The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-04-08
TIT I'M MI
TV-Continued.

"Glad to meet you" said he. His
voice was hard and unmusical, but
friendly.
THANK you. SIR" said Eric. as they
shook hands. Adam Carr's hand was
soft but firm. 1t was hardly what Eric
expected. He looked like a man who
had known nothing but hard labor.
Father says you and he are great
friends. It's very good of you to come
n cheer him up as you do His
manner was tender. but his voice and
eyes hard as flint, IL h metaphor is
permissible,
Old Jabez chuckIed. II reckon he
gets something for his trouble, Adam.
] fill his Drain chuck full of hair raisin'
lies He'd oughter make grand novel
writer, II he can jest remember all
You surely don't believe all my dad
tells o do your" said Adam, remov-
ing hts pipe TO grin the better.
No. sir" said Eric promptly. He
always tells us when they're not true"
That's more than he ever did at
home" said Adam with a sly wink.
Are you a sailor?' asked the boy.
Not a regular sailor" said the other
deliberately. I've been a little OF
everything In my time. 1t don't pay to
stick to any one thing too long. You
get In a rut, and life's a poor job II you
stay IN the rut so long that you don't
ANOA AAAO d1NA NAlS OAASAN W 6SN - -
e. Been In a scrap with somebody"
he asked, cycling Eric's bruise.
"Just a friendly boxing match" said
Eric, with a quick glance at Jabez.
"Feller much too big for him." re-
marked Jabez. His cousin. A dirt
mean college chap"
Adams hard. mirthless smile re-
turned. ID you know much about
boxing?' Eric confessed his ignor-
ance of the finer points. I'll give you
q few Instructions, II you'd like EN-"
said Adam Carr, a strange light coming
things that will jolt his chap SOS he
won't get over h surprise for a week"
Eric jumped at the chance. I'll
borrow the gloves" he cried.
A right said Adam, sitting down
and complacently relighting his pipe.
sWe'll begin tomorrow morning. I'll be
here for a week. Can you come to my
room in the Massasoit House?"
Tho next morning Eric appeared with
the gloves. Every day for a week, he
visited Adam Carr's room In the cheap
water front hotel. The mans skill with
the gloves was q revelation to the boy.
Chetwynd was the merest novice In
comparison. Try as he would, Eric
could not break through his guard, nor
could he, in all his wild clumsiness,
dispell the calm Indifference that
marked his manner Adam was as
light as a feather, and as quick as q
cat despite his stocky frame and phleg-
matte bearing. Time n again, the
boy would stop, painting, to grin sheep
ishiy and bewan the fact that he could
make no impression on his adversary.
You're doing ~splendidly." said Adam.
ing of the breath. ."The main point
is this: L can't hit you as cas-
uy as I did in the beginning:
You're learning how to take care OF
yourself. You're managing to keep
cool, and that's the chief thing in box
ing. You are sidestepping and duck
ing very neatly-something you could
not do at all in the beginning, ! don't
wonder your cousin knocked your block
off. Now, I'll begin to show you a few
tricks at the game, a few punches. You
won't learn 'em very thoroughly while
TIM here. but you'll have 'em well
enough to upset u cousin In good
shape. There's one thing to guard
against: don't let him rush in and
clinch. He's too big n strong for
you. He'd murder you in a wrestling
match. Keep dancing away all the
time. Get him ratified, get him mad"
Two days after Adam Cars depar-
ture from Corinth. Eric, in the pres
ence OF half a dozen envious boys who
had suffered ignominy at C~hetwynd's
hands very. effectually Inundated his
big and raging cousin. he: hit him at
will, successfully teyading the returns
that were meant to lay him out, kept
out of cllnches, and cleverly outboxed
the cock OF the walk. No greater in
suit could have been offered to Chef
wynd than this. He returned to Cam
bridge fully a week earlier than he had
intended, much to the surprise OF his
parents, who, somehow, rejoiced in a
certain profound thoughtfulnesS that
came over their son.
Eric was not a boaster. He took his
tri1mph over Chetwynd with becoming
giace. Its nothing to brag about"
h explained to his friends. That's
ohIy once for me-. Just think how many
times he has whaled me-" Neverthe-
less, he had com upon a new joy In
living. His heart was lighter. His
victory may have increased Chef
wynd's hatred. but Ii also served to
create a wholesome respect In that
young gentleman's breast. There was
something in that.
There was a dense atmosphere Of
mystery surrounding Adam Carr. Eric
was unable to penetrate Ii, and he
could obtain no light from h mans
father. Old Jabez was resolutely nor
committal. He would shake his head
over Eric's eager questions, and an
swer evasively when driven to a cor
uer. :.... .u.
NOW, uOu I peSlST me any hOrS
about ADAM" he finally exploded,
when Mary added her inquiries to those
of her brother "What business is 1t OF
yours what business he's imp It's an
honest business. and 1t amt prize fight
ing, either
HHow did he learn SO much about
boxing?" demanded the persistent pu-
pill.
Jabez glared. From his father!" he
roared. II learned him all he knows
about it." .a-hH
.oh, rats!" scoffed Eric. not at all
tmpolitely.
8oh. Uncle label" added Mary re-
proachfully. Ug .
"Do you mean to call ma liar?"
gasped the ancient.
"No, indeed" cried both of them in
n breath. .f
swell, see tina you don't" muttered
he. very uncomfortable. Adams bust
ness is his business, just you bear that
In mind"
They were not to see Adam Carr
again for more than q year, nor were
they to near of him. He had sunk back
into the void from which he emerged
10 unexpectedly on that warm Sep
TENDER day.
With Adam temporarily out Of the