Argosy All-Story Weekly, December 4, 1926 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

WAR SPAWN. ‘Don’t go yet,” he mocked. “You may be fishing for bigger game, but won’t you let the smaller fish wriggle around in your net a little while?” Judith writhed away from the detaining hand, and with an inner sigh of relief saw Stephen hurrying across the salon. The light of anger was burning in his eyes. . He dropped the articles he was carrying, and taking hold of the mate’s arm, jostled him back against the wall. ‘Why are you presuming to detain this young lady?” he asked evenly. Allerton held himself rigid, his hands clenched, as he replied, “I presumed to detain her because I felt so disposed. What are you going to do about it?” he asked insolently, self-interest forgotten in the desire to feel the thick throat of his em- ployer’s son under the grasp of his strong fingers. wie. He had watched Beverly Randolph’s in- fatuation for Stephen with hate in_ his heart. He had loved her, but there was one person whom he loved more, and that per- son was his handsome self. He had worked hard for his berth on the Psyche, so he had held his peace. But now, in the accession of murderous tage which possessed him, he threw caution to the winds. Into the eyes of each sprang the primitive lust of conquest. “This girl has taken refuge upon the Psyche from some presumably horrible fate, and is entitled to the chivalrous pro- tection of every man on board. Since you do not seem inclined to act decently, I’m afraid I’ll have to make you.” The mate and Stephen stripped off their coats simultaneously. “When did you turn into a Sir Gala- had?” sneered the mate as he threw his coat into a chair. “If this girl who is look- ing to you for protection knew your repu- ‘tation, she would feel about as safe with you as she would in the track of a simoon.” Stephen turned. to Judith who still stood beside the door, her eyes kindled also with the battle-light. Cross Allerton had roused in her all her passionate hatred of the male. She hated them both as they stood there. She was in every respect as primal as they for the moment. 391 “Look at me!” said Stephen. ‘ You don’t believe him, do you?” | Judith drew herself up to her slim height and, with her eyes on a level with Stephen’s, seemed to search his very soul. What she saw satisfied her apparently. “No, I don’t,” she replied slowly. “You better go to your stateroom now,” advised Stephen. Judith shook her tawny head, “ No, I ain’t goin’ away.” Stephen whirled, and faced the mate. He found him ready, a foeman worthy of his very best steel. Allerton was tall, broad- shouldered, slender of waist and lean of flank, and he towered above Stephen with a great superiority of reach. He moved lithely on his toes as they sparred and circled for an opening. But Allerton was pitted against the bull- dog type of fighter, grim and_ steady. Stephen’s head was sunk between his shoulders. He was not so quick in his movements as Allerton, but the mate knew and respected Fenwick’s sort. He took no chances with them, but cut them to pieces at long range. Suddenly the mate’s long left shot out, crashing against Stephen’s mouth with such force as to snap his head back. Fenwick’s vicious counter whizzed harmlessly past the mate’s ear. He sidestepped, and whipped another blow into Stephen’s neck. Judith hardly breathed as she saw the blood trickling from Fenwick’s split. lip. His face was a mask of unconcern however, save for his eyes, where two fires glared out at his opponent. Had it not been for his eyes Judith would thave feared that the other was going to gain the victory. Lowering his head he rushed Allerton,,. endeavoring to close in preparatory to de- livering short arm jolts to the body, which he had always found were deadly. But with superb defense Allerton recoiled, whipping in deadly counters, bringing more blood from Stephen’s swelling face. Dismayed, Judith waited. She feared now, definitely, that her champion had met more than his match, his conqueror. Then as they reeled snarling into a new clinch, she was again reassured. Fenwick had succeeded in delivering a blow below ee CEORMIE IOOL<Sa(e