Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

352 What in thunder was the matter with Dolly, anyway? He had made one ghastly break in that astonishing conversation, of course, but she had goaded him into it. As to the rest of the nonsense—well, what the dickens was the matter with Doily? She knew perfectly well that he wasn’t the sort to start stray flirtations of so serious a character as to warrant all that sarcastic builyragging. In fine, what in blazes did she mean by that sort of talk? Was he, Thomas, a slave or a worm, or something of the kind? The armor rattled restiessly. Later on, as Thomas understood quite well, he would cool down and seek her out and humble himself, he would explain that it was all his own fault and swear that it should never happen again. But he was not m the mood for that sort of stunt at this mo- ment, and it was really just as well that Dorothy had left with the Napoleonic curiosity ! And what about the innocent cause of it all? Thomas’s heart grew quite soft toward her, as he squint8d through the in- adequate slits of his vizor for a sight of the Old-Fashioned Girl in distress. Ah, there she was, and still trying to avoid Steers. And what marked good taste she had, im trying to avoid hm! Becazse if ever a full-blown bounder had escaped lynching at the hands of a too tolerant community, it was that same Horace Steers! One of the few things that Thomas really regretted about the passing of his boyhood was that with it had passed the chance for the periodical argument with Horace, wherein it had been his tender custom to draw the dark, ready blood from Horace’s long and imviting nose. With a loud clank, Thomas rested his . iron hand upon his iron hip-plate and scowled at the affair across the ballroom. Steers was trying to take her arm now, and, even again, the girl was endeavoring to shake him off. Considerable though the distance,, Thomas could see her shrinking visibly and trying to escape; umiless Thomas was decidedly in error, the smail, trimly built girl was downright scared. He drew a long, growling breath. The one useless object on earth is the passive Digitized by Go ogle ies ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. man who stands by and watches, while bet- ter men mix in on the side of right and ser- vice! Thomas nodded his helmet sudden- ly and strode straight through the dancing throng, straight across the room! | CHAPTER XT. THE WAY OUT. OR had his very first step missed the damsel in distress! She seemed to straighten and to take new courage; eyes directly toward him, even though not so much as her chin was visible, Thomas could sense the light of hope upon her doubtless lovely features. He laughed shortly and savagety inside his helmet, and the laugh echoed with a queer, tinny effect: ‘‘Qur dance, I think?” he observed, as he stopped before them with a considerable thud! “ {—-yes!”’ fhattered from behind Mary’s mask. | Horace laughed squarety at the helmet, impudent “I say, old chap—Jack Stoner, isn’t it? —be merciful this time, will your? We've got a wonderful joke here, and if yeu’! just not claim the lady until—” Involuntarily, pleadingly, the lady’s frt- tie hand rested upon Thomas's forearm plate. Inside the helmet the snarl was a pleasant outlet to the knight’s feelings, 2s he rattled closer to zecTece Steers and said flatly: ‘“ Beat it!” 46 Eh?” “ This is a swell social function, but there’s a rough guy inside this portable stove who doesn’t like your face. You let this tady alone, pup, or Ill accidentally knock you down and roll over you!”’ Time and place considered, it was a most remarkable speech. As such it seemed to impress Horace, for he backed away and backed and kept on backing until he cot- lided gently with the wall—yet he did not take his eyes from the pair. The kmght laughed in brutal triumph. “That settles him,” “Now what?” ‘Oh, get me out of here! he observed. Just get me 4A Original froma F| ) C(O) | J) mia) lNOOKS. EO THE OHIO