The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

20 dred feet ahead a pair of well-dressed, well-built young men had paused directly in Miss Catterson’s path, had apparently spoken to her. And: now, plainly fright- ened, she was shrinking toward the iron fence! CHAPTER VIII. FURTHER JOURNEYS. OUBTLESS the fury that leaped up in Dr. Jim’s bosom speaks well for his professional enthusiasm and his utter fidelity to the Catterson interests. Doubt- less, had Helen been plain and wholly un- attractive, he would have flushed in just that sudden, savage way and snarled. Certain it is that_he stopped in his tracks for a second and doubled his fists; certain also it is that, as one of the young men laughed aloud—an unpleasant, sig- ‘is ificant laugh!—and spoke again to Miss Catterson, that Dr. Bowen fairly bounced from the payement in his eagerness to join the little party. | Because the girl was badly scared, as he observed on his third bound! She was trying to pass them, now, and the _larger of the men was stepping in front of her, while the more thickset one drew close to her side. And then, just as it seemed that the girl was about to cry for help, Dr. James Bowen arrived! Automatically, his capable fingers closed on the neck of the shorter member and whirled him about, nor was the grip released as Dr. Bowen’s left fist came up beneath his chin. A wild yelp split the Parkway stillness—and the yelper spun around suddenly and then, thither pro- pelled by a powerful, nicely placed kick, sprawled flat upon the sidewalk some twenty feet away! “ That,” said Dr. Bowen, “ for yours!” And in the tiny instant of turning to the larger youth who, squinting in an amazed and distinctly ugly fashion, was on the verge of a leap at Dr. Jim, the practitioner from Hallas caught the girl’s eye. THE ARGOSY. Logically, it should have been dilated with overwhelming terror as she glared about in search of a chance to escape. It was not, nor did Miss Catterson seem to contemplate flight just then. Rather, the eye glowed utter astonish- ment at Dr. Bowen, glinted with some of the light that shines in the eye of the Spanish beauty watching the bull-fight and—Dr. Jim saw no more just then,.be- cause a very vicious swing whistled past his nose and missed it by the smallest fraction of an inch! He stepped back deftly and laughed, for no apparent reason. He stepped for- ward rather more deftly and two hard thuds sounded almost as one, and after that came a third as the misguided young man met the sidewalk on the very spot from which his friend was just crawling. Dr. Bowen grinned at the girl. “Cheap and spectacular, but it had to be done!” he said. “TI think I knocked that last one out!” “No, he—he’s getting up, but he isn’t coming back,” the girl answered, breath- lessly. “Well, I’m right here if he does,” said her shadow. “ Don’t be frightened.” “Tm not,’ Miss Catterson — said. And—” The voice trailed off suddenly, as if the girl had lost track of her thoughts. Dr. Jim, smiling pleasantly after the pair who, cursing him in a judicious under- tone, were moving away uncertainly, con- cluded that the small affair was over, and turned to look at Miss Catterson. She was even more beautiful than he had fancied. Her color had risen visibly even in the light of the arc-lamps; never in his life had he seen such a#perfect chin or such an exquisite little nose; but—her eyes were vague again now! She stared at Dr. Bowen with the same puzzled, distressed expression; her hand wandered to her cheek and stroked it in the same confused way. She was no more fit to be out unaccompanied than a year- old babe would have been, and a new de- cision came abruptly to Dr. Jim. NOOLKS CONMUCE (S@)