Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

SOCKOLOGICAL SOCKER DOOLEY. Even as Socker Dooley reverted to his old*self, Arthur gave rein to his natural tendencies. He ducked his head as in the days when “‘ hitting the line” on the grid- iron. Socker saw the charge coming. Set- ting himself, he shot forth an uppercut that carried every ounce of his “ stuff” behind it. It caught the rushing footballer on the side of the chin and whirled him about. But inside the glove of Socker Dooley another story was being unfolded. A tale that had to do with knuckles which had become chalky and powdered under the impact of a hard blow. There entered the true psychology. Both men were themselves, made so by an array of circumstances inspiring certain thought. The one, the trained fighter, the other the young and strong lad whose willingness far exceeded his ability. With a broken knuckle Socker couldn’t follow the advantage of his blow. Arthur recuperated while Phineas almost passed from the picture under pressure of the sud- den turn affairs had taken. ‘‘ Psychological reversion to type—” he began, but his words were lost in the acclaim by which the sudden and unexpected action had been received by the students. For a moment the two men glared at each other, then Arthur began another charge. Socker sidestepped and placed a snappy left to the head. “Why don’t you stand up and fight?” demanded Arthur in bewildered fashion. “Too busy sockin’ yuh ‘ adenoids,’ ” Socker countered, grinning. Once more Arthur rushed in and again Socker danced free from harm after driving another left to the head. Seeing the hopelessness of shis rushes Arthur essayed to spar with Socker. What a travesty! Arthur saw more gloves in a minute than he had ever before counted U lv} watch for “ Totem Signs,” Pierce : 781 and they all centered in a grand rush for his head. He was like a cork buffeted by the seas. In desperation he got in close and folded his arms about the older man. Im- mediately Socker had mental visions oi crushed ribs. As a last resort he slid close to the col- legian and snuggled his thick left shoulder under the youngster’s chin. Suddenly that shoulder shot upward, there was a thud as the jawbone of the student snapped against the upper portion of his head with numbing force. Once more Socker’s instinct and experience told a tale of truth. He felt the body of Arthur sag in his arms. Quickly he stepped free and with every ounce of his strength crashed the left hand to the stagger- ing lad’s face. Fifteen seconds later Arthur viewed anew the mundane world .from which he had slipped. He heard Phineas Martin expostulating: “Tt was a psychological victory in spite of Arthur’s defeat. Under the correct en- vironment the guiding hand of psychology forced each man to drop into the mental rut previously established under stress. It was a psychological victory!” In the showers Socker was the cynosure of admiring eyes. Questions galore were showered upon him by the students even as water gorged him from the spray. With his great body glistening and his eyes shin- ing with a new found faith in the world, he. grinned at the boys. ‘‘ How did you whip him, Socker?” asked several at once. “Well,” vouchsafed Socker thoughtfully, “this Martin insect is hell fer brains an’ he says ut was a ‘sockological’ victory. Dat’s good enough fer me!” And after all, why not? What’s a busted knuckle compared with some hundred and thirty American iron men? Be reasonable. u WEEK an absorbing Complete Novelette by Frank Richardson “Spikes and Six Guns,” a striking baseball story by Harold de Polo; “The F amily Album,” another corking came of John D. Swain’s cleverness, and many other attractions. oO GOMIGIOOkKS=coO