Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

PRIDE OF TYSON. when a knock came on it, and he opened upon Kennedy, the gambler. The big, lean fellow nodded casually in answer to Tyson’s greeting, and then dropped into a chair, slowly. He surveyed his host with a calm eye while he produced and lighted a cigarette. It was not until he had flicked his own match away that he noticed Tyson. ‘“* Smoke?” ‘“‘ Thanks!” He accepted the cigarette, lighted it, and drew a long breath deeply into his lungs. It threw him into the pleasant haze of nico- tine. Into this daze broke the measured voice of the gambler. “ Got a little thing to talk over with you, partner. Won’t take long. Just this; I fell for your play this evening with the girl, It was a pretty piece of work. It was like filling to a pair. But ”—he leaned over, smiling, and resting a hand on his knee—“ don’t knife in there again. Get me?” . ‘““T don’t follow that,” muttered Tyson. In fact, the words were meaningless sounds to him. The gambler smiled again. He was per- fectly tolerant and apparently good natured about it. ~ : “Listen!” he drawled. ‘ Don’t kid me like this. When I seen your hands I knew you was one of us. East or West, Bud, the profession ain’t much different. Are you wise?”’ Tyson looked vaguely down at his pale, agile hands. | “T’m West,” went on the gambler, “ but it don’t foller that I’m green goods. Take the tip from me, parner. That girl is mine. I got her corraled, roped, tied, and branded —almost. Just ease away from her—that’s all!” The smoke from Tyson’s cigarette curled idly up to the ceiling, his thoughts tangled mazily with the many folded wraith. “Well?” This came snapping sharply from Kennedy. ‘What do you want me to say?” ‘That you'll keep hands off!” It came to Tyson that it might be ex- ceedingly dangerous to irritate this man. Yet he enjoyed courting that danger. 237 “TY gather,” he murmured, “that you have a corner on Rona?” “ Right.” “ Kennedy,” said Tyson, “ you’re a bold man.” - The gambler waited, like one who is slow to anger. ‘“‘‘You’re a bold man,” repeated the East- erner. “ I’d as soon try to get a corner on the wind or the blue sky as to monopolize that girl.” | ; “What you’d do,” said Kennedy, slowly feeling his way into the argument, “ ain’t to the point. What I’ve already done is the thing that counts. M’ frien’, that girl is going to be my wife.” | ._ He did not say it exultantly, but merely as one who advances a decisive argument. Then he leaned back and smiled once more upon his host. “You ain’t the first,” he went on, to let the other find a graceful way of retreat, “that’s seen Rona and liked her and tried his hand.’ But they all found out damned quick that they was playin’ a measly pair of deuces ag’in’ a royal flush. D?’you foller me, partner?” Certainly nothing could be plainer, and Tyson realized with a pang that his interest in the girl was hopeless. That very fact made him for the first time ask himself how great that interest could be? For an- swer, he felt a sullen anger rise in him. It irritated him past words that this fellow should be so sure. Moreover, his eyes dwelt, fascinated upon the bright yellow. and black necktie of the gambler. He had promised Rona that he would be wearing that bit of silk the very next time he met her. He managed to smile in return to his com- panion. He said: “ Has it ever occurred to you, my dear fellow, that a game isn’t won until the last hand is played?” The other frowned. But he refused to be angered. His self-content was as limit- less as the ocean. | ““Now just what d’you mean by that lead?” “Why,” said Tyson, “‘ does Rona like El Toro?” “He tells her queer yarns.” Co NOOK C@