Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

86 Adventure But even mutiny seemed to offer less difficulty to Sam than remaining awake another minute. “Why don’t you call them one hundred and fifty dollar bills?” Sam _ suggested. “That’l) fix it.” The smile of the fox brightened General Cassiano’s usually stern features. This was nothing short of genius. Not only would the gallant captain’s suggestion mend the difficulty, but it would provide one million dollars extra. As Sam dozed off to sleep again he heard the general say: “Here is your fifty thousand dollars, my brave hero. Yes, and here is_ twenty thousand more. You deserve it.” Sam fought sleep long enough to brush the money under his blanket and then surrendered. It was late in the afternoon when he finally decided to rise from his blanket. The army was scattered about the camp in little groups engaged in gambling games of various sorts. ‘They were busy, contented , and evidently happy. Sam did not have to ask if the experiment had succeeded. Beyond question it had registered a bull’s eye. In honor of the occasion he resumed the tight-fitting aviator’s costume. To place seventy thousand dollars in currency in the pockets of this attire was out of the question so he left it under the saddle blanket. It was now his purpose to do a little scouting about the camp with a view to crossing the river unobserved, or at least unobserved until he was half way across. After that he was willing to take a chance. The strange currency had soured his enthusiasm for adventure and he yearned for the bulky silver dollars Uncle Dudley was accustomed to pay each first and fifteenth of the month. The sum was not large, but there was a most engaging eagle on every coin. He strolled down toward the river bank and there met General Juan Jesus Cassiano who was staring across at a Mexican on the Texas side. Sam thought he recognized the man as a cowboy on Uncle Dudley’s ranch but decided he must be mistaken when he observed that the man was signal- ing to General Cassiano. ‘““What does he say?”’ Sam asked. The commander was startled for a moment, but smiled cordially when he recognized the hero of the camp. “He signals that another carload of rock salt has arrived and that the trucks will be in town tonight,” the general re- plied. ‘He also says that you are needed in the office, but I can not spare you. He tells me every day that you are needed in the office Your employer is worried about you, but I tell him every day that you are safe. When I see him I will be happy to inform him that you are a hero.” ‘Are you going over tonight?” Sam asked. “Perhaps. But I must wait until I can get some American money to pay for the rock salt. There is a messenger coming from El Paso with American money. He is due here today. If he arrives I will go to Santa Maria tonight. The trucks are in Santa Maria and will wait for me.” Sam at once decided to wait a few more days in the hope of exchanging his seventy thousand pesos for something more ac- ceptable in the retail establishments of Santa Maria. He strolled back to camp with the general. Having in mind the prospective exchange of money he decided to remove his. seventy thousand pesos to a safer place. But what place? Hastily surveying the camp, he took note of the carload of cartridge cases piled in an uneven oblong. He recalled that somewhere toward the middle of that jumble there was a square space big enough for a man to stand in. Therefore he removed his currency from beneath the blanket, climbed up on the cartridge cases and dropped the bundle into this space, which, doubtless, all but he had forgotten. Then he wandered off to look for Captain Barnes and conversation. Suddenly there was a stir through the camp. Two hundred heads which had been bowed over cards, dice and other games of chance were lifted. Every one was listening. Sam also listened. Shots were being fired, perhaps a mile or more away. Twenty mounted men—the cavalry of this army—dashed for their carbines and horses. General Juan Jesus Cassiano rushed from his tent coatless, but waving his sword and. shouted an order. A Mexican squatting near Sam dropped a handful of cards, seized his bugle, and blew three blasts before rising. The mounted men were ready for action COMmiclbooks nn)