Evening star., 1909-06-07
CHAPTER vII-Continued.

"Of course I hit him when he was
down." snorted Caleb. What dye spost
was goin' to do? Help him up an brush
off his croes? Gee. 1t makes me sick tc
hear that old fossil rot about not hittin
a man when he's down. What in thun-
der's the use Of gettin' him down! What
in thunder's the use Of gettin' him dowr
If you amt goin' to hit him? ! didn''
come here for a friendly boxin' bout.
came to pay Blacarda off, An he wasn''
to be paid of by one little tap that't
knock him over. That was just the
start. l guess he'll know enough by nov
to let Dey Sheylins name alone
Caine made no answer. He was deftls
applying the simple prize-ring expedient.
for restoring beaten pugilists to theil
senses Conover looked down at him ir
profound contempt.
Yes went on the Fighter, Il spose
In your gold-shirt world folks would say
I was all kinds of a cad to keep on pun
ishin' that swine after I'd bowled him on
his legs But them same folks will jumI
with both feet on a business man when
there's a rumor that he's broke. They'l
Join In a run on a bank that's in trouble
Their sanity womenli take pious JOY il
chasin' to hell some poor girl who's made
fool of herself But they'll roll up their
eyes at the sight of me lickin' Blacarda
after he's keeled over. Whaten biazeS Is
the use OF gettin' a man down If you ain't
goin' to hit him? It's the A B of bust
ness. Why. Caine. you make me tired!'
His eyes fell on his own torn, bleeding
knuckles. He gazed at them In SLOW sur
prise: then sauntered over to battle them
The glass above the washstand revealed
to him a face pasty white. smeared with
coal dust smears and blood, and swollen
from a blow on the mouth.
I'm an engagin' lookin' spectacle. all
right" he soliloquized as he bent to wash
Lucky I left my suitcase at the hotel
this morning I'll need a lot OF dressin'
and massagin' before l can go to see
Dey.
Blacarda groaned feebly, and moved his
head.
Hes coming around" reported Caine
Now m goin' to telephone down for the
hotel doctor. While's he's on his way
here you can think Of some story to tell
him that will account for Blacarda's con-
dition."
.'I'll tell him the truth" said Caleb,
simply. "All except the part about Dey:
An l guess Blacarda amt likely to tell
that. either. But what's the use of
doctor? The ours gettin his sense:
back"
II think you fractured at least one OF
his ribs. when your knee was jammed
down on his chest answered Caine. 1T
feels so to me. Besides. unless his face
is to be distorted and hideous for life 1t
must have medical care at once"
Blacarda lifted his unacceptable Wis
age and opened the one eye which was
not wholly hidden from view by his swol-
len flesh Caine raised the injured man
to a sitting posture and held a whisky
flask to the torn. discolored lips Through
the hedge Of smashed teeth and down the
swelled throat the stinging liquor glided.
Blacarda gulped 1t down. sat motionless
for a moment then groaned again and
looked about him.
"Well." growied Caleb, do you want
any more?"
One long second Blacarda sauinted va
cantly at his conqueror. Then. with a
shuddering scream Of terror. he buried his
mangled face in Gaines shoulder and lay
there quivering and sobbing.
What a beast you are. Conover"
exclaimed Caine. in revolt.
That's right" assented Caleb. cheer
fully But I've just broke worse one
Broke him body an spirit. Not such a
bad days work.