Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

The Blond Spiders 9 to be, saying apropos of Plessons’ remark: “T think Plessons is right, Alick. Any- way he knows——”’ “Bugs on the dood stuff, ain’t yer, Tony?” butted in Sawyer again. “Quit it,’’ said Bodiker to him sharply. “‘What’s eatin’ youse?” growled Sawyer, glaring at him. “Now that’ll be all, Dutchy,” snapped Bodiker angrily, laying his fingers on the man’s arm. “Lay off me, yer ——!”’ snarled Sawyer, jerking Bodiker’s hand away. The glare in the man’s eyes was that of a killer, and Tony remarked in the moon- light that Bodiker’s face went the color of pale-green blotting paper; he knew that his man was getting out of hand; mad drunk. Tony rose languidly, saying as if he had noticed nothing unusual: “Well, guess I’ll hit the hay. Good “ “No, yer don’t! Sit down, you four- flusher!”’ Tony went white this time, and his lips were trembling; but he controlled himself and finished quietly— “Good night, fellows!’’ “Yah!” yelled Sawyer like a Comanche war-whoop. “He’s a low-down yeller belly! givin’ yer the low down. Huh! Youse and dat nigger fixin’ a frame-up to double-cross us on the di’monds and do the dirty on yer part——”’ “Quit it, Dutchy, you fool bonehead!”’ exclaimed Bodiker angrily. “Don’t Dutchy me, yer him I’m after! I’1I——” Tony stopped, looking back, trembling from head to foot. As Bodiker, pallid of face, jumped to his feet, nervously putting out his hands, Sawyer gave a swift short- arm jolt and Bodiker went backward over the chair. Streaming obscene abuse, Sawyer charged head half down, upsetting the table in his passage. Tony’s jaw set, and the trembling left his limbs. He knew the man was murder- mad for some incomprehensible reason. Waiting, cold as marble now, until he was within striking distance, Tony dodged a wild swing and drove with his left. Plunging sidewise, Sawyer went to earth and came up instantly, spluttering oaths. Tony danced backward, maneuvering to get the moon behind him. crook! It’s Think we ain’t wise to youse? I’m — The blow had sobered Sawyer, but had left him nonetheless murderous. ‘Tony knew that in weight and power of taking punishment he hadn’t a chance. His advantages were a slightly longer reach and speed; and of the latter he must make the most, for one full punch with that freight wagon behind it and As he expected, Sawyer rushed, swinging wicked punches, contemptuously leaving himself wide open. Tony got home on the solar plexus and the ear, received a bad jolt on the heart and just avoided a clinch. “Keep him orf! Don’t let ’im clinch!’ he heard Plessons shouting, and, fearful that the guide was about to interfere, Tony yelled for him to keep out. Sawyer came again. Tony dodged a hefty swing for the jaw and took it on the left shoulder. The blow swung him half around. Fortunately Sawyer was_ too clumsy to seize the advantage, and Tony as he came about smashed two full punches behind the ear and on the jaw which visibly rocked his man. Then his game leg hindered his footwork. He was a fraction of a second late in break- ing away; and Sawyer, plating a vicious corkscrew punch on the kidneys, grabbed him by the shirt, kicking his legs from un- der him. In a flash Tony realized what kind of a scrapper he was up against; but he hadn’t learned trench fighting for nothing. He felt one powerful hand clutch his throat and the thumb of the other seeking his eyes. Seizing Sawyer’s free hand he put out all his strength to force the wrist back over the man’s neck into an armlock and brought up his knee at the same time, registering a grunt and a relaxation of the grip otrhis throat. Still Sawyer’s thumb and fingers were boring into his windpipe; the blood was roaring in his ears. Dragging desperately at the wrist, he used his knee again and again with effect, and succeeded, aided by each momentary slackening of resistance, in forcing the elbow over the nape of the neck. Just as it seemed as if his lungs were bursting and his senses going he heard a hoarse shriek and the grip on his throat ceased as Sawyer threw his body sidewise to save his arm. Sobbing for breath and half blind, Tony struggled to his feet, expecting a crashing CoMmicbool< ) © 5}