The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-13

knees and saw the sweat break out
afresh. Stlll'he made no sign, but dug
his forehead into the floor. 81 can
stand this as Iona as you can," said
to myself grimly.
But at last reached the point where
/ knew that another inch, another
pound, would break the bone.
"Do you give. up?" demanded.
mol" he gasped eXplosively.
"I'll break your armv' l snarled at
him.
He made no reply.
The blood was running into my eyes
from a small scrape on my forehead.
1t was nothing, but it annoyed me.
was bruised and heated and mad. Ev-
cry bit of antagonism in me was
aroused. AS far as was concerned. 1t
was very real fight.
"All right" growled, "Ill keep you
there then, your
Holding the arm In the same posi-
ton, / settled myself. The pain to
the poor chap must have been some
thing fearful, for every muscle and
tendon was stretched to the cracking
point. His breath came and went In
sharp Kisses, but he gave no other
sign. My heat cooled, though, as l
look back ON IL, far too slowly. Sud
denly l arose and flung him from me.
He rolled over on his back and lay,
his eyes half closed, breathing deeply.
We must have been a sweet sight, we
two young barbarians, myself marked
and swollen and bloody, he with one
eye puffed and pale as death. My
rOommates, absolutely fascinated, did
not stir.
The tableau lasted only the fraction
OF minute, after all. Then abruptly
Talbot Ward sat up. He grinned up
at me with his characteristic momen-
tary flash of teeth.
81 told you you couldn't lick me"
said he.
stared at him in astonishment
"Llcked? Why. had you cold"
"You had not"
ard have broken your arm IL 1 had
gone any further"
"Well, why didn't your"
stared into his eyes blankly.
"Would you have done it?' I asked
In a sudden flash OF illumination.
"Why, Of COURSE" said he, with q
faint contempt as he arose.
"Why did you hit me at first as you
did? You gave me no warning what
ever"
DO you get any warning in a real
fght?"
l could not controvert this, and yet
uneasily, vaguely felt there must be
fallacy somewhere. l had been told
and not told what should or should
not be done in an affair that appar'
emily could have no rules and yet
had distinctions as to fair and unfair
some of which were explained and
some left as obvious. felt somewhat
confused. But often In my later ex'
perience with Talbot Ward l felt just
that way, so in retrospect it does not
strike me so forcibly as 1t did at that
time.
"But you're a wonder, perfect won
der! Ward was saying,
Then we ali became aware of q
knocking and a rattling at the door
1t must have been going on for some
time.
"If you don't open I'll get the po
lice! promise you, I'll get the po
lice" the voice of our landlady was
saying.
We looked at each other aghast
II suppose we must have been max
ing little noise" conceded Talbot
Ward. Noise! 1t must have sounded
MS though the house were coming down
Our ordinary little boxing matches
We're nothing to it.
! Ward threw his military cape around
his shoulders aud sank back into q
seat beneath the window. | put on al
Oyercoat One of the boys let her In
She was thoroughly angry, and she
gave us all notice TO so. she had done
that same every Saturday night for a