Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

THE RADIO BEASTS. “Good!” exclaimed Yuri, clapping his hands. ‘‘ Then we shall have capital fun, for I plan to have you fhght all five of them in the arena day after to-morrow, for the delectation of our sport-loving people. The two sangths will then be up, and the prin- cess has not relented.” * But please, Yuri, do me one little favor,” begged Lilla. ‘‘ Please let Myles shave, and give him a clean toga for the occasion.’’ Cabot smiled. How feminine of her! If her husband had to be a corpse, she at least wished him to be a presentable one. But Yuri was obdurate. ‘‘T am sorry not to be able to do as you wish,” he said, “but I can think of no better way to impress upon my deluded people the fact that this Minorian ts after all merely a lower animal than to let them sce him in his present filthy condition.” ‘Grant me this one favor,” again urged Lilla, ‘‘ and I will try to be a docile slave.” “You had better be,” sneered Yuri, ‘favor or no favor. [else will I throw you tc the Roval Husbands of Queen Formis when I have done with you. I have spoken.”’ Lilla winced. Cabot noted it, and stiffened. ‘* Sic ‘'em,”’ said he, under his breath. There came a flash of purple and the clink of a taut chain, then a thud, as the largest woofus dropped to the ground with iis neck nearly broken. Yuri and Lilla staggered backward affrighted. ‘““T am content,” said Myles to himself. And that night he drilled his pet as never before. The next day was uneventful. Yuri did not appear, but along toward evening, Formian guards came with poles, and led the five purple beasts away to cells under the stadium. And the earth-man was similarly confined. It was hithy, and hot, and circus-smelling in his cell, and accordingly he spent a bad night; but when morning came, he felt un- usually well, buoved up by the excitement of the occasion. Shortly after breakfast, he heard the crowds tramping over his head, as they began to fill the stadium. He knew that his army undoubtedly had word of the “ games,” by means of the 901 black-light signal-telescopes of Toron, and he knew that they would make every ef- fort to reach the city in time to rescue him. But he was not counting on their aid. He hoped, in fact, to have the tables effectually turned on Yuri, long before their arrival. Thus he mused, until finally he was led cut onto the sands. The seats were nearly filled. All the standing-space was crowded with black Formians. The royal box was occupied by Lilla, Yuri and Queen Formis, surrounded by a bodyguard of ants. Cabot walked over to the edge of the arena nearest the box and waved to Lilla. At this @ sporadic cheer arose, which the king suppressed with a wave of his hand. But there remained a tenseness in the air, as though there were many others present who would like to cheer, but dared not. Yuri was plainly annoyed, for it was evi- cent that his victim, wretched and bearded though he was, bad quite a tollowing in the audience. Cabot waved again to Lilla. “ Be of good cheer, my princess,” he called up to her. ‘‘ Mv enemies nave had me nearer to death than this befcre. But ‘vou cannot kill a Minorian.’ ” His supreme confidence reassured Lilla somewhat, and for a moment even Yuri's brow darkened with uncertainty. But then the king smiled quizzicallvy, as one who knows a very amusing secret. At last the stancs were full. Yuri arose, end spcke into the self-same broadcaster which the present victim, before his down- fall, had rigged up for the use of the vener- able King Kew. * People of Cupia.” said he, ‘‘ behold Cabot the Minorian, the beast from another world. Long has he deceived vou by Gis- cuising himself as a Cupian being; but now he stands before you in his true nature: hairv-faced, long-locked, filthy and bestial. It is he who brought war upon this peace- ful planet. For that crime he is to die, to be torn to pieces by other creatures no lower than he. And, with his well-deserved ceath, peace and tranquillity will retum upon Poros. Let his punishment be a les- con to those misguided Cupians to whom he has taught the art of war. I have spoken.” GIOok