Adventure Magazine Cover — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

Plunder Avary saw the loom of the gibbet too plainly. He should have gone to London where there were many rogues to deal with. Stili, London was filled with thief-takers who had their spies everywhere looking for their chance for blood-money. His eyes brightened. He saw a little troop of three horsemen coming across the bridge of twenty-four arches that spanned the turbid Torridge and united the two parts of Bideford Town. One he recognized for certain as his friend—the others were the jewelers from Bristol. The tables were about to turn. Soon he would be off to London by stage or post— better, by hoy to Plymouth and the stage from there. No need to show too much wealth at first. Ah! He took a long drink of the cheap liquor, pulled away the cloth from the window and used it as a cover for the gems, which he took from their hiding-place and set on the table. A sunbeam struck the cloth fairly— a good omen! Another drink and then to listen for the footsteps climbing up the steep stairs. A knock, and he flung open the door inviting them in—his friend, impor- tant, sly, mysterious as a conspirator; the merchants, one a goldsmith, the other a dealer in jewels, guild members both with shops on Broad Street, Bristol; gravely clad in black, their warm cloaks lined and col- lared with mink. One, Hutton, was a bald man with a vul- ture’s nose, a hump between his shoulders— a grasping, cozening sort. The other, Lind- say, was dour and thin with a face as cold and hard as granite. They brought the Win- ter with them from Bristol, thought Avary. Lindsay went to the window and glanced out. Avary’s friend went to the stair- heading and looked down, coming back to stand against the door after he had shot a bolt. The eyes of all of them were greedy. Avary whipped the cloth from the gems. Under the sunbeam a rainbow leaped to life. The jewels lay in a -coruscating heap with flashes of vivid crimson and green combining with the iridescent shimmer. “There, gentlemen,” he said. “There is an emperor’s ransom for you!” fem | ‘\ FILM seemed to come over the “act? eyes of the buyers. The go-be- tween edged closer. For fifteen minutes they examined the gems minutely. Then Hutton spoke. 25 “Tt will be hard to dispose of these, Master Saxby. They are jewels of the Orient, where they choose by color rather than by clarity. Look you, most are badly flawed. “Their cutting must be done again or inquiry may follow. We have our reputa- tions to guard. Such inquiry would stop ail sales lest worse might follow. To recut takes time, means much waste, outlay for skilled workmen. Nor is the time propitious for the sale of jewels. The market is low, very low. Eh, Lindsay?”’ “Had I known what they were I would not have come here,” said Lindsay. “The risk is too great. I had supposed we should find jewels of good water. Take out the flaws and you have left nothing but chips after they are cut to suit the modern taste. To my mind the thing is not worth the bother.” He turned away to the window indiffer- ently, started to put on his cloak. Avary looked at them in amaze. The sun had passed behind a cloud. The gleaming mass had dulled. They looked only like colored pebbles or glass. The friendly go-between pulled a long face. Avary gulped. Then he braced him- self. They were gulling him. Hutton picked up a ruby. “You see,” he said, “‘the streak runs clear through. Almost worthless. Most of these Oriental jewels are sadly overrated. Is there a good tavern here, Master Saxby? We shall not start back without a night’s rest and sleep; and, faith, the sooner I find a bed the better I shall be pleased. This has been a tiresome venture.” They were going. It was incredible. These jewels that he had bought with his own good gold, thinking himself so clever— these jewels of little value? Yet the merchants were going. They had their cloaks on. And he had only a crown— a florin—a groat or two. He had hard work to find his voice. “You mean—you mean you will not buy these? That they have no worth?” Hutton paused at the door. Lindsay was outside with the go-between. “T do not say that. We would not be dis- posed to advance you anything on them. We should have to put out the moneys for recutting and setting to the workmen. It ‘will take time to get rid of them. Months— years before the right opportunity offers. COMmMICLOoOokKs (C@