well—I don’t see more than three ways to do it—and mebbe they won’t work. Got to get the other side of the question. There are always two sides to a question, you know, and generally a lot more.”’ Neither man interrupted—for Dan did | not talk nonsense in vain. Wheeler abruptly asked— “Time is it now?” “Sbhe—evening.”’ “You got here at three?—you and Garth?” ‘“*Two-forty.”’ “Got to rush!” Dan started for his room, calling to Lu Yan over his shoulder: “Get the yellow paint—Chinaman again —]J hate it!” “In about an hour or less,” he explained to Drake while Lu Yan made up his face, “Garth will be talking to this von Reuter— the commander of the Kronprinz—in the office at the Cascade Club, and I got to be listening in the hole over the mantel behind G. Washington. That’s the other side I meant. When you don’t know what to do —find out what the other fellow is going to do—and fool him!” cCOmiclook S C@ iin