Adventure Magazine Cover, October 1911 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

The Freak “The papers were waiting for him just out- side the Yard when he left here last evening. But he’s outon his recognizance, or some such legal tommyrot, and he has disappeared.” ‘“‘When and where will the case be tried?” “Thursday, in Municipal Court.” Bill went to the window and looked down into the Yard in deep thought. “I’m thinking there’ll be funds needed, for there will be a fine, to say nothing of a lawyer’s fee.” ‘“‘The money can be had,” said I, “but would he take it?” ‘Oh, Pve got the cash,” for Bill was rich, “but he won’t take money, even from his folks. There was some kind of a row that left him soured, except from that old aunt in Salem who gives him his starvation allow- ance.” He faced round, and his sleepily half-closed eyes meant inner excitement, “It would be just one of his tricks not to let anybody pay his fine!”’ ‘That would mean the workhouse!”’ ‘“‘At thirty cents a day!”’ It was no joke from any point of view. Bill’s stolid exterior concealed vigorous thought as well as fine feeling. ‘I’m going in town to see this loafer, Nutting, to see if he can be bought off. T’ll meet you out North Avenue at four this afternoon. He may have turned up by that time. I knew his foolishness would get him in trouble.” “Right! Do your best! Imprisonment would mean ruin all round for him.” Lectures had no meaning for me that day. At four o’clock I found Bill waiting on the porch; also Mr. Kinyon talking to the Girl, who was unflatteringly distrait. Bull answered my look by a hopeless shake of the head. The Girl met me with open worriment: ‘‘What has become of Cousin John? And what will become of him? Will he be put in prison?” “Not if his fine is paid.” But as I said it, I saw Kinyon cover his smile with a hand. ““Have you any idea where he is?”? She looked up appealingly. As if it were his cue, just then Trainor swung off a car at the corner and came striding up the walk. He wore anew Spring suit (he always went to a good tailor for his one suit) and straw hat, and was as fresh as an apple, glowing with surplus virility. It was his first meeting with the Girl since the knockout episode, and his eyes shone deep with the marvel of her sweetness as she came to meet him at the steps. 959 “Why did you let us worry so about you?” she asked softly. ‘“‘T am sorry, very sorry!”’ He swallowed hard, but his incredulous eyes could not leave her face. This was not sweet to Mr. Kinyon, who now spoke in his velvety tones: ‘“‘It is one of the—ah—eccentricities of genius, to be a bit unmindful of the; comfort of others.”’ “‘Ah! Good afternoon, Mr. Kinyon Trainor’s grin was instantly ironical. ‘Does your conscience hurt? What have you done now?” ‘‘We wander from the point,’ said Kin- yon, smiling toothfully. ‘‘The question is, what have you been doing?”’ ‘*I,”’ said Trainor, “have been standing in line all night to get the best seats to see Jefferson in ‘The Rivals’ Thursday night. Will you go, Miss Margaret? I may state,” some of his bitterness peeping out, ‘‘that I have clothes fit for the occasion.”’ ‘“‘Now that’s not kind! You know I'd go with you in anything, anywhere!” She flushed slowly, but finished bravely, ‘And I neveh expected to see it—wneveh wanted to see anything so much!”’ By the working nostrils of him, I knew that Trainor was bursting with the battling- protective instinct, and his eyes fell on Kinyon’s smile. ‘‘What was that about my being a wild beast, or egoism of genius, I suppose you’d call it?”’ ‘*Not at all—unless the cap fits!”” Kinyon could not conceal his exultation. ‘You must be conscious of some shortcoming!”’ ‘“‘Now you,” Trainor’s level look was ominously cool, “in your tidy, well-arranged intellect, have labeled me ‘Maniac—Possi- bly dangerous,’ and in public you look upon me as arather amusing child. Now, Mr. Kinyon, your game is subtle diplomacy, but let me point out that my methods, though they may be farcical and extreme, get therel”’ “Which means,” Kinyon spoke slowly and seriously, ‘‘that you would prove your sanity by the fact that you prevail in your environment. Now to judge the sanity of an action by the nice adjustment of means to end is sound doctrine; I accept your standard. But by that measure was not your abatement of the pigeon nuisance a bit drastice Nutting has shut up the birds, but isn’t it probable that your trial is lable to cause your relatives more trouble and ex- pense than the original nuisance?” {?? C© CloOOLKS CO