The day book., April 08, 1914, NOON EDITION, Image 19

About The day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

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ant lives intruded upon by the two
new arrivals. -
Archie Ferguson showed up in
Wadham in his be,st possible trim. He
wore a sporty costume and tight
clothing purposely. This enabled a
full showing of his great shoulders,
his noble chest, his bulging arm mus
cles! The habitues of the hotel where he
and Travers stopped were duly daz
zled by his overpowering appear
ance. Archie thought it clever to
scare underlings. He knocked down
a waiter who spilled some water on
him. He chased down and castigated
a poor peddler who fell against him
on a slippery sidewalk.
In fact Archie enjoyed building up
a dubious reputation as a modern
Hercules, and boastingly indicating
to Travers "thatjie was anxious to
meet a foeman worthy of his steel."
Travers introduced him to his
cousin, then to Miss Swift, and this
brought him in contact with Dick.
They met together each day. Ada
treated Travers as a friend and was
courteous to Archie. Young Jones
was every inch a gentleman, but he
did not warm up to either Travers or
his friend.
There were strained relations un
der the surface and 'Dick began to
understand them. NOnce when Archie
was somewhat heated with wine he
was openly insulting to Dick, but the
latter refused to be provoked, realiz
ing his condition.
"I don't seem able to work that fel
low Jones up to any sense of manly
spirit," observed Archie -one day to
Travers. "I don't like that steady look
in his, eyes and he don't look like a
coward, but why don't he come to
the test?"
"Afraid, of getting mussed up, I
suppose,"replied Travers. "He's got
nerve, though, for he won't flinch
from his position. He's after Ada
and he'3 no mean rival."
It was the second afternoon after
that when Travers came .to the hotel
with aJgloomy, vicious-looking face,
"Say, Archie," he spoke wrathfully,
"I can't stand this much longer!"
"Stand what?" inquired Archie.
"Jones. He's with Ada most of the
time. She treats me friendly enough,
but seems to avoid being with me
alone. I'm afraid that fellow will get
ahead of me, pop the question, and
then my cake will be all dough." I
"You want me to act, I suppose?"
intimated Archie.
"I want that fellow driven out of
the field."
"Or laid up for a spell, so you can
have your chance of courting that
pretty girl?" leered Archie. "All
right, leave it to me."
Just the right opportunity he de
sired arrived for Archie. It was two
mornings later. He and Travers were
walking along the street when Archie
descried Beauty, a pet dog belonging
to Ada, coming down the street iv
advance of Dick, who held the little
animal as a great favorite.
"It's my chance," whispered Archie
to Travers, and as Beauty neared him
he pretended to trip over the dog. He
raised his foot" and gave Beauty a
kick that sent it to the curb. Then
the poor little animal limped away in
pitiable pain.
"You brutal coward!" burst forth
Dick, his blood on fire at the act.
"What's that?" demanded Archie,
advancing upon him with scowling
brows and set teeth.
Now Archie had never engaged in.
a. real fist battle outside of the gym
nasium. He had, however, got to
think himself an expert prize fighter.
He envied Dick because he was a
gentleman; he was glad of the pres
ent circumstance because Miss Swift
had always treated him distantly, in
her clear, womanly way tracing the
coarseness and artificiality beneath'
the surface.
Dick stood his ground. Archie
swung toward him as if afraid his
prey would escape him. He swooped,
as it might be, confident in the su-
Jtle, later he learned the quiet, unpre-?
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