Adventure Magazine Cover, November 10, 1924 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

The Casual’s Return “T dunno,” he said, looking at the two men doubtfully. “I suppose it’ll be all right. You guys won’t run away on me, now, will you? I’d get busted if you did. I ain’t got anything against either of you, but orders is orders. Yeh, I guess you can go. Johnson! Hey, Johnson! Take these two fellars over to their barracks an’ bring em back as quick as you can.” Za JOHNSON appeared with the mili- ius tary snap of a cow issuing from a ~—=— shed. He stumbled to a stop in front of the sergeant and presented arms. “Take these guys to their barracks, I said,” yelled the sergeant. Johnson turned and bestowed a fond look on the two guys. Then he brought his piece to the right shoulder. “Let’s go,’”’ suggested Eadie, and he and Jake moved off. Johnson followed, then had a bright thought and, coming to a correct halt, he banged his heels together, brought his rifle to the position of order arms—one, two, three—then executing parade rest, he fixed his bayonet. “Go on with them,” cried the sergeant of the guard. ‘Never mind this stallin’ around.” He went over to Johnson with the inten- tion of giving him a shove, but Johnson at that moment brought his rifle to the right shoulder again, and then turning to see what the sergeant wanted, very nearly cut off that worthy’s head with his bayonet. ““Hey!”’ cried the sergeant, “be careful o’ that —— thing. Carry your rifle over your arm! Go on and chase them guys! They could be to —— an’ gone while you’re standin’ here with your thumb up your nose! Go on!” Johnson moved on. “He ain’t been in very long,” called the sergeant of the guard. ‘“‘He don’t quite savvy, but he’s harmless.’ The two men walked on and Johnson followed them, his rifle in the crook of his arm, its muzzle pointing here and there. “T don’t like being chased,” said Eadie. In Army parlance a man under guard is chased and one who guards prisoners at. work chases them. “I don’t mind it,” said Jake. “I’m used to it.” “Used to it? How come?” “When we was at Camp Sevier I was in 43 the mill most of the time. I used to get lonesome hangin’ around the comp’ny street an’ all my friends in the stockade, so I’d get put in myself. An’ then we had a good provost sergeant. We went out an’ picked up a little paper and burned a little swill, and come home. “Many’s the evening I sat on my bunk full of supper an’ watched the comp’nys comin’ in from bayonet drill or singing practise or athletic contests or recreation hour or some other fool way to make a soldier miserable. Man, they’d be draggin’ along with their tongues out and their old cheeks suckin’ wind an’ there was me with- out a care in the world. It ain’t no harm bein’ chased if the guy that’s chasin’s got any sense.” “Whoa, Jake,” said Eadie suddenly. “This guy is nervous. So am I.” He stopped, and the guard, seeing him halt, halted likewise. ‘“‘How long have you been in the Army?” asked Eadie. “Haye” asked the guard. ‘“‘How long have you been in the Army?” “‘Mep”’ “Yes, you.” “‘Aye been in Army three months.” The guard held up three fingers as better assistance to the sergeant’s under- standing. “‘Well, for the love of Mike, don’t wave that rifle around that way. Have you got the safe on?” The guard looked at the sergeant with a cowlike glance. “Hay?” he asked mildly. ‘Let me see that gun!” said the sergeant, reaching out his hand. The guard handed it to him. Indeed the safe was not on. The sergeant threw open the chamber and a shell spun out. He worked the bolt rapidly until the ine was empty, closed and locked the piece and returned it to the guard. “‘There,” said the sergeant, “now you can stand on your head with that gun. Come on, Jake.” The placid Johnson executed right shoul- der arms and followed them with the earnest air of one who does or dies. “You got your nerve,” said Jake in an undertone. ‘“How’d you know he wouldn’t let one of them bullets slide into you?” “I was afraid he would, that’s what I threw ’em all over the ground for. Anyway, I took a chance he wouldn’t know what he CoMmicbook © 5}