Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 3 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

424 with color that glowed beneath the dirt upon it; and flashing black eyes that were gleaming with resentment as he looked at the big man. Plainly the thing that amused the men in the group was tragedy to the boy. He had evidently been passing the group when the big man had seized the dog; and when Shorty saw him first he was shaking a fist at the big man, while his thin voice rose shrilly: “Let go of that deg, you damned maver- ‘ick!’ he screamed. His veice betrayed the frenzied rage that gripped him. But it was a rage that nar- rowly verged upen tears, fer there was a break in his tones that betrayed their pres- ence. The dog renewed his efforts to es- cape, grewling, and slashing vainly at the hands that held him. ‘““Come on, Rags!” called the boy. “Come on. Bite the damned fool! Bite him!”’ There was a shout of hearse laughter from the men as the dog vainly tried to obey his young master. But though he tere at the earth with ripping, slashing feet, squirming and writhing with frantic eager ness, the man held him. A dozen times the scene was reenacted. Twice the man seemed about to permit the dog to escape, but as the animal leaped he tightened his hold and laughed with the others at the dog’s futile struggles. After each tantalizing performance the boy’ S rage increased. He was crying now—shamelessly betray- ing the fear that possessed him—fear that the man did not intend to let the deg es- cape. The faces of women appeared in near-by windows disapproval written large upon them. The big man merely laughed. It seemed to Shorty as he silently watched the pitiable drama, that the men in the group might have occupied their time to better advantage. If this was their idea of enjoyment they betrayed a depraved mentality. And yet in a section of country so primi- tive as this the sport could not be termed rough. It seemed they meant no harm to the boy or dog; it was merely their ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. intention—at least, it appeared to be the intention of the man who held the dog~ to torment the boy to a point where he would entirely lose his self-control. Proof on that score came presently, when a man at the edge of the group near Shorty, spoke: ‘ He'll git to cussin’ regular, pretty quick. There ain’t a man in the country got any- thing on him!” The dog was still raging. His fangs were bared, his upper lip laid back; his ears close te his head, and his eyes were blazing with a wild malignance. The man’s “grip on his neck was se tight and the hands placed so cunningly that no matter which way he turned his head the deg ceuld not reach them with his slashing fangs. The bey began to scream curses at the man; the rage reflected in his eyes equaled that betrayed by the dog. Stooping sud- denly he picked up a jagged piece of rock, hurling it with all his strength at the man who held the deg. The man had been looking at. the ani- mal when the stone left the boy’s hand, and the missile, thrown with unerring aim, struck Him on the top of the head, knocking his hat off. The suddenness of the attack discon- certed the man momentarily. Involuntar- Hy he threw up one hand to grasp the hat. The movement gave the dog the opportu- nity he had been fighting for, and he twist- ed around, burying his fangs deep in the man’s hand. The man rose. He paid no more. at- tention to the hat—which had fallen at his feet. He stood up, his face dark with rage; holding the dog by the collar with one hand, so that the animal dangled, squirming and twisting, and still ‘Taging furiously. The man looked at the hand, saw blood pouring from the flesh where the dog’s fangs had torn it; and reached for the heavy pistol at his right hip. A deep silence greeted the movement. But if there were men in the group who were opposed to the act of brutality that impended, they gave no sign. ‘There were shouts of protest from various points far- ther down the street, but these were un- GOR GDOO SS (COL