Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

148 almost belly to belly. They now made no effort to duck or guard, counting it so much lost motion; no effort to dodge, only to strike. But they hammered away, fight- ing on without rest, time or referee, breath- ing hoarsely, swinging as if lifting weights. It was a fight to the finish, but they were too nearly matched, too full of iron bones and sinewy muscles and the unyielding heart for either to give up before he was down and out. The spirit was willing, but the muscles were exhausted; and slugging on and on wore down their strength until at last they leaned against each other for support and listlessly prodded their sides with blows that wouldn’t have mashed a fly. “Fight it out, boys. Go on, fight it out! Don’t be quitters—fight it out!” yelled George. ‘‘Don’t show yellow. Fight it out!” They couldn’t fight, but neither would quit. Between them there were three blackened and one blinded eye, a swollen mouth, a pair of puffed ears each, and patches on each cheek that would by dawn be black and purplish. At last they stood motionless, pushing weakly, heads. loosened, mouths open, arms hanging, but their eyes still full of challenge. “Well, you’ve had enough,” said the proprietor of the Rest Easy as he pushed them apart. “But it was a pretty good fight in spots.”’ “The drinks are on me—everybody drinks. The drinks are on me!” cried George importantly as he bustled forward to pat the fighters on the back and lead them to the bar. ‘Everybody drinks— I’m buying!” But Buck drew back with a sullen glow in his one good eye. “Count me out,” he said, crouching his head on his short neck and giving George a glare that weakened his knees. ‘1 buy my own and drink with good men, not with a bunch of potbellied barflies like you and this crowd of bums that’s grinned to see better men than they ever were take a beating!” ‘Here, what’s this—what’s this!’’ shout- ed the proprietor of the Rest Easy, who had seen the size of the slummers’ rolls and knew that they were in a mood for spending. ‘‘Where do you get that stuff?” He gripped his bungstarter and glared. Adventure But Buck looked as if in the short breathing space he might have recovered enough for at least one more good wallop. Then Webster muttered, “I’m with you mate,”’ and shifted about a bit, his knotted fists dangling as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Buck. ‘I’m with you if you want to clean this dump!” “Well,” roared the proprietor of the Rest Easy, who was his own bouncer and had great faith in the bungstarter, “if you bums feel that way about it, get out of my place. Get out! What do you mean any- how, making a roughhouse in here. Get out!” “Get out, !’? roared a third voice, and Frank, who had been resting a long time, came to the front with a pair of fists hanging low. The Duke quietly appeared beside Webster and his dark eyes fastened on the face of George. And ’Arry Coy, a heavy mug in each hand, took up a strategic position on the proprietor’ s flank. “We drink, and we drink here, andl I pay for it!” ‘said Webster as well as he could, speaking between puffed lips. “We drinks ’ere we does!” repeated “Arty Coy. The proprietor plead around, saw ‘the strategic position, took a look at the beer mugs. Then he quietly stuck. his’ bung- starter under a fold of ae white apron and smiled cheerily: | : “That’s all right. No hard feeling, boys. The drinks are on the house.” A pleased buzzing went up from the hangers-on, and oc suddenly as Buck said: “No, not for me. I’m no bum and I don’t drink with bums!” The Duke took a step aside and with an air of firm politeness said to George: “T suggest that you and your friends use the back door—it’s the nearest!’ . George, good spender that he was, always self-sure of a welcome in any company, gave an astounded pop-eyed glare; then, offended: “Well, if you feel that way “T feel just that way,” said the Duke quietly, with a glow in his eyes that gave the three well-fed men a chilly sensation. They turned huffily and walked out, but through the front door, thereby soothing their pride, and feeling valiant. cComicbooks.c© inn