The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-05-30

any appetite, supper. will order
some caviare sandwiches for you," Sir
Timothy went on, ringing the bell,
"and some wine"
Lady Cynthia smiled.
at is really very wonderful par
IT," she murmured.
Their host ushered the two men
across the hall, now comparatively
deserted. for every one had settled
down to his or her chosen amusement
down a long passage, through pri-
vate door which he unlocked with a
Yale key, and into the gymnasium.
There were less thar fifty spectators
seated around the ring, and Francis.
glancing at them hastily, fancied that
he recognized nearly every Ona Of
them. There was Baker. Judge,
couple Of actors, Lord Meadowson, the
most renowned of sporting peers, and
a dozen who followed in his footsteps !;
little man who had once been anna
teur champion In the bantam class,
and who was now considered the finest
judge Of boxing in the world; the
atrical manager, the present amateur
boxing champion, and sprinkling Of
others. Sir Timothy and his COM
panions took their chairs amidst
buzz Of welcome. Almost immediate
ly. the man who was in charge Of the
proceedings, and whose name was Har-
rison, rose from his place.
Gentlemen" he said, "this is a
sporting contest, but one under usual
rules and usual conditions. An anna
| teur, who tips the scales at twelve
stone seven, who has never engaged
in a boxing contest in his life, Is
matched against young man from
different sphere Of life, who intends to
adopt the ring as his profession, but
who has never as yet fought in public.
Names. gentlemen, as, you know. are
seldom mentioned here. l will only
say that the first in the ring is the
nominee of our friend and host, Sir
Timothy Brast;. second comes the
nominee of LordeMea dowson."
Wilmore, notwithstanding his pre-
knowledge, gave a little gasp The
young man who stood now within
few yards of him, carelessly swinging
his gloves in his hand, was without
doubt his missing brother. He looked
well and in the pink of condition; not
only well but entirely confident and
at his ease. His opponent, on the other
hand, sturdier man, few inches,
shorter, was nervous and awkward,
| oh hn Hoka ,S,,o H.
ing. Sir Timothy rose and whispered
in Harrison's ear. The latter nodded,
In very few moments the prelim-
inaries were concluded. the fight be-
gun.
Francis, glad of a moment or two's
solitude in which to rearrange his
somewhat distorted sensations, found
an empty space In the stern of the
launch and stood leaning over the rail.
His pulses were still tingling with the
indubitable excitement of the last half
hour. 1t was all there, even now, be-
fore his eyes like a cinematograph
picture-the duel between those two
men. duel Of knowledge, Of strength,
Of science, of courage. From begin
ming to end, there had been no mo-
ment when Francis had felt that he
was looking on at what was in any
way degrading or immoral spectacle.
Each man had fought in his way to
win. Young Wilmore. graceful as a
panther, with keen. joyous desire Of
youth for supremacy written in his
face and in the logged lines of his
mouth; the budding champion from
the East end less graceful. perhaps,
but with even more strength and at
least as much determination, had GER
tainly done his best to justify his Sc
lection. There were no points to be
scored. There had been no undue
feinting. no holding, few of the tricks
of the professional ring. 1t was a
| fight to a finish, or until Harrison
gave the word. And the better man
had won. But even that Knockout
blow which Reggie Wilmore had de-
livered after wonderful feint, had
had little that was cruel in 1t. There
was something beautiful almost in
the strength and grace with which 1t
had been delivered-the breathless
eagerness. the waiting, the end.
He heard Sir Timothy's voice a
few yards away, and turned to look
at him. He had just come from be-
lowfand had paused opposite man
who had been standing a little apart
from the others. one of the few who
was wearing an overcoat, as though
he felt the cold. In the background
were the two servants who had guard
ed the gangway.
"Mr. Manuel Lotto" Sir Timothy
said-"or shall I say Mr.. Shopland?-
my invited guests are welcome. 1
have only one method of dealing with
u9invited ones.'
The two men suddenly stepped for
ward. Shopland made no protest, at
tempted no struggle. They lifted him
Off his feet as though he were baby,
and moment later there was splash