Adventure Magazine Cover — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

108 “Oh, fair. thing of ’er?”’ “Devon, eh? Why, no. By the by, you seem to have some pretty good stuff along with you.” “Yeah, pretty good. So you ain’t seen my Devon?” “Positive. And say, Mr. Burdette——” “Don’t want to ’ear ’is name mentioned,” declared Mitcham. ‘‘No, sir! The way he treated me ‘ “T know. Great shame. He’s got a fiery temper, but he’s not so bad at that. ’Course you got to humor him—”’ “Got to bea slave, that’s nearer the mark.” “T wouldn’t say that—no. But, look here, what are you going to do up yonder?”’ “What d’you mean ‘do’?”’ “Of course old John—well, he needs the land: We’re overstocked as it is and then we're expecting a fresh batch ‘“That’s fine! I’ve got ’im just as I said I would.” “‘Ves—he’s sore. You know old John: What he wants he gets.” ““He’s laying off us all right.” “‘There’s no hurry, not sich a great hurry. He’s been writing a lot of letters—to Mel- bourne, you know. He’s waiting. Say, get down and be sociable for a while. It cer- tainly is a hot day. Looks like thunder to me.” They sat side by side among the ferns and talked of thunder-storms, cows and the gold strike. They really had a great deal incommon. Mitcham found himself liking Gilding, who seemed to be quite human and used words a man could understand. By degrees the conversation veered around to Burdette again, and Gilding said with a laugh: “Old John’s a funny bird. You’d think he’d hate you like poison.” “T’ll bet “That’s where you go wrong. He likes pluck, and he said to me only yesterday— “<Tad’s got more grit than I thought he had.’ “Lots of people say they’re going to get him, but you’re the first one who “And I’m not through with ’im yet,” Mitcham declared. ‘‘Sending me off be- tween two blackfellows——’”’ “That certainly was a mistake. He ad- mits it. Why, he’s sorry he did that— but, listen, old John’s not through with you I’ve lost a Devon, seen any- Adventure either. As soon as he gets things shaped up a bit at the other end you'll hear from him. He’s going to fight——” ‘““We’re ready “Maybe so. I don’t know. It'll take a whole lot of money. If he can have you ousted—he’s got influence, I don’t have to ~ tell you that.” ‘“‘He’ll go to court, eh?”’ “He might. There’s no telling. But it’s like this: He’s taken a fancy to you and he said to me in strict confidence, he said Gilding left his sentence dangling in mid- air while he relighted his pipe. “Go on, shoot!” urged Mitcham. “Maybe I better not. It was confiden- tial.’ ‘“‘What’s the odds?” “Well, I don’t suppose it matters much. He said: “ ‘Fighting this out at Melbourne’ll take time and cost money’—he hates throwing money away on lawyers—‘and, by George, Tad Mitcham has got so much nerve that I don’t like to do it anyway. But I must have that land if it takes every penny I own.’ “That’s what he said.” “Would ’e buy us out, d’you think?” “Tf you’re quick—yes, he might. In fact, I’m sure he would. Save him trouble. He doesn’t want to, but he’d do it just because you’ve stood up to him “T see,” Mitcham paused. he’d give—a thousand?” “More’n that, though I shouldn’t tell you. Fifteen hundred is what he has in mind.” ‘“‘Wheee! Fifteen hundred quid!’ “He wants that land mighty bad now that new batch is on the way. He——” ‘‘___!??, Mitcham came down to earth with a thud. ‘It makes me —— mad! That there Rushton holds the license and he says he won’t sell.” “Rushton, eh? He wouldn’t sell—for fifteen hundred?” “Says not. He’s a —— little fool, if you ask me.” “Balmy! It’s his outfit isn’t it?” “Yep.” “Shame—” “But fifteen hundred! ten——”’ “And, by the way, it’s private talk, but if you do sell out—old John—I think he’d let you have your old job——” “D’you think Maybe ’e’d lis- Co NOOK 1@)