The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-13

/ Then there came rolling ntirniur, swell
! ing into shout, and n great breaS with
I, four horses came clnttering alohE, hll
! streaming with salmon-plnk ribbons. l4te
driver woro white hat with pink ro-
settle and beside him, on tho high seat
were a man and womar-slie with her
| arm round his waist. Montgomery had
one glimpse Of them as they flashed past
he with furrs cap drawn low over ms
| brow, great frieze coat ana Pi'h
| comforter ro,lntl his throat; she braSen,
| rrd.hcndcd. bright colorcd, laughing eX-
| cltcf1lv. THE Master. for 1t was lie, turn
! cd as he passed, gazed hard at Mont
| comerv, and gave him q mennclng, gap
| toothed grin. II was a hard, wicked race.
| blue owed ana crnggv. with long, oo ,s,
! nate cheeks and inoSernble eyes. nc
/, break behind was full OF patrons or INC
! sport-nushed Ii on-foremcn, heads OF de-
partinents, managers. Ono was drinking
| from a metal flask, and raised 1t TO
MONTGOMERY as he passed; ana then the
crowd tllnncd and the Wilson cortege'
"a, their dragons, swept In at the
ren. of the others.
The road led away from CroSley, pc
polluted BY the searchcrs FOR coal ana
iron. The whole country had been Quilted.
and vast piles OF refuse and mountains
of Stag suggested the mighty chambers
which the aboi of man had burro"eo
beneath. On tic left the road curved up
to where huge building, roolless ana
, dismantled, stood crumbling and forlorn
with the light shining through me VIII
dowless squares.
CHATS the old Arrowsmiths factory.
That's where the fight Is to be, SAID
Wilson. How are you feeling now?"
"Thank you. was never better In my
life" Montgomery answered.
by Cad, like your nerve!' SAID VIII
son. who was himself flushed and uneasy.
'.You'll give us a fight for our money,
come what may. That place on the right
IS the office, and that has been set aside
as the dressing and weighing room"
The carriage drove up to 1t amid the
shouts OF the folks upon the hillside:
Lines of empty carriages and traps
curved down the winding road and a
black crowd surged round the door of
the ruined factory The seats, as
huge placard announced were five shil-
lings, three shillings and shilling, with
half price fol dogs. The takings. de-
Quoting the expenses, were to go TO the
winner, and 1t was already evident that
larger stake than hunded pounds was
in quest ton. A babel of voices rose from
the door, The workers wished to bring
their dogs In free. The men scuff1ed. The
dogs barked. The crowd was n whrling.
eddying pool. surging with roar TO tho
narrow cleft, which was Its only out
let.
The break. with its salmon-colored
strea mers and four reeking horses, stood
empty before the door of the office; VIII
son, Purvis, Fawcett and Montgomery
passed in.
There was large. bare room inside,
with square, clean patches upon the
grinly walls. where pictures and alma
macs had once hung. Worn lnoleum COW
cred the noor. but there was no furni-
ture, save some benches and deal table
with a ever and basin upon It, Two Of
the corners were curtained off. In the
| middle Of tho room was a weighing chair.
| A hugely fat man with a salmon tie and
| blue waist-coat with bird's-eye spots
| came bustling uL to them. 1t was Armi-
tage, the butcher and grazier. we'll known
for miles around as warm man, and the
most liberal patron of sport IN the Rid
ing.
"Well, we'll" he grunted in a thick.
fussy, Wheeling voice. you have come
then. Got you, man? Got your MANI"
"Here he Is, fl and we'll. Mr.. Mont
gomery, let me present you to Mr.. Armi-
ia ge."
"Glad to meet you, sir Happy to
! make your acquaintance. make bold to
y,
| courage, Mr.. Montgomery, and that our
| only hope IS fair fight and no favor,
and the best man win. That's our senti-
nent at Crowley
"And it is my sentiment also" said the
| assistant.
well. you can't say fairer than that,
/ Mr.. Montgomery. You have taken a
| large contract In hand, but a large con-
| tract may he carried through, sir. as
! any ono who Knows my dealings could
| testify. The master is ready to weigh
(, I'M
So am l."
! "You must weigh in the buff''
| Montgomery looked askance at the tall.
| red -headed woman who was standing
gazing out Of the window
That's all right" said Wilson. Get
behind the curtain and put OH your fight
| ing kit"
lie did So and came out the picture of
an athlete III white. loose drawers. can
vas shoes and the sash of we'll known
| cricket club round his waist He was
trained to hair. the skin cleaning like
silk, and every muscle ripping down his
broad shoulders and along his beautiful
arms as he nioreo them. They punched
into ivory knobs, or slid into long, sinu-
hands
"N hat thinkest thou o. that?" asked
Ted Barton. his second, OF the woman in
the window.
She glanced contemporary at the young
athlete.
Its but poor kindness thou dost him
to put thread paper yoong gentleman
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