The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-12
THE COLUMBIAN, BLOOMsBUysa. i :.


home. This vas followed by the
sudden temperance of the boy. He
was In full retreat followed closely
by the terrible Harris.
The boy ran little ways and then
something remarkable happened. The
lad suddenly turned and attacked the
big pursuer with tremendous vigor.
He rained blow after blow upon
the wife beater. The brutal husband
tried to ward off the attack but hadn't
the skill. He was forced backward,
shouting and cursing. The boy, close
ly following, with lightning strokes,
hammered down the big mans de-
fense and finally forced him to the
ground. AS he fell he struck his head
against the side Of the house.
The boy was over the PROSTATE
form in a fash and catching up the
rufIan's head by the ears, banged 1t
rudely against the side of the house.
At this the woman in the phaeton
suddenly tur cd away.
Presently the banging stopped and
the voice of the boy was heard The
woman could not Lear the mans re-
ply, bat the banging at once recon-
menced. Then It suddenly stopped
and the boy spo,e again.
When the woman looked around he
was climbing the fence and the man
had disappeared. The boy took his
cap and coat.
"He won't beat his wife again." he
said. "He promised me. If he
breaks his word I'll give him what l
promised him."
The woman looked at him with
something like admiring awe.
"Did-did you hurt him much?" she
asked
81 hurt him enough to make him
go slow when he thinks of hurting his
wife. It's lucky didn't hurt him a
good deal more"
His tone suddenly grew bitter
II made a fool of myself"
II don't understand" said the wom-
an.
II lost my temper That's the
trouble with me. He made me mad.
! should have laughed. Instead Of
that | got wild. I'll never succeed un.
til can keep a tight grip on my
temper"
He seemed so discouraged that the
woman put out her hand and laid It
gently on his arm.
why" she cried, you are hurt!"
my knuckles are bleeding, that's
ALL" he answered. ut doesn't mat
ter"
Get into the buggy" said the WON.
an. I'm going to take you home and
tie up your hands. It's small
enough return to the man who has
taught that dreadful Harris lesson"
He took the seat meekly and she
drove home and put a soothing lini.
ment on his torn hands and tied them
up and gave him food and drink. And
presently he was resting in one Of
the easy rockers on the shaded porch.
"Are you quite comfortable" the
woman asked.
I'm all right" he smilingly an.
swered.
"And your unaccustomed exercise
hasn't hurt you any?"
mot bit, maam."
She looked at him admiringly.
you are cutie wonderful" she
said. you come here, an invalid,
and soundly whip Bob Harris, who
is considered a great fighter, and
make him beg for mercy, and then
you say the exercise hasn't hurt you
any,"
The face of the boy grew grave. He
hesitated a moment.
Lady" he said 81 hate to tell you
what I'm going to tell. but l must.
You're all wrong about me-and I've
let you go on making the mistake.
I'm not an invalid. I'm not sick. I'm
thin, perhaps, but Pm as hard as nails
and strong as horse. | came to the
village because it's a quiet place and
I've friend there. And I've been
running these roads to improve my
wind and to get my weight down
few pounds lower. When | said
was afraid of being nurt it was true.
To get hurt foolish is a serious thing
in my business"
He paused and looked at the WON.
an.
What is your business?" she ask
ed and her voice faltered.
Lady" he slowly answered. you
have been very good to me-kinder
than any woman | have ever known,
hate to hurt your feelings. But I'm
going to square with you. My name
is Danny Crane. I'm a professional
fighter, prize fighter. Two weeks
from to-day l am to fight for the
lightweight championship"
He paused and looked out across
the garden.
The woman sat very still. Her
Puritan instincts were outraged by
this confession. All her lifelong
moral training revoted against 1t.
The roof of her quiet porch was shell
tering a degraded creature of the
shameless arena. She fooked at the
boyish face and the bandaged hands.
A moment later Danny Crane felt