The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-08-14
cottage. When he reached the house

uC Pooucu open LuG uOOI anu cuteIeu.
A moment after a babel of indis-
tinct cries arose from the Harris
home. This was 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 t
the skill. He was forced backward,
shouting and cursing. The boy,
closely following, with lightning
strokes, hammered down the big
mans defense 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 Il q fash and catching up the
rufian's head by the ears, banged it
rudely against the side of the house.
At this the woman in the phaeton
turned away.
Presently the banging stopped and
the voice ofthe boy was heard. The
woman could not hear the mans re-
ply, bat the banging at once recon,
menced. Then it suddenly stopped
and the boy spoke 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
I promised him."
The woman looked at him with
something like admiring awe.
"Did-did you hurt him much?"
she asked.
II 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.
'I-I made fool of myself" /"
II don't understand" said the
woman.
II lost my temper. That's the
trouble with me. He made me mad.
I should have laughed. Instead of
that I got wild. I'll never succeed
until / can keep 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. 1T doesn't mat
ter. I"
Get into the buggy" said the
woman. "I'm going to take you
home and tie up your hands. It's a
small enough return to the man who
has taught that dreadful Harris a les
son."
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 7" the
woman asked.
''I'm all right" he smilingly an
swered.
'And your unaccustomed excer-
else hasn't hurt you any 7"
mot a bit, ma'am."
She looked at him admiringly.
"You are quite wonderful" she
said. "You come here, an invalid,
and soundly whip Bob Harris, who
is considered 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 moment.
Lady" he said, IT hate to tell
you what I'm going to tell, but I
must. You're all wrong about me-
and I've let you go on making the
mistake. I'm not an invalid. I'm
notsick. I'm thin, perhaps, but I'm
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 l said I was afraid of being
hurt it was true. To get hurt foolish
is serious thing In my business -
He paused and looked at the wo-
man.
"What is your business 7" she ask
ed and her voice faltered.
LADY" he slowly answered,
"you have been very good to me
kinder than any woman I have ever
known. I 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 today 1 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 revolted against it.
The roof of her quiet porch was shell
tering a degraded creature of the
shameless arena. She looked at the
boyish face and the bandaged hands.
A moment later Danny Crane felt
a light touch on his shoulder. He
looked up quickly and encountered the
woman's misty gaze.
"I'm sorry you're fighter" she
softly said, "but you must 6ght"-
she drew a quick breath-"I hope
you'll fight to win.-W. X. Rose, IN
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
A LITTLE boy was sitting behind a
baldheaded man at church, who was
scratching the fringe Of hair on one
side of his bald pate. The old gen.
tleman kept it up SO long that at last