Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

| ~ | mt \VA, Mi ey\ ind NORTH === i} i : i 4 ill = — . —_ ay il aik oH Ne iD iil TO yay ) | \ NT - Oo o =m a ane Y H:‘BEDFORD-JONES Author of ‘‘The Star Goes North,” ‘‘The Star of Dreams,” etc. BOUND SOUTH I ICHARD HAMPTON, until an R. hour ago first mate of the brig Acadian, stared across Boston Harbor, and under his fingers the broad gold pieces in his pocket gave off a dull clink. He was aware of a man coming down the wharf, but he did not look around until the stranger addressed him affably: “A brisk day, sir, a brisk January day! You are a seaman, I take it?’’ Hampton turned and coolly surveyed the speaker. A swift flash of interest glim- mered in his gray eyes; he had not thought to see such a man in all Boston, and par- ticularly on Lewis’ Wharf, this cold after- noon of January twenty-third. It was not the affluent external aspect of the man that interested him; he passed over the silk hat and rich broadcloth, the velvet collar, the heavy gold fob, the handsome ebony stick. It was the face of the man that held his gaze—a bronzed and high-boned face, full of weather-wrinkles like his own, whose dark eyes gave him look for look and in ** South, West and North," copyright, 1924, by H. Bedford- ones. their arrogance held a peculiar glassy ap- pearance. The face was assertive, self- confident, insolent in its expression of su- periority and its air of experience. These two men were much alike, not in any facial resemblance but in a certain mutual self- reliance, a cool aloofness from all around. Each was stamped as a man of positive, downright action, able to take care of him- self under any conditions. ‘“‘Why take me for a seaman, sir?” de- manded Hampton, with no softening of his bleak gaze. ‘‘Because of your interest in the Capitol yonder,” and the other swung his stick toward the ship moored at the wharf, just beyond them. ‘‘You regard her with a seaman’s eye. And you have rubbed off the corners in a way that sets you apart from these poor greenhorns. An officer, beyond doubt. My name, sir, is James Day.” ‘Mine is Richard Hampton, and you are right. Iam a ship’s mate, and would have had: command next voyage had not the Acadian, across the harbor, been sold to a California company.”’ The two shook hands. Hampton en- countered a strong, energetic grip, and a Copyright, 1924, by The Ridgway Company in the United States and Great Britain. All rights reserved. 1 COMmiclbooks nn