Adventure Magazine Cover — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

Sled Wheeler and the Nameless Order Dan winked one eye at Drake, for Lu Yan was penciling the other. “There’s a quotation for you—a brand- new one—just made it!”’ Lu Yan finished—Dan got up and looked © down at his legs with distaste. “T always did hate this scenery—makes me feel foolish—glad Brendon isn’t here to see these pants. I couldn’t say a word about his breeches—you know—my word! Sure you don’t want that spark stolen? I can bring It back in my pants. By Henry, there ain’t no pocket—that’s the limit! Well, so long!’ “Why did we let him go?” Lu Yan looked at Drake hopetessly. “T shall not know a peaceful moment until he returns,” he added. “Nor I,” said Drake: “But I don’t know any better plan than his new quotation, and Dan always makes good. I will wait here, if you don’t mind. Of course he took his gun—the one I sent him?” ‘““Ves—he never lets it out of his hand—as you directed.” “That’s right. Drake sighed. “It is delightful not to have to wait alone,” Lu Yan sighed also. Well, we can only wait,” Sy DAN got into the club-house un- 525 seen—or unrecognized—and_ got aN into the up-stairs hall between the rooms occupied by the employees. Here he ran into Brenner—just coming out of his room to go to supper. Brenner was not surprized this time. “That you, Wheeler? What’s up?” “Sh-h!”’ Dan hushed him with a look at the tran- soms. ‘“What’s this I hear about Garth selling out—this afternoon?” ‘How did you hear? He only told me an hour ago. Yes, he wants to sell—lock, stock, and barrel. Something is going to break; soon!” “Garth down-stairs in the office?”’ ““Yes—Commander von Reuter with him oe minutes ago. I just came up for my Af But Dan was in the linen-closet and the door had closed behind him. Brenner shock his head hopelessly and went to supper. Dan made cautious haste to the little door behind the mantel picture—gently opened it 2 crack to listen and see. 113 “No.” The first word he overheard was in Garth’s whispery, treacherous voice. “Drake is one of these fools that can’t tell a lie straight. He is deep and clear- headed, and can’t be scared—a hard man to handle—but he doesn’t know how to lie. A regular G. Washington!” Dan shrank as he saw Garth l|:ok up at the picture. He thanked his luck that Garth was near-sighted. “Then what is the explanation?” heavy voice had a slight burr. ‘Same old answer to the impossible riddle—the boy lied! This time the truthful Drake did lie, and it was a keen move. He knows I am a character-reader and he fig- ured that a simple lie would fool me better than anything else. And he was right—it puzzled me a long time—but I finally worked it out by inference and exclusion. “It was the only possibility, and after I got it solidly fixed, all the facts fitted. I’ve got him dead to rights! You can be sure as death that I will have both the gems— and what I want besides—on board the Kronprinz tomorrow night! So be sure to have steam up and ready.” “T don’t see—I should like to be as sure as you are yourself,” said the heavy, obsti- nate voice, “so that I may be prepared in case of accident.” Dan blessed the German thoroughness that insisted on an explanation, and listened intently. “Tt is so rich I hate to share it! But listen —here it is in a nutshell. They think I believe Wheeler dead and the stone lost— the fools. Well, let them think so. They think, the other stone being lost, that I will sell the one I have. Well, I will. Then they expect to deliver the gems to Prince Totu aboard the Belle of Nippon after mid- night, Friday night. ‘‘T have told you how I have the boat fixed. I may let part of them get away before the explosion, but the safest way is to blow them all up but the girl, and bring her with me aboard the Kronprinz. They will never know—these fools in town here—that I didn’t go up with the rest, until it is too late to do anything about it. You see 08 easy it is—and how simple.” “But why destroy the whole rare: It might lead to international complications,” von Reuter objected. The “You do not appear—nobody can prove GOMIIGHoOO S © iin