Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

es wr y, ae Seco By MAX BRAND Author of ‘‘ The Night Horseman,’’ ** Dan Barry’s Daughter,’’ etc. CHAPTER XXXTI, UNDYING MALICE. HILE he mastered himself, and as \ ‘ / the blood began to circulate more quickly and his limbs grew supple, he fought for time strictly on the defense. But before three exchanges, Lascelle seemed to realize the strategy of his antagonist, and he flung himself heart and soul into the combat. It was a masterful attack. The blade alone, deft as it was in the hand of Clovel- ly, could never have saved him from those assaults, but in his own peculiar fashion he danced back, swerving his body from side.to side before the assault. Once the darting point leaped so close that it touched his temple near-the eye; again it slipped through his shirt and rubbed its cold length against his naked side. For five minutes, death was constantly before him, but at the end of that time the numbness had left his legs, his wrist was again flexible, and he had regained that per- fect balance upon his feet which is of all things most necessary to the fencer who fights for his life. He had been driven to the edge of a plot of roses before that time of self-mastery came to him. One backward step would entangle him hopelessly in the soft mold, and to gain that advantage Lascelle pressed his attack with a relentless fury. The smiling confidence with which he had begun the battle had left him. His expression was a settled and malignant sneer. In every thrust he fought to kill with the hunger of one accustomed to slaughter. Sweat glistened upon his forehead from his work, but his eyes were brighter than ever. The crisis had come. In the distance, This story began in the Argosy-Alistory Weekly for September 27. 294 CONNIE OOO) <SaeC)