The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-01
"of pbiladeInbia7"

ue ubNlls utu IL yOu NhS NiN
at the bottom of thlsi You are the
man who has come between her and
me! / met her a whole month before
you did and you SIT there and talk
10 me Of your prerogatives and prior
rights! Why, confound II all, IL II were
not for you she would consent to mar
ry me! and you demand that | shall
withdraw in your favor! Well, I'll
| be-"
"Then you will decide the matter as
] have suggested?'
"What?"
81 say, then you are willing to fight,
| to determine which of us shall retire2
| The case is simple one: Each of us
stands I'm the others way. With both
i'm the field she will have neither of MS.
One OF us has got to withdraw. Do you
catch my meaning now2"
"Yes: and, by thunder, ! accept your
challenge! II shall be fight, and
fight TO the finish; and, what's more,
wen pull It off right here and now!"
"Precisely what have arranged for.
We can settle the matter I'm my back
office without attracting attention. l
have had the room cleared for the
purpose"
Both men we're well built and ath-
letic. Each was accounted a good
sparrer. In the present instance. how
ever. judges would have declared that
the odds were in favor Of Cotton,
whose weight and long reach gave
him an evident advantage over Fitz-
gerald in those respects, although the
latter's reputation for strength and
quick work involved an equation not
easy to calculate.
Fitzgerald followed his adversary
into the adjoining room. Each drew
of HIS coat and vest and neckwear
with studied deliberation and placed
them carefully on chair.
Cotton tossed upon the window.seat
two or three pairs Of lightweight
gloves "Take your choice" he said
indifferently.
Fitzgerald quickly fitted a pair 70
his hands; Cotton followed suit and
moment later the two men faced
each other in the attitude of battle
their arms barred and their chests ex
panded with deep breathing. H...
There was no handshake. All pre-
liminary conventionalities were
waived. This was to be a fight, pure
and simple. Scarcely had each nodded
his readiness ere the contest was on
and in vigorous earnest.
For fully IS minutes the struggle
continued. Then loud knock at the
door brought the performance TO 6
sudden standstill. Both men were we
with perspiration and painting hard
Fitzgerald's cheek was swollen ant
Cotton was suffering with pain In tn,
chest. So far each had put up
stubborn fight, and neither was We
ready to desist. Love and pride wer
at stake, and the aroused spirit OF tn,
savage that comes TO every man who 4
struck inspired each with vengeful
angry determination that his opponen
must fall or cry for mercy befor,
there could be thought of giving uT
The interruption from withou
aroused the combatants TO suddel
realization Of the noise they had bee
making, and each involuntarily glare
d at the other and remained quiet for
moment. 1t was an intimation to tn
one on the outside to go away.
II 1t proved to be only the POSTWAR
d who, receiving no response after
IS short wait, discharged his errand b
dropping number OF letters throug
z the opening in the door
N The momentary truce had made bot
d. men aware of their exhausted cond
ton. A few minutes respite was eal
E. erly craved by each OF them TO regal
It his breath. II was with a feeling {
J" thankful relief, therefore that Fitzge
aid saw Cotton stoop ard pick up on
e. OF the letters from the floor.
er To conceal any evidence of desil
to gain time by so doing, Cotton q
y deayored by his manner to have
o. seem that his action was merely an i
stinctive response TO habit. In realit
ly he was more nearly exhausted than /
ly cared to admit, and he felt 1t essenti
lg to resort TO some subterfTge to della
IN the renewal of hostilities. With a
to parent Observation-Disclosures he mecha
r. ically tore open the envelope he he
er in his hand and passed his eyes v
,u cantly over the contents.
De Then, suddenly. without uttering
IS, sound, he fell against the wall al
re sank slowly TO the floor where he I
nd manned motionless, his head droopir
= upon his chest.
ed Fitzgerald smiled grimly. He kne
&c he had landed two blows over Il
m heart, and he was not surprised. Mi
up gled triumph and satisfaction add
n roster glow to his burning cheek
Du With his handkerchief no calmly wip'
sh the perspiratlon from his face al
IL neck and sauhtered over to one 81 Il
re windows.
ou AS he did so his eye lighted on L
card that Cotton had taken from d
." envelope. He picked 1t up with HI
III risd, impulsive movement, and holdi
IL to the light he gazed upon II as o
Nv entranced. Afer moment of breat
less tension he sank Imply upon {
chair in the corner,
w Cotton raised his head and look