Adventure Magazine Cover — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

The Road Faith decreed him to be. There is a new Turkey, crouching in disguise below the huddled garments of the old one. When will She arise? My friend, I can not possi- bly say. To-morrow? The next day? It is quite within the possible decrees of Des- tiny. Your time is short. That I firmly believe.” Sarrasco looked plainly incredulous. “What have we to reckon with?” he de- manded. ‘‘ Revolution?” The Bey nodded again. ‘Possibly,’ he said. ‘But not one which will last. The Progressive party may triumph, but their time will not be forever. For them the building of this line is an absolute necessity. Should the hour of their predominance coincide with the present situation on the Bir Railway, they will insist on its comple- tion if they have to find the labor—the money is beyond them—by the establish- ment of a corvée. “The men of whom I speak are American in heart themselves. With American col- leagues and American knowledge at their back they will push that line to Bir if a thousand ravines and morasses stand in the way. No, good friend, this is not a de- lusion. If Austria, masquerading in your name, is to control this railway, let her be mistress of the situation within a month. Otherwise we may have to put back the clock of German predominance in the Bal- kans by a matter of years. plain pith of the matter.”’ Sarrasco sat up stiffly in his chair. The placidity of his features was marred by a frown. He twisted his lithe fingers one within the other. He looked at his com- panion with the aspect of a man to whom arguments have been put which he has found—unconvincing. } No doubt Esuli recognized this. He, too, altered his position to one of energy. He leaned forward. “Listen, my dear sir,” he said. “In this matter I am with you absolutely. The generosity with which your employers—or you yourself — have treated me makes me a faithful ally. I have done all that I have been asked to do. I have made my own suggestions. I have carried them out. This matter of the land- slide which I arranged to limit or close the exit from the lake, of which I alone was aware, is proof of that. My duty is to keep you fully informed of the situation as I see it. I tell you, then, frankly that you That is the - 895 can not have it all your own way without difficulty! “The national sentiment and the national pride of all the peoples between Bir and Antigno is involved in the building of this line. You will have to walk warily. You must even discount the possibility of fai'- ure. An American, when he is roused, can reach a pitch of obstinacy which you— pardon me if I seem blunt again—have had no experience in probing. Supposing this Mr. Gresham refuses to listen to your very proper proposals. Are you prepared to go very much further?” The Italian’s eyebrows rose. ‘‘To any limits, Excellency!” he said briefly. ‘“‘But in the region of—what?”’ “Risk!” said the other tersely. ‘‘We have to destroy this line. Do you care— how?” Sarrasco smiled. ‘‘The Society of which I am an inconspicuous agent never cares— how,” he answered. ‘‘Give us a target, and the weapon with which it is reached is a matter of indifference.” Esuli rose to his feet and threw away the stub of his cigarette. ‘‘Then, my friend,” he said urbanely, “‘we are at one, and the sooner we Clear for action the better! That black smoke which you see defiling the immaculate day informs me that my engi- neer has got up steam upon the launch. Forward!” [<q HE POINTED smilingly down the ( yA) path between the beech trunks, (SSS) through which appeared the blue vista of the lake. Sarrasco rose with a little sigh of satisfaction. ‘“‘You have a specific plan?” he asked quietly. “None,” said the Turk. “But I have— I fear I seem to boast a little—an imagina- tion which has served me well in the past and which has, indeed, brought me here. I came because the railway came. As a source of profit and activity it has not dis- appointed me. Why else, best of friends, do you find in these surroundings—me?”’ There was something almost vindictive in the glance he bestowed upon the acres of gray desolation. ‘“‘My apprenticeship was served at the Embassy in Paris,’ he ex- plained. Sarrasco’s shrug seemed to give evidence of entire comprehension and assent as he passed on softly at his companion’s side toward the waiting launch. Comiclbooks (©