The Washington times., 1934-12-04

a burst OF applause from Cne
room. Another ball, and then
a third-each demolished in the
same fashion, and each followed
by a crescendo Of approving
shouts. William Tell was going
famously.
Amid the cheers and laughter
that followed, Sari returned to
his table, and suddenly Lowell'S
eyes caught sight Of him. Had
one looked closely, he might
have seen that for a fleeting Sec
ond the mans eyes hardened to
points of steel.
But all unconscious of those
following eyes, Sari sat COM
fortably back and lighted an
other cigarette. II just phoned
Solon Lowell that his son was
making a public ass of him.
self" He leaned forward. Nov
we're set. In few minutes I'll
take you over and join their
party" His smile was as one
we'll satisfied. "Considering
your charming nature, that will
be the easiest way"
Lowell's eyes had already
passed from Sari to his COM
panion, idly lingering the empty
demi-tasse before him. A smile
touched Lowell's lips. Impul-
sively he raised the toy pistol,
and instantly the thin, musical
tinkle of china told the room
that his craftsmanship had not
failed. But this time the laugh.
ter and applause we're quickly
stilled. Steve. half risen, was
looking down at the overturned
cup, while a slow flush mounted
to his pockmarked face and the
veins on his thick neck stood
out like knotted cords. His
chanceI
The Challenge
No mistaking the menace in
Steve's attitude, as with head
thrust forward and hands half
clenched, he advanced across
the floor. Lowell himself, a
cigarette still between his lips,
stepped down from the table and
waited in an attitude of quiet
watchfulness until now they
were standing face to face in
that strange, tense silence of
the crowded room. Steve's
close-set eyes cleaned up into
the others, and a baffled look
gathered as he found there no
sign of apprehension, no least
vestige of fear. He slid his
tongue slowly between thick lips.
and his voice had become a
sneering groWl.
I'm wondering just how it
would be to spend New Years
Day in the hospital"
Lowell smiled. Feeling sick?"
Feeling fine, myself. But
how long do you think it would
take me to make you so sick
that your boy friends might
have to call the gong.wagon?"
His own words and the quiet
attitude of the man before him
stung Steve to sudden fury. His
voice tightened. I'll tell you.
It would take just two minutes"
Deliberately Lowell drew a
watch from his pocket and laid
it on the table. 1.-TWO minutes
scarcely seems long enough for
a very thorough job," he an
swered thoughfully. "Still-
when do we begin?"
It was a coldly flung chal-
lenge that could not be denied.
For an instant a red film gath.
cred before Steve's eyes, then
almost instinctively he struck,
lashing out with a powerful left
arm that carried behind it the
full force of his shoulder and
the weight of his short, stocky
body. 1t was a blow that, had
it landed, might easily have
made good his angry boast.
But it didn't quite land
Never afterward could Steve ex-
plain what happened. He only
knew that Lowell seemed to
glide a few imperceptible inches
to the left, and as the force of
that lunge swept Steve past
him, Lowell leaned forward, and
grasping the mans coat with
both hands, jerked it up and
over his head. For a frenzied
instant Steve found himself
blinded and powerleSs in the
bearlike hug of his opponent.
With a muffled curse he leaped
back a9d as the coat tore open