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Show Fiction HE-MAN'S CODE M;wilkl Corner I home. As he strode up the walk he heard a cry. He burst open the door and found Tony Swift trying to kiss his wife. Tony wasn't drunk. He was babbling something about Leonie really loving him. Tony whirled at the sound Andy made. His lip curled. "Oho! The sissy from Bos " Andy strode across the floor. His face was black. "I guess," he said bitterly; "you're dumb, after all. You need teaching." He struck out. Tony tried to dodge, but Andy's fist clipped him on the chin so hard that he went down. "Damn you!" He lunged, but Andy wasn't where he expected. Andy's fist flashed out again, and again Tony went down. Andy jerked him to his feet and hit him again. He hit him a third time and a fourth. Blood covered Tony's face. Tony whimpered for mercy. Andy dragged him to the door and threw him out. "Andy!" Leonie fled into his arms. "Oh, my darling, you were wonderful! Oh, precious, forgive me for what I said. Andy, why didn't you do 'that before that night at the dance?" Andy frowned. "Why, shucks, honey, I don't like to fight. Don't ' you see? He was drunk then. There was no need." Leonie laid her head on his shoulder. shoul-der. "I see, darling. Of course I see." But she didn't. ANDY had sensitive eyes and delicate hands but Leonie, born and bred a westerner of pioneer stock, was human. She loved him. It wasn't until after they were married mar-ried that she discovered he was a physical coward. She found out the night of Serena Boone's engagement party. Tony Swift was there. As usual he was drunk. He was a handsome devil, this Tony, tall and bronzed and reckless. He had been Leonie's childhood sweet- ; 1 heart. Folks 3 -Minute said she would Fiction have married him if it weren't for his drinking. The first thing Tony saw when he came through the door was Leonie Le-onie and Andy dancing together. A scowl crossed his face. Then he laughed. When they whirled past him he stepped up and whacked Andy on the back. "Tony's cut," he grinned. "Make way for a man." Leonie flushed. Andy hesitated, looked at Tony, then gave way smiling. smil-ing. "Sure thing," he said. "Your dance, Tony." As soon as she could, without appearing ap-pearing too obvious, she asked Andy to take her home. There she accused: "Why did you let him insult you? Oh, the shame of it!" Andy was ' startled and bewildered. bewil-dered. "Let who insult me, honey." "Who?" She stared at him. "Tony Swift, of course! I was never so humiliated in my life." "Tony? Oh, you mean because be-cause of what he said? Shucks, honey, Tony didn't mean anything. any-thing. He was drunk." The appalling truth flashed across Leonie's brain in that moment. mo-ment. Andy was a coward! He'd been afraid of Tony, which was why he evaded the issue! With a little whimpering cry she turned and ran sobbing from the room. A week later, on Saturday night, Andy stopped by at Seth Lancey's store to see Seth on a matter of business. A couple of boys from his mine were there, drinking at the bar. Minutes later, talking with Seth, he heard a rumpus out front. Investigating he discovered that two boys were engaged in a brawl with three men from the Bar V cattle ranch. Andy stood by and watched a while. Others joined in. It began to look as though the place would be wrecked. Andy got out of there. Leonie heard about it the next day. That settled things for her. ANDY was bewildered and unhappy. un-happy. The next day he found himself brooding over the situation. By mid-afternoon he could stand it no longer. Leaving Noah Tait in charge of operations, he drove |
