Argosy All-Story Weekly, 4 February 1922 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

436 After he had carefully bedded the ani- mals down for the night, his mind in the “grip of despair, a light of hope suddenly came to.Clem’s eyes. He remembered, joy- ously, that Bonesetter Patten, the man who “was nationally famous for having patched up literally thousands of fighters and ball- players and other athletes, lived in a neigh- boring city that was not more than a scant forty miles away. And Clem had his pay for the two months he had worked intact! Fortunately it was Saturday, and Tyrus Babcock observed his Sabbath as scrupu- lously as a farmer possibly can. Moreover, Clem had never asked for a day off. He did “now, without delay, and added that he ‘might not, perhaps, be back until late Mon- day. As usual, no questions were asked "him, except that his employer generously wanted to know if he needed any cash in advance. Clem didn’t—and he caught the five forty-two the next morning. By four o’clock that same afternoon he had his answer. The wizard-like bone spe- cialist, after having X-rayed and fingered and pulled and smoothed and massaged, de- livered himself thusly: “ Richards,” said the great man, a touch of kindness in his usually stern eyes and voice, “I like clean sports, of every kind, and I saw you carry the champion to a draw. I was sorry when I heard that you’d fallen for the bright lights, for I think the sharps were right when they said you’d eventually get the title. And you will, my boy, if you'll take care of yourself. Phy- sically, I can see that you’re as good as ever, for this wrist isn’t serious. I won’t go into technical details, but several minute bones have been shattered. It needs exactly six months of rest. I mean by that of rest from using it in any way that could be likened to a punch. Even gentle sparring, or practicing with a bag, might permanently injure it. You can go on with your work at the farm, though, for it’s the best thing in the world for you. Do it for six months —and don’t hit even a pillow with your right—and you'll be back at the title-holder. You’ve got the winning punch tucked away in you, boy, and I like to see a clean fighter win. Drop in on me every month—and good luck!” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Clem Richards went back to the farm a happier man than he had ever been in his life. IV. THE next three months to the pugilist were pleasant and very hopeful ones. His wrist was knitting nicely, and, according to Bonesetter Patten, would be as strong as ever when the half year he had at first prescribed was up. The knowledge of this, now, had taken on a new meaning, had giv- en 2 new goal, to Clem. He wanted to get back to where he belonged—at the top of his profession—but he wanted the title and the money that went with it so that he might have the right to ask Alice a certain question. It is true that he felt some trepidation as to what she might say when she learned of his calling, but he realized also that she was the type of girl who would never let that stand in the way if she ever happened to care. Without conceit, he thought that she eventually might. Certainly, whenever she was with him she seemed to like his company, and now that the vacation period was on she saw more of him. Indeed, most Sundays, after church, they took the buggy and the fast mare and went trailing over the country roads. But Clem knew that all was not going well with his employer. It was the worst season of drought known in many years, and most of the crops were doomed to fail- ure. He could not tell how badly it was going to affect the farmer, for Tyrus Bab- cock was a man who did not believe in showing anything but the sunny side. Clem, however, occasionally caught a wor- ried look in the other’s eyes, and more than once he had been on the point of asking for the truth. Through it all he railed at him- self for his own inability to help should the occasion possibly arise. He found out, just before Alice returned to her teaching in September, precisely how matters stood. She was washing and he was drying the dishes, after supper, and she was telling him of her interest in opening new classes and meeting new pupils. Her father presently came into the room. He had been visiting a neighbor for a few min- (e(o) V,OO! CS (E(0) MIG