The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1926-01-21

you Into the middle OF next week,
shouted Gordon.
Excuse me, sir, don't want to be
disagreeable, but I've taken liking
to you and ask It as a favor"
"All right I'll fight you tomorrow.
Now 60 and make your will"
Good! That's q bargainl knew
you were made Of the right stuff,
came In grateful notes from the in.
truder, as he made his way down.
stairs. I'll be around bright and
early"
But he wasn't. For right here fate
stepped In and Gordon saw nothing Of
Lovejoy the following day. In the
evening, wondering what had become
Of him, he inquired at the hotel Office.
"Ohw answered the clerk In sur
prise. I'VE thought you knew. Mr..
Lovejoy is at the hospital"
"Why, did someone do him upr'
mo. 1t was an accident Long be-
fore breakfast this morning he asked
us to send his card to your room. Not
wishing to disturb you at that hour,
we told him you had gone out, where
upon he rushed madly for the door,
exclaiming that he had an important
engagement with you. Just as he was
about to pass out he stumbled and fell,
striking his head on the marble steps.
When we reached him he was uncon-
scious, so we sent him to the hos
pital."
"Have you heard how he was get
ting on"
YES; he regained consciousness at
noon and is doing well. The fall
seems to have proved a blessing In
disguise for him"
what do you meanT
"Why, it's the most curious coinci-
dence. Two months ago Mr.. Lovejoy,
while quietly passing through our
front door with friend, fell in e1-
actly the same spot and became un-
conscious. The moment he regained
consciousness the notion took hold of
him that he wanted to fight every man
he met. Up to that time he was Q
most peace-loving citizen. III fact, abb
normally so. He founded a society
for the prevention of boxing exhibi.
tons, caused bill for the suppress
sion of prize fighting to be introduced
In our state legislature, and also de-
livered an address before the inter-
national peace congress"
Eyes, but you speak Of his latest
fall having proved blessing"
II was just coming to that" con-
tinued the clerk. This afternoon the
doctor at the hospital telephoned US
that since regaining consciousness Mr..
Lovejoy is his former self again, the
gentle, peace-loving Lovejoy Of old"
On hearing the startling news Cor
don decided to pay a visit to the hos
pital. Apart from the little mans
craze for fighting, the instructor in ath-
letics had from the first felt himself
drawn toward him. Besides, he con-
sidered himself in a way responsible
for the accident.
After being cautioned by the house
physician not to mention fighting, as
that might upset the patients nerves,
he entered the ward and found Love
Joy propped up in bed
II am so glad you came" began the
little man, cordially extending his
hand. Il hope you have decided to
accept the Office of vice president of
my society for the prevention Of prize
fighting, which I offered you the other
day. L remember you held out that
fighting develops the necessary mar
tial spirit in a man, but I guess you
have come around to my way of think.
ing"
Certainly" asquiesced Gordon in
his desire to humor the patient. "You
are quite right"
"Good!' exclaimed the other.
That's fine; another won over. Fight
Ing" he continued excitedly, "is the
most degrading, brutal'-but here the
house physician thought best to in
terpose and Gordon excused himself.
Doctor, how do you account for the
astonishing change in your patient"
Gordon asked upon reaching the cor
ridor. "Why, only day ortwo ago
he kept Fostering the life out Of me
to fight"
Exactly" nodded the physician.
"That bump he got on his head few
months ago shocked his nerve center
of combativeness into violent action.
1t instantly changed him from an
apostle Of peace to man of war. as
it were. His fall a few days ago
acted just as strangely with a reverse
force. He Is now perfectly normal
and pacific, the original Lovejoy."
by the way" added the physician
as Gordon took his leave, II wish you
luck as vice president of his society.
You may regard 1t as compliment,
but as he seems to have taken a fancy
to you, you will probably find it quite
as difficult to dodge his peace projects
in the future as his fighting proposals