The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 2 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

LADIES DON’T COUNT. That was a joke, considering what he had done at the doorway a minute or two before. “Tt’s to Flansburg!’’ Red continued. “That means all them fellers from Dod- der’s camp ‘Il be there, and some ‘Il be down from Morehouseville, an’ Grant, an’ Ohio, an’ Northwood. “They always have a good time to Flansburg. I never been there yet I didn’t find somebody needed lickin’ and wasn’t afraid to take it!” ‘“ Bill Bright’s going to be floor-man- ager,” Jim Bigger, the foreman, remarked slyly. ‘“‘ Course there won’t be anybody ‘lowed to fight on the floor.” “What!” Red Hamblin exclaimed, turning in sheer amazement. “‘ You mean to say they won’t let me fight where I wants to?” _ “Well, you know Bright!” his head doubtfully. : “ Why—why, I could lick Bill Bright more times than he’s got fingers an’ toes. Why, I’ve licked lots of fellers by the name of Bright! They’ve always set themselves up as fighters, an’ I’m the boy that’s always took them down.” “Oh, well, of course, the boys won’t let more than one tackle you at a time,” Jim nodded. ‘“ Probably you'll come out all right anyhow. Bill Bright never mis- uses anybody.” “Misuse anybody!” shouted Red. “You s’pose I’d let him misuse me?” ‘““Oh, I was just sayin’ Bill don’t get excited none.” “Why, dad-blast it, Jim, I could lick the whole dad-blanged Bright family every day ’n the week! Oh— You—” There was a yell of laughter as Red turned away in disgust. Jim Bigger was the greatest josher any of them had ever heard, and there he had been joshing Red Hamblin, and Red hadn’t discovered it till too late. “You'll see!” Red declared. “TI ain’t got nothin’ against Bill Bright, but you know what ’d happen if he got to playin’ smarty with me!” ec That’s so”? Jim shook 277 “Supper!” shouted the cook, and all hands filed in to the serious pleasure of the day-end. . There was only sixteen inches of snow on the ground, and it was all frozen up when New Year’s Eve came around. The crust would hold any one, and so most,of the crew cut across by Maple Ridge to Flansburg for the dance. Red Hamblin led the way through the timber. They came out behind the big hotel, arriving just as the music began to blare for the second set. Hearing the enticing strains, Red be- gan to dance and prance upon the snow- crust. Playfully he tripped up two of the boys at once. Amid howls of laugh- ter the two went slipping and clawing down the steep bank behind the hotel. The yells brought people out on the front porch and to the windows. — ‘““Tt’s those Black Creek loggers!” the watchers exclaimed in nervous whispers. ‘“ They’re acting awful to-night!” ‘Oh, they’re good fellows—never dis- turb anybody but themselves,” a man of experience remarked, adding as a precau- tionary hedge, “‘ unless somebody disturbs them!”’ The loggers swarmed up on the porch and went immediately to the barroom. After a drink around the party from the camp broke up into congenial groups, the younger men scurrying away in search of dancing-partners, the elder men remain- ing close to the barroom, and the men in their prime, like Red Hamblin, lounging around with keen eyes to what was going on, who were there, and who were staying away. ‘“Did you notice Bill Bright’s got a white cdllar on to-night?” asked Jim Big- ger of Red Hamblin after a while, speak- ing in a most casual tone of voice. “He has?” Red snorted. spose has got into him?” ‘“Oh, nobody ever makes any trouble for Bill now,” Jim said. dances he’s floor-managed there hasn’t been any trouble on the floor at all, COMMICLMOOOKS “What you | “The last three (C@