Adventure Magazine Cover — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

The Beneficent Burglar order from the train-despatcher’s office. In ‘pursuance, my train stops at Jaffa Junction, which it reaches at ten o'clock to-night. Her train also stops at Jaffa Junction, forty minutes later. We both disembark. When aunty goes to the Mercerville station there - will be no Mary there!” ‘‘Almost you had persuaded me,” said Mr. Burrow sadly, ‘but if any additional shred of evidence were necessary to estab- lish the lunacy of this enterprise, it is the selection of Jaffa Junction as an objective point forelopement. Were you ever in Jaffa Junction? A tank, a post-office and a streak of mud!” SKA “Tt may lack certain advantages,” Wel )) defended Mr. Copewell, “but it is a strategic position. You don’t seem to grasp the strenuousness of this undertaking —or the peril. Mary is sent across the ocean on twenty-four hours’ notice. She is put on the train at Perryville by her family. The train does not, so it is presumed, stop till it reaches here. Here a grim relentless aunt catches her on the fly and keeps her bouncing! Good Heavens, man, the only chance I have is train-robbery in be- tween—and Jaffa Junction is gloriously in between!” “What part do I play in this praiseworthy enterprise? Do you want my police to lock aunty up, so that she can’t telephone to mama?”’ » “Worse than that. When we drop off that train at Jaffa Junction, unless we have some way to beat it quick, our last predica- ment will be worse than our first. We will need an automobile and a trustworthy chauffeur. He can also be best man, and officiate at swearing to things when we get the license. You and your six-cylinder car have been elected.”’ ‘Are you quite sure,” inquired Mr. Bur- row in a chastened voice, “that you don’t overestimate my merits?” ““T am willing to give you a try,”’ was the generous response. ‘“‘It would be nice and considerate if we could get it all finished up in time to wire aunty that we are perfectly well married before she grows hysterical about Mary. Mary is very fond of her family and would appreciate a little atten- tion like that.” ‘‘And have you considered the time it takes to’ drive one hundred and twenty miles over those infernal, hog-backed 933 roads?”’ queried Mr. Burrow with suspi- cious politeness. “Really, I can’t say, but it’s only ten o'clock now. You can start as soon as you’re ready, you know. You have about thirteen hours.” “‘T salaam before your unparalleled nerve! Do you realize that I have public duties to perform?”’ Mr. Copewell shrugged his shoulders. The stenographer’s brown head was thrust into the door. ‘* Alderman Grotz says ” she began. **Send him right in,” exclaimed Mr. Bur- row energetically. “‘Ah, Mr. Grotz, I’m very sorry indeed to have kept you waiting! Miss Farrish, tell the other gentlemen I have just received urgent news that will call me out of town until to-morrow. ’Phone over to the City Hall and make my apologies to the Mayor. Call up the garage and have my car ready for a long trip in a half-hour; telephone to my rooms and have my man pack a suit-case and rush it over to the gar- age. Let’s see—yes, I believe that’s all, thank you.” CHAPTER III ON THE WAY TO JAFFA JUNCTION Ete allegation that Love laughs at locksmiths has become more generally accepted than verity warrants. In point of fact the locksmith has never been alto- gether without the honors of war, and dur- ing the last century or two he has made commendable progress in the matter of bolts and tumblers and burglar-proof de- vices. Love was supervising the packing of Mary Asheton’s steamer-trunks and was particu- larly interested in the single suit-case sur- reptiously intended for the Jaffa Junction trousseau. Love giggled as he looked on, but the giggle was rather hysterical. “He likes that black gown,” said Mary, alone in her room with Love. “I woreit the evening he proposed the last time—no, it was the third from the last time.” The small god, Love, approved of Mary. Her red-brown hair, hanging in braids, was very thick and long. About her temples were soft, tendril-like curls of the variety that is most valuable to Love in his business, because they are more enmeshing and bind- ing than some of the other links he is sup- C© MICLOOKS ©