Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

WITHOUT GLOVES. queer his game to the committee in about a minute, an’ show him up, to beet. I kin ‘tell things that when they hear ’em, Blod- gett Il be lucky to keep out of Siiliwater: E “What do you mean?” cried the girl, eagerly. “That you would do that?” “I might,” grinned the man.. “Tf told you wunst before, if you remember, that I liked to do folks good turns, now an’ then —specia pretty. gals.” King advanced a step toward her, and _ the girl shrank away from him. “ Oh, you needn’t be skeert of me.- I wouldn’t hurt you none. Of course, they’d have to be some consideration, as they say in the con- tracts, fer me throwin’ old Blodgett down. He’s payin’ me pretty well fer my work. -You see I ain’t afraid to speak out when they’s jest the two of us. One person’s word’s as good as another’s.” S What’s your pricer™ asked the = dul- ly. “Remember, we're poor. We can’t pay much. We can’t expect to bid against Blodgett.” “ You kin pay what I want, all right, cause you're what I want.” “ What de you mean?” ““T mean of you'll marry me, Vil have old Blodgett huntin’ his hole in about two minutes after that hearin’ starts to-mor- row mornin’,” Hot blood mounted to the girl’s face, and she stared at the man in horror. Then, in a panic, ‘her eyes sought the stairs. “Wait a minute,” commanded King. “y ain’t expectin’ you to love me nor nuth- in’ like that—not yet anyways. You'll find I ain’t so bad if you use me right. Facts is, I’m tired: of batchin’ it, an’ want to settle down. The old man an’ I could work the timber, an’ keep all the money in the fambly. I ain’t hard to git along with wunst yeu come te knew me. What I’m offerin’ _ you is the chanst to make a deal to save yer. timber. You kin take it, or leave it. But, if you don’t take it, you'll take what a bunch of greased appraisers give you, an’ Blodgett’ take the timber.” -For just an instant the girl stood glaring into his eyes. ‘‘ You beast!” she cried, “I wouldn’t marry you if I knew every stick of timber we own would be stolen from us to-morrow! I despise yeu! I loathe you! I’d kill myself before i’d marry you!” Her voice choked up, and she started rapidly up the stairs. ~The frown that had greeted her first words turned to a leering grin upen King’s face. 7 “Tf that’s the way you feel about_it, I guess we can’t deal,” he called after her, and turning away, crossed the floor and took his room key from its hook on the numbered board. TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK a8) U LOOK UP ] 0O% into the Empyrean’s lofty height, Then blame your soul and do not blame your sight If you see nothing there but empty space, And blame your lack of a supernal grace. Look up and learn there is a God above; Look up and feel the sweetness of His love. When man looks down, alas, he ay grieves— His soul is sore; — He sees but what his little mind conceives— _ And aathung 2 more. oO — COmicbooks.co! ——