Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

246 feet, but Guyon relied nimbly out of the way, and sprang to his feet like a cat. ‘You cur!” he gasped. now!” Guyon, who hated to fight, fought like a madman, blind, deaf, self-regardiess. In the beginning all the advantage was with him. His crazy rushes and lightninglike blows confused the heavier man. Sutliffe had put Guyon down in his mind as a milk sop, consequently @ painful mental readjust- ment was required. Sutliffe stopped Guyon with a dozen blows, any one of which ought to have given him his fill. But Guyon, with bloody and disfigured face, came back each time for more. All experienced fighters in- stinctively pause to rest themselves and: pick their openings. But as fast as Guyen was - knocked down he flung himself back on Sut- liffe’s fists. Sutliffe began to feel as if he had a mad dog on his hands. But while Guyon kept Sutliffe worried he had no chance of being able to finish him. There was not enough steam behind his blows. When Sutliffe discovered this the tide changed. He took his punishment un- cisturbed, while he waited his chance to land a finishing blow. A spot just off the point of Guyon’s lean jaw was his mark. Hatf a dozen times he drove for it and missed. In the end Guyon, having missed him, swayed uncertainly on his. stippery foeting, and Sutliffe got his chance. There was a crack; Guyon went down and lay still. Sutliffe, working the fingers of his bruised hand, leeked dewn at him coen- temptuously. He wasn’t even worth kick- ing. Knocked out clean. The fog had thinned a little. There came a light rushing sound down the slope of grass, and suddenly Diantha stood beside Sutliffe.- She was enveloped in a long fur coat, her satin slippers were muddy, her hair hastily twisted up. Sutliffe started back; he was not, however, so much sur- prised as he seemed. Had he not given her the location of the rendezvous? It was not exactly displeasing to be discovered in the réle of the conquering hero, his rival at his feet. He put on a modest air. Diantha looked at Guyon and said in a terrified voice: ‘“‘ Have you killed him?” “‘ Not quite,” said Sutliffe, smiling. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ‘“ Are you sure?” ‘“ Hear him breathe.” “I know you ¢ It was true Guyon’s stertorous breathing was quite audible. Diantha’s strained: face relaxed. Then she frowned at Sutliffe. “You savage!’ she said. No man minds such an epithet under the circumstances. ‘He wen’t insult you again,” Sutliffe said complacently. “Was it necessary to half kil! him?” “He was trying his damnedest to do # to me.” | “You're bigger.” Sutliffe shrugged. “I wish for your sake it had been a harder job.” “Oh, you're mistaken if you think |} pride myself on this,” she said quickly. “TI acted like a fool last night!” She leaned over Guyon, but not very close. “Poor fellow!” she murmured compas~ sionately. Sutliffe turned sore. ‘¢ Oh, it’s him you’re sorry for!” She shook her head and turned from Guyon. “ He’s hurt. He’s the underdog. I can’t hetp it. What are you going to do now?” | “ ‘Fake you home.” “You can’t leave him lying here! might die of exposure!” Sutliffe laughed. “'You’re not used to knockouts. He'll be all right in a minute.” However, it occurred to Sutliffe that if anybody else found Guyon and the story came out it would be awkward. ‘* How did you get here?” he asked. “ A taxi,” she said. “It’s waiting in the drive across the bridge. I couldn’t sleep a wink. When it began to get light I couldn’t stay still. The deorman gat me the cab. I he thinks I’m crazy. And the chauffeur also, when I told him to wait there, and ran across the bridge like a crazy woman. When I got on this side I could hear you stamping and punching each other—”’ ‘You could hear us?” said Sutliffe, seowt- ing. ‘‘ Was there anybody around?” 6 No.”’ Sutliffe looked about him, nervously seek- ing to peer through the mist. | comiclbooolx C©