Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-06
Opportunity.
Bv EDGAR FRANKLIN
copvrqh The Frank A. Munsey Co., West Fortieth Str,
New York City.

ing, the pleased grin which had 50
lately suffused his features faded out
swiftly-because the unknown really
seemed to be with them.
Far down the mob. an attendant OF
the place was indicating their general
direction to shortish man in long
stormcoat and now he of the coat
had nodded and was pushing his way
down the narrow aisle toward them,
staring at the sea of faces as he
moved along slowly and seeming lit
tie uncertain u his movements.
Anthony" Johson Boiler said.
Don't speak to this guy! don't
like his looks!"
Ball.
"And this gang behind US is doing
everything but watch the fight Mr..
Boiler whispered on. IF you try any
thing funny on this fellow that's CON-
ing, he's likely to put up a yell Of
some kind-and once fight starts in
this box these three behind are com
ing In
johnson, don't be, absurd" An.
thony smiled. Get over in the odd
seat; I want the chap next to me SO
can have a good look at him"
Twill you remember that l said you
were going to start trouble" Johnson
inquired hotly. "I'll remember any
thing you like. only get over into that
odd seat" Mr.. Fry muttered, as the
stranger came closer. "Ah, he's hard
ly more than a boy"
Eyes. he'sla young thug" Johnson
Boiler informed him in parting. Hes
young gang-leader. Anthony-look
at the walk! Look at the way he has
that cap pulled down over one eye!
Look at"
Anthony Fry, obviously, would have
heard him as we'll had he been seated
on the steps Of Colorados state capt.
tol. Intellectual countenance alight,
the mildly eccentric Anthony-really
the sanest and most delightful of men
except when these abstract notions
came to him-was wholly absorbed in
the newcomer.
Rather than stare directly he turn
ed toward the ring as the young man
in the long coat crowded into the box
and settled down with a little pun,
but one who knew him IS we'll as
johnson Boiler could feel Anthony's
eyes looking past his lean right cheek
and taking in every detail Of theory's
prospective victim.
Not that he was a particularly say.
age-looking creature on close inspec.
ton, however. The cheap cloth cap
and the shabby long coat-heavy
enough for a typhoon when there was
the merest suggestion of drizzle out
doors-gave one that impression at
first, but second examination showed
him to to be really rather mild
He seemed to be about twenty. His
clothing from the overcoat to the
trousers and the well-worn shoes, In.
Dictated that he came from no very
elevated plane Of society. His feat.
ures which seemed decidedly boylsh
among some Of the faces present.
were decidedly good. His hair needed
cutting and had needed it for some
time. and he was tremendously inter.
ested in the star bout. Elbows on
the rail- cap pulled down to shade his
eyes. the youngsters whole excited
soul seemed to be centered in the
ring.
So at rather easy guess Mr.. Boiler
concluded that he was q mechanic or
a janitor's assistant or an elevator
boy or something like that. The buyer
of his seat. finding himself unable TO
come at the last moment. had given
the kid his ticket and he was having
the time Of his life.
Johnson Boiler hunched down again
with sad little grunt. He had meant
to enjoy this star bout; only week
ago, in fact before the Montreal hor-
ror doomed up he had been consider
ing just how an evening might be
snatched away from the happy home
life without disturbing Beatrice-who.
ignorant OF modern pugilism .disap.
proved prize-hghting on the ground Of
And now 1t was ruined, be-
cause Johnson Boilers next halt hour
would have to go to- the devising Of
means by which Anthony could be
steered from his idiotic experiment.
whatever it might be in concrete
form.
Anthony meant to offer this young
ster opportunity-how or in what form
himself doubtless did not
know as yet. But he did intend TO
speak to him and unless Johson Boil
ler's faculty for guessing was much IN
error, he meant to lead the youngster
hence. perhaps to feed him in res
taurant while he talked him full OF
abstract theory. perhaps even to take
him home to Lasande.
But what ever he intended. 1t
wouldn't do. Johnson Boiler really
needed Anthony this night. He need
ed Anthony to listen while he talked
about the absent Beatrice. and recall
ed all her beauty. all her fire. all her
adorable qualities: he needed An
thony at the other side of the chess
board. over which game johnson Boil
Ter could grow so profoundly sleepy
that even Beatrice en- route to Siam
could hardly have disturbed him.
And he needed no third person!
Toward the end Of the fifth round
however, Johnson Boiler grew pain
fully conscious that he had as yet
no very promising scheme.
Indeed, the lone inspiration so far In
cluded whispering to the kid that the