The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1926-01-21
FROM
HERO TO
ZERO
BY JAMES H. BORLAND
90 by Short Story Pub. Coz

IL
the ground up, had come to
Brockport as instructor in ath'
y letics. As he stepped of the
train he suddenly felt the pressure OF
an unseen hand on his shoulder, anG
q timid voice greeted him with:
Excuse me, sir, don't you want to
hghtT ,,.,.
Turning upon his questioner, Cor.
don's look Of puzzled surprise quickly
gave way to a smile. Before him
stood a well-dressed, mild-mannered
little man, whose face seemed gentle.
ness itself.
Il meant no offense, my dear sir, "
the stranger continued with a friendly
smile. I just asked 1t as gentle.
manly question, that's all. Don't you
ever fghtT
"Why, I have been known to dc
such a thing" replied Gordon good,
naturedly.
Good for you" exclaimed the man.
greatly elated. my name Is Love
joy-Jeremiah Lovejoy. You look as
though you'd do fellow-man a favor
Will you fight?"
"Why are you 50 anxious to fight
me? We never met before, so you
cannot have anything against me-"
"Not the first thing, my dear SIR
nothing at all but that isn't the point
Fighting makes man Of a fellow. II
develops the body, strengthens the
nerves and imparts grace and fied.
bility to the intellect. Now the min
ute my eye lit on you, I said to my.
self, there's Christian gentleman
I'll bet my life he'll fight me-"
isn't 1t unbecoming In a Christian
gentleman to fghtT
"Unbecoming your grandmother
Why, my dear sir, the hardest blows
In the world have been struck by
Christians, and for ten thousand years
the fighting man has been crowned
as Hero while the fellow who hand.
ed out the milk of human kindness
was downed as Zero"
$50 suppose you are fighting fol
front seat In the Hall of FameT'
queried Gordon.
Exactly, and I expect to win, for
God loves a hard hitter"
"How do you make that outT
"How do I make that out? Let me
ask you a question: Is the Lord
ladiing out love taps when he hands
US the cyclone, the tidal wave and
the bolt of lightning? Hardly. Don't
these solar-plexus swings teach us
that the fighting spirit flourishes OIL
highT
Are you professional continued
the instructor Of athletics.
"Oh, no! I never took a boxing les
son in my life. l fight for the benent
Of my health and to set a good ex.
ample to others. It's the one real Joy
Of my life"
"DO you generally win outr'
"Well, I don't always, get the worst
Of it, but then don't care a CONT
mental about that Every man should
be unselflsh enough to help along q
good cause"
The two had by this time reached
the hotel.
swell, sir, what do you say?" re.
sumed the little man, Familiarity invit
ing Gordon to seat, after the latter
had registered his name. "Will you
fght?"
II would rather not this morning"
"Why"
Because I don't feel we'll"
But rousing good fight will bring
you around all right. I am sure of It
For goodness sake don't disappoint
me now that you have raised my
hopes. I haven't had a fight for g
week.
Cant you stand it another weekr
"Good Godfrey, no! With me, to
live means to fight. I would rather
60 without food than without a fight
"Why don't you tackle somebody
'elsep
THAT'S just II. I can't find anyone
I have exhausted all our native tai.
ent, so you see have to take on
strangers"
A travelling man was just entering
the hotel, and LoveJoy, hastily excus.
ing himself, rushed up to him with q
proposal to fight.
"There! you see how 1t is" he con
tinued in a dolaful tone as he re-
turned to Gordon. mo use asking
them. They all refuse. Yourare the