Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-09-21

lug the purchase OF SHIPS, the cOnSlSu-
ment Of arms, the engagement of cap
tains and of crews further inf1amed
my imagination. / received the vast
sum of SO per week. AS / was quite
alone in the world and possessed no
other resources, the saving of the $500
agreed upon as the least sum with
which it was possible to get to Califor-
MIA was fairly out of all question.
One evening after the meeting, to
my great surprise, Ward fell into step
with me. We had up to that moment
never exchanged a word.
''In New York long?' he demanded.
about six months,' I told him.
Farm bred, of course?" he remark
ed. "Where?'
"Ashbury, in Vermont" l replied,
without the slightest feeling that he
was intrusive.
He stopped short in the street and
looked me up and down refectively,
but without comment.
1--WE been watching you at these
fool meetings." said he, falling into
step again.
In spite Of myself l experienced a
glow Of qualification at having been
the object Of his interest.
Fool meetings." l echoed inquir-
ingly.
Suppose by miracle all that lot
could agree and could start for Cali
fornia tomorrow III Il bOdy-that's
Al Lo1 -
he countered-"would you go with
Them"
"Why nOt?'
Martin Is why not, and Fowler is
why not, and that little Smith runt
and six or eight others. They are
weak sisters. If you are going into a
thing go into it with the strong men.
l wouldn't go with that crowd to a
snake fight if it was twelve miles
away. Where do you live?"
''West Ninth street.
"That's not far. Have you a good
big room?"
II have a very small hall BEDROOM
l replied wonderingly. "a number Of
us have the whole of the top floor"
Somehow, I must repeat, this unex-
planned intrusion Of a total stranger
into my private affairs did not offend.
''Then you must have a big sitting
room. How many of yOu?"
-Four
"Can you lick all the others?'
l stopped to laugh. By some shrewd
guess he had hit on our chief difficulty
as a community. We were all four
country boys with a good deal Of re-
siduary energy and high spirits, and
we were not popular with the tenants
underneath.
''You see, I'm pretty big 1 remind
ed him.
Eyes, see you are. That's why I'm
with you. Do you think you can lick
me?"
I stopped short again in surprise.
"What in blazes"- / began.
He laughed, and the devils in his
eyes danced right out to the surface
of them.
Il asked you a plain question:" he
said, land I'd like the favor Of a plain
answer. Do you think you can lick me
as we'll as your rural friends?"
II can," said / shortly.
He ran his arm through mine eagerly.
"Come" on" he cried, ION to West
Ninthr'
We found two of my rOommates
smoking and talking before the tiny
open fire. Talbot Ward, full of the
business in hand, rushed directly at
the matter once the introductions were
over
Our arrangements were very simple
The chairs were few and pushed back
easily, and we had an old set Of gloves.
(Which is it to be-" 1 asked my
guest, boxing Or wrestling?'
II said you couldn't lick me- he re-
piled. Boxing is a game with rules.
1t isn't fighting at ALL
"You want to bite and gouge and
scratch, then?" said I, greatly amused
81 do not. They would not be fair.
A fights a fight, but a man can be de-