Adventure, December 1914 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

116 Not only the question, but the air of ge- niality with which it was asked, seemed to take the other by surprise. The tone in which he answered was one of concentrated scorn. “My fighting weight? What are you playing at? Never you mind what my weight is. I suppose you’re seven inches taller than me, my lad, but I could kill you inside three minutes. So none of your airs with me; you turn your pockets out on that table.”’ “T think,” replied Mr. Adair mildly, “‘that I should like you to kill me first. The exer- cise might do me good.” “Exercise!” Some _ ill-sounding words came from the stranger’s ugly mouth. “T’ll give you exercise. I’m no man what you can do with as you please—don’t you make any mistake about that. I’ll darned soon show you!” He clenched his fists. IN RATHER less than a quarter of an hour afterward Mr. Adair stroll- ed down the stone staircase into the court without. In the doorway he was stopped by an undersized individual of dubious appearance. “‘Where’s my mate?” he inquired. “Your mate?” Adair regarded him ge- nially. “I wonder if that’s the gentleman I left upstairs.” ‘‘What’s he doing upstairs?”’ “That’s what I rather want to know. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind stepping up- stairs to give me the benefit of your opinion. This way.”’ Mr. Adair went first; the other followed. He seemed to be in a state of some mental uncertainty as he ascended; a remark he made showed it. “This ain’t nothing you’re playing off on me, governor? It ain’t safe to play with me.”’ “T shouldn’t think it was.”’ They had reached the landing outside Mr. Creed’s chambers. “This is where I left your mate. Step inside. Don’t be afraid—my intentions are perfectly honest.” The undersized person evinced a decided reluctance to accept Mr. Adair’s invitation. “YT don’t doubt what you say, but if it’s all the same to you perhaps you wouldn’t mind going in first.” “Don’t be an idiot! After you.” Before he appeared to know it the stran- Adventure ger found himself inside the room. He was obviously startled. ‘“‘Here!”’ he exclaimed, a little late in the day. ‘Don’t you lay your hands on me!’’ “Ts that your mate?” Mr Adair pointed to a figure which lay prone on the floor. The other stared at this figure amazed. ‘“‘Why, what’s happened? What’s come to him?” ‘He and I have been having a little argu- ment. He started out to kill me and— now I’m wondering if I’ve killed him.”’ The stranger regarded Adair as if he had said something incredible. “You’ve had an argument with him? What—with the Maulere Do you mean you’ve been having a go at him with the knuckles? And you’ve outed hime Why there ain’t half a dozen men in London who could live with him through a couple of rounds, especially with the bare ones.” ‘‘He had some pretty ideas on the subject of how to use them, as I found. I caught him on the point of the chin and down he went—and there he stopped. The question is, hadn’t you better fetch a doctor? He mayn’t be dead.”’ ‘“‘Dead! What, the Mauler dead? Go on!” The speaker, kneeling, addressed himself to the recumbent figure. ‘‘Mauler! Here, Sam! What, a bloke like him? Don’t say it, Sam.” | For some seconds Sam said nothing. The man kneeling at his side, taking him by the right shoulder, began to shake him. As if the movement had roused him from sleep, all at once Sam’s body twitched. He seemed to be making an effort to stretch himself. He muttered in guttural tones — ‘“‘Here, what’s the gamep”’ Mr. Adair, looking down at him, smiled. “Tt appears,’ he observed, “that Sam isn’t dead.” . CHAPTER IV IN SEARCH OF ROOMS ARTIN ADAIR resided in what was called a bed-sitting-room, in a street leading off Drury Lane. Having clothed himself in garments better suited to his new station, and well-fitting, Mr. Adair proceeded to provide himself with more ap- propriate quarters. He had a conference on the subject with Mr. Foster. cComuiclboool Don’t say he’s done you in! (C©@