as ever jumped inside the ropes to take the decision. Him! We
went to the Durant School together. We grew up chums. His fight
was my fight. My trouble was his trouble. We both took to the
fightin' game. They matched us. Not the first time. Twice we'd
fought draws. Once the decision was his; once it was mine. The
fifth fight of two lovin' men that just loved each other. He's
three years older'n me. He's a wife and two or three kids, an' I
know them, too. And he's my friend. Get it?

"I'm ten pounds heavier--but with heavyweights that 'a all right.
He can't time an' distance as good as me, an' I can keep set
better, too. But he's cleverer an' quicker. I never was quick
like him. We both can take punishment, an' we're both two-handed,
a wallop in all our fists. I know the kick of his, an' he knows
my kick, an' we're both real respectful. And we're even-matched.
Two draws, and a decision to each. Honest, I ain't any kind of a
hunch who's gain' to win, we're that even.

"Now, the fight.--You ain't squeamish, are you?"

"No, no," she cried. "I'd just love to hear--you are so
wonderful."

He took the praise with a clear, unwavering look, and without
hint of acknowledgment.

"We go along--six rounds--seven rounds--eight rounds; an' honors
even. I've been timin' his rushes an' straight-leftin' him, an'
meetin' his duck with a wicked little right upper-cut, an' he's
shaken me on the jaw an' walloped my ears till my head's all