Argosy All-Story Weekly, July 1, 1922 — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

THE FISF IN PACIFIST. because he positively refused to use the straight-arm or to try to put his opponents out every time he tackled, he was nof re- garded as a possibility for the varsity team. The stoicism with which he endured punish- ment from others, and a habit of never losing his head, made him a fine punching bag, however, and he had played for two years on the scrub, of which he was now captain. Homely, awkward, loyal and clean, he was one of the best loved men in Kingston, and his election to Sarcophagus pleased everybody. For Rogers, a peculiarly ebnoxious test was invented, a test which was of course based upon what was considered to be his one weakness. It chanced that Battling Riley, the Amer- ican middleweight champion, was scheduled the following week to meet a rugged New England fighter at Kingston in a ten-round, no decision go. Both because the champion was always a drawing card, and because Bimbo Dunn had been born in the city of Kingston, the bout was certain to be the big professional event of the year. Since no decisions were permitted by the State Commission, interest centered entirely in the Bimbo’s chance of lasting out the ten rounds. The betting was two to one that Riley would put him away; and the local man’s followers were staking much money on the short end. For several days after he had been slapped Pax received no instructions. It was not until his two fellow candidates had failed to qualify that a secret emissary of Sarcophagus visited him in his room im old North Middle and confided to him the pleasing ordeal which, lest it come to the ears of Battling Riley, was not made public. Pax was commanded to enter the lobby of the Kingston Arms, the leading hotel at which Riley’s manager had engaged the Presidential suite, and at an hour when the place was certain to be thronged with fans from both town and gown, was to ap- proach the champion face to face and re- mark in clear, ringing tones: ‘“ Riley, you big hunk of cheese, you’ve got a streak of yellow as wide as the campus!”’ Nothing more. After that Rogers’s time 865 was his own, his little stunt accomplished. As Riley was known to be a particularly pompous, hot-tempered character, it was felt that a good time would be had by all. All, that is, but Pax! A committee representing Sarcophagus would be present to see that their simple in- structions were carried out; after which whatever might remain of Pax Rogers would also be carried out, the mystic rites per- formed over him, and he would be entitled to wear the little gold and black coffin which is rated by Kingston as a little higher than the V. C. or the D. S. M., and in comparably above all such trivial emblems as linked chains, squares and compasses, or the effigies of antlered beasts. The peaceful one listened gravely and without comment to the utterances of the secret emissary. Such is the traditional eti- quette of the occasion. When he had for- mally bowed him out, and, seated alone at his study table, gave the matter his prayer- ful thought, his first impulse was to renig. But his first thought was neither his last, nor his best. For reasons peculiar to him- self, he was very greatly desirous of mak- ing Sarcophagus. It was a dazzling climax coveted by all true Kingstonians; but to Pax it meant compensation for much that he had missed. _ Certain extra-curriculum activities were barred to him because of poverty. He could not bedeck himself in the glad scenery beguilefully set forth in the windows of the college haberdashers. He was unable to as- sume the staggering expense of seeing his girl through the gorgeous junior prom and its attendant festivities; and he suffered more over her disappointment than his own. Beeause of it he had not even gone stag. ‘Fhere were, in éach year, other deprivations imposed upon him by a lean wallet; other sides of college life which he could never look back upon in riper years. Election to the haughtiest of the senior societies would go far to assuage his little griefs. The fact that neither of the men slapped with him had qualified, that both had balked at the barrier, was an added incen- tive. Pride beckoned him on. After all— why not? He was under no obligation to sacrifice his principles. He would not be comicloool C©