Avon Fantasy Reader No. 9 — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

“Well, I want to know more about it before I let Charley join, anyway,” she said firmly. But Uncle Joe, for once stood up to her. “Now, Martha—boys’ clubs are secret. Can’t expect ’em to tell you about what goes on. Leave the kids alone.” “Weil, I can trust Charley,” said Aunt Martha, fondly, giving in at last. “I know Mother’s little man wouldn’t belong to any club that wasn’t nice.” Charley smiled, as unpleasant a smile as Henry ever remembered seeing, even on Charley’s face, and replied in a sick-sweet voice, “Yes, Mamma dear.” They rose from the table, and Charley grabbed Henry by the arm and pulled him outdoors, into the spring night. “Hurry up!” he said, feverishly. “If ya didn’t mean it, ’'m gonna tell every- body the whole thing. Didja mean it, really? Have I got a kingdom of my own in Draconia? What’s its name? Where is it? How big—” | Henry was Kirwan. “Quiet!” he said. “My lords and I meet in conference tonight. You will be inducted into our company as Duke of Thorvia. As is our custom, you may choose your own name by which you will henceforth be known to us in Draconia. Be ready at midnight.” Shaking his arm loose from the fat, wet grasp of his newest Duke, King Kirwan limped away down the street. oe At a quarter to twelve, Kirwan, King of Draconia, sat in the palace in the heart of Draco, his principal city, surrounded by his liege lords, the Prince Fiero of Maglar, Prince Andrus of Ghuria, Prince Horvath of Balcur, and Duke Shira of Friya. All of them looked troubled; Fiero and Shira downright furious. “Kirwan,” spoke up Fiero. “I crave leave to speak.” “Speak,” said Kirwan, not looking up. “T like not this new dukedom. It bounds Maglar all along my northeastern border, and this new Duke is a trouble-maker.” “And a slimy louse,” said Duke Shira, fervently. “As the only other Duke _ of this company, one who has not yet attained his Prince-ship, I respectfully plead, O Kirwan, that you make him less than a Duke. I would not be akin to him even in title.” Kirwan looked up, finally. It was noticeable that-his eyes blazed with ex- _citement, mingled with a look of uncertainty. “Am I not your liege lord,” he said, though not angrily. “And do you not trust me?” “We trust you, Kirwan,” said dark-eyed Horvath, who had not spoken be- fore. “But we know thisa new Duke is trouble-maker. We can control heem in Draconia, yes—but outside?” : For a moment, Kirwan hesitated; then he spoke slowly and hesitantly. “TI think—I think I can control him outside, as well. I have a plan—” The new Duke of Thorvia, Edric by name, was proving a trouble-maker. And Kirwan’s liege lords, who had expected this, but believed that Kirwan could handle it, were becoming mutinous. First, Edric had shown a tendency to ridicule the whole secret life of Draconia; but after a couple of weeks, he 113 comicbooks.c@