Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

SOCKOLOGICAL SOCKER DOOLEY. operated one lathe for months is not as efficient if transferred to another lathe of exactly the same make. We see, too, that even the same lathe moved to other sur- roundings impairs the operator’s efficiency until he shall have become acclimated to the new location. This is obviously psychological. “Now, I am going to attempt a demon- stration of the power of psychology to dis- rupt even a well established train of thought. I am going to show you a man with a per- fect physique, suddenly rendered helpless before the attack of a much weaker man who knows nothing of physical Combat. And I am going to ask that you bear in mind that the stronger man is also.a fighter, trained to the art. A man who has achieved great fame in the prize ring and who, ex- cept for psychology, would destroy the weaker man as a cat devours a mouse.” In very orderly though deeply enthusias- tic interest the students left the class room and repaired to the college gymnasium. There they ranged against walls and awaited the appearance of the central figures in fhe test to be enacted. If there was to be anything in the line of a fight they wanted to be at the ringside. The professor disappeared into an ante- room and returned leading ene of the stu- dents dressed in boxing trunks. “You all know Arthur Kapps,” he an- nounced confidently. ‘‘ Arthur has been a great football player on the varsity eleven for two seasons and has won glory for our alma mater. You also know that Arthur knows nothing of the art of prize fighting. ‘““ Because he has no fear he has agreed to serve in the coming test. He will be pitted against a man who knows nothing but prize fighting! He is Mr. Dooley, once champion. His name is famous indeed among those who know that sort of thing. While unknown to you, of course, he is really celebrated in his world.” “Hooray for Socker,” chimed a voice in the rear and several of the students laughed knowingly. _ “Let it be understood that this Dooley man knows nothing of the test to be made. I have merely requested him to come here for an exhibition against one of the college Socker - wy! 19 -boys for which I am paying him one hun- dred dollars. -Please attach due thought to the exhibition. ‘““As Mr. Dooley enters the room I am going to have several of the students as- sembled in gymnasium togs. Among them will be Arthur. In a very casual manner it will be arranged that Dooley will see Arthur apparently teaching the others gym- nastics. He will perform several feats of strength which will have been arranged in advance and the psychological effect upon Mr. Dooley will be such as to make him fight defensively thus shattering his own attack. You will see a great body fettered by a small mind, the mind being shackled by psychological direction.” Several students entered and gathered about various apparatus. Socker was in- vited into the room and strutted before the students as he used to strut before the fans. He was asked to wait until the present class in gymnastics finished. He watched the Arthur person as he went from student to student. He saw him step up to the lad at the punching bag; saw him draw back and strike the bag non- chalantly. Then he saw the bag burst under the impact of the blow! Smiling tolerantly Arthur* proceeded to a set of parallel bars. With the same sang froid he leaned across one bar, seized the other in his two hands and pulled the two together until the stout ashen bar broke with a loud snap. ‘Wat de hell is he, a elephant!” grunted Socker. “Will you see if you can fix this rope, Mr. Kapps?” called a lad at a wall pulley. “It is badly tangled and won’t run through the sheave.” Socker saw Kapps walk to the machine, take the heavy window cord in his hand and examine it, heard him say: “It is badly tangled. We need a new one.” “ Pil get a knife.” The lad started away to get a knife with which to saw the rope in two. No one knew better than Socker the strength of such cord as that. “ Oh, never mind,” smiled Kapps, “ guess IT can bust it!” He wound the rope about his hands and Socker grinned expectantly. CoOMMicooOokKs (S@)