Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

7380 The man didn’t live who could break win- dow cord in his hands. Kapps gave a sharp yank and the cord parted. He regarded his palms a moment reflectively. ‘Tough stuff that,’ he vouchsafed, then ordered the students off the floor. In a moment he was shaking hands very mildly with Socker Dooley. “This is the gentleman I wanted you to test with,” announced the good professor. “Tam going to ask that you show consider- ation for him and do not strike him unnec- essarily hard.” - “Huh! Dis guy needs a lot uh sympathy, ihe does. Ain’t yuh got a lion around dat I kin walk up to and spit in his eye?” “ But Arthur knows nothing of fighting,” the professor assured him. ‘“ Of course he is very strong. We are told that he is the world’s strongest man. But science should keep you free of his grasp and I am very certain he will not use his strength to the full. Remember, Arthur, this is merely a scientific exhibition and there must be no broken bones when you seize Mr. Dooley at close quarters. “ All right, gentlemen. Give the exhibi-~ tors’ room and bring forth the sparring “mittens!” At this command the class fell back and the gloves were put on. What would Socker do? He wouldn’t quit, of course. On the other hand he hadn’t had a glove on for a year! His wind would last long enough to climb into a ring, but he would need a rest before the first bell! Here indeed was a dilemma. If he landed clean on this man-elephant and failed to score a knockout, what might he expect from those arms? A man that could shatter a punching bag had no right taking liberties with the face of Socker Dooley! One shot like that which had ruined the bag and Socker would bust with a louder bang than any rubber ball. “Tf he drops a right like dat on me Adam’s apple Ill choke ter death on cider,” Socker assured himself. Me fer tuh play dis cur’illa wit’ care. I ain’t gonna lay a glove on ’im!” How easy it would have been, too. ten seconds of fighting Socker refused as Th ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, many opportunities to land upon the youth- ful face before him. Instead, he kept clear, hoping against hope that the class would have had enough before he dropped of ex- haustion. Many times Arthur swung punches that Socker had no difficulty in avoiding. It was evident that the lad was pulling his blows, because Socker could see that they had little real hurt behind them. Not any consecutive hundred of them would have broken that bag. Psychology had triumphed. Socker was scared blue. He was intent upon earning that hundred and living to enjoy it, so why fight? But psychology is two sided, like every- thing else. It took two rounds for Arthur to realize that fame was just around the corner from him. Suppose he could knock out this great fighter. Would he not ever after be a campus lion? : Many times Socker had heard the word “psychology ” mentioned in whispered tones at his back. It meant exactly twice as much as nothing to him. How then, could he be expected to know that it had gripped Arthur and started brain vibrations of a hopeful nature? In the third round Arthur came from his corner intent upon destruction. There was no one alive who would recognize the look more quickly than Socker. It had been his one and only business to read the signs of attack in the eyes of opponents. Visions he had of that devasting blow on the punch- ing bag; of the snapped window cord and he felt the approach of disaster. But courage—in the ring it is called “ heart,”— had never been lacking in the Dooley make- up. To go down fighting was the ultimate of his creed. He flexed his muscles and met the approaching Arthur with all the deter- mination which had characterized his ring days. A lightning-like left found lodgment on the collegiate chin. Back went the head in a surprised snap. Before Arthur had a chance to recover, the remnant of Socker Dooley was after him. Again the left landed, followed closely by the right. Such happenings were quite beyond the ken of the assaulted Arthur. oO Gomicsoo S (S@