Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

PRIDE OF TYSON. you, Tyson, and I want—” The pale face before him, and the ironical smile, stopped him. ‘‘ What’s the matter?” He began walking forward again. ‘Listen to me, Tyson—”’ ‘“‘ Stay where you are,” warned Tyson. “JT find it difficult already to breathe this air. It seems to be tainted, Mr. Garth.” A sharp fear turned the big man gray. “You’ve seen Margaret, and she has changed her mind?”’ “You need have no fear about her just yet,” answered the other. “ She’s still wor- shiping an idol I helped set up for her. Before long she’ll see the clay knees and scrape off the rest of the gilt.” ‘‘'You can’t anger me, Tyson. I know that I have done you a rather shabby turn in bringing you out here with a double pur- pose. But I’ve confessed everything to Margaret, and she’s absolved me. Don’t you see, Tyson, that in my peculiar posi- tion I had to resort to untsual means?” Mrs, Garth made no further pretense of sewing. Her eyes flicked from face to face; hope and despair. - ‘“‘T think,” said Tyson evenly, “ that I understand you perfectly.” “Don’t talk like that, man! Forget broken bones. I'll spend my life trying to make it up to you, if that’s any good. Good God, Tyson, every man in the world has metal in him that will tarnish—and may be burnished again.” “‘ Except. gold,”’ answered the other. “Tyson, don’t tempt me too far!” “Tempt you? - You cur!” “You’ve said something that requires retraction.” ; “To a man of honor retractions cannot remove stains.” “Tyson, I’m in my own house.” _ Mrs. Garth was pale as a lichen, but she did not flinch. She raised her head like an ancient war-horse who hears the trumpet. And her giant son went on, grinding his teeth to keep himself in hand: “ Call up an old saying, Tyson: all’s fair in love. I had to do what I did. And I'l prove that I’m right by making Margaret happy the rest of her life.” ‘IT suppose you're right,” said Tyson calmly. “ All’s fair in love—and in war. 619 I came out here and kept my head in the clouds for a while, but now I’ll get it back to the earth with a vengeance. Garth, you used me as a leverage to pry your way into my sister’s heart. Now, by fair means or by foul, I’m going to smash you—smash you!” “You have a free hand,” said Garth. He balanced himsetf with his feet spread far apart. “Smash me?” He laughed harshly. ‘“ Tyson, unless you're a fool, you'll see what I am out here, and see yourself in comparison. Look there! ‘Can you undo that?” : And he pointed through the window at the looming dam. “Who . knows?” murmured Tyson. ‘““Who knows, Garth? I’ve seen stranger things done. I suppose I look like a pig- my, Garth, in your eyes, but give me a few days to try myself out.” | ‘““As much as you want,’ sneered Garth. “Tyson, before you go too far, I offer you my hand.. make Margaret happy, and be a member of your family you'll be proud of. Tyson, I swear it on my honor.” “Your honor?” “Damn you! I tell you frankly, Ty- son, I’ve never liked you very well. There’s always been a distance between us.”’ “Thank God for that!” “‘There’s always been this devil in you that shows now. And now I say: no mat- ter how I’ve won Margaret, I’m going to keep her. If I’ve used a trick, I'll cover that trick with honest gold. Anyway, she’s mine. I’ve fought for her, heart and soul, and to the victor belongs the spoils.” _ It was a moment before Tyson could an- swer. He was shuddering like a branch in a windstorm, and his face was terrible. “ A very good maxim, Garth. To the victor belongs the spoils, and the battle is not over.” He raised a forefinger and pointed his words: “‘ Mark me, now. The contract be- tween us is broken. From now on I’m ex- isting simply to smash you, Garth. Watch yourself! Once a crook always a crook. And I int*nd to show Margaret an intimate view of your heart.” HE OHIO STATE UGOMME GE OOO Ill forget the things you’ve - ‘said. And T’ll spend my life trying to