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〃Four　years　ago；〃　said　Mack；　〃I　could　lick　any　man　in　New　York　outside　　of　the　professional　ring。　　Your　case　and　mine　is　just　the　same。　　I　　come　from　the　West　Sidebetween　Thirtieth　and　FourteenthI　won't　　give　the　number　on　the　door。　　I　was　a　scrapper　when　I　was　ten；　and　　when　I　was　twenty　no　amateur　in　the　city　could　stand　up　four　rounds　　with　me。　　'S　a　fact。　　You　know　Bill　McCarty？　　No？　　He　managed　the　　smokers　for　some　of　them　swell　clubs。　　Well；　I　knocked　out　everything　　Bill　brought　up　before　me。　　I　was　a　middle…weight；　but　could　train　　down　to　a　welter　when　necessary。　　I　boxed　all　over　the　West　Side　at　　bouts　and　benefits　and　private　entertainments；　and　was　never　put　out　　once。

〃But；　say；　the　first　time　I　put　my　foot　in　the　ring　with　a　　professional　I　was　no　more　than　a　canned　lobster。　　I　dunno　how　it　was…　…I　seemed　to　lose　heart。　　I　guess　I　got　too　much　imagination。　　There　　was　a　formality　and　publieness　about　it　that　kind　of　weakened　my　　nerve。　　I　never　won　a　fight　in　the　ring。　　Light…weights　and　all　kinds　　of　scrubs　used　to　sign　up　with　my　manager　and　then　walk　up　and　tap　me　　on　the　wrist　and　see　me　fall。　　The　minute　I　seen　the　crowd　and　a　lot　　of　gents　in　evening　clothes　down　in　front；　and　seen　a　professional　　come　inside　the　ropes；　I　got　as　weak　as　ginger…ale。

〃Of　course；　it　wasn't　long　till　I　couldn't　get　no　backers；　and　I　　didn't　have　any　more　chances　to　fight　a　professionalor　many　　amateurs；　either。　　But　lemme　tell　youI　was　as　good　as　most　men　　inside　the　ring　or　out。　　It　was　just　that　dumb；　dead　feeling　I　had　　when　I　was　up　against　a　regular　that　always　done　me　up。

〃Well；　sir；　after　I　had　got　out　of　the　business；　I　got　a　mighty　grouch　　on。　　I　used　to　go　round　town　licking　private　citizens　and　all　kinds　of　　unprofessionals　just　to　please　myself。　　I'd　lick　cops　in　dark　streets　　and　car…conductors　and　cab…drivers　and　draymen　whenever　I　could　start　　a　row　with　'em。　　It　didn't　make　any　difference　how　big　they　were；　or　　how　much　science　they　had；　I　got　away　with　'em。　　If　I'd　only　just　have　　had　the　confidence　in　the　ring　that　I　had　beating　up　the　best　men　　outside　of　it；　I'd　be　wearing　black　pearls　and　heliotrope　silk　socks　　to…day。

〃One　evening　I　was　walking　along　near　the　Bowery；　thinking　about　　things；　when　along　comes　a　slumming…party。　　About　six　or　seven　they　　was；　all　in　swallowtails；　and　these　silk　hats　that　don't　shine。　　One　　of　the　gang　kind　of　shoves　me　off　the　sidewalk。　　I　hadn't　had　a　scrap　　in　three　days；　and　I　just　says；　'De…lighted！'　and　hits　him　back　of　the　　ear。

〃Well；　we　had　it。　　That　Johnnie　put　up　as　decent　a　little　fight　as　　you'd　want　to　see　in　the　moving　pictures。　　It　was　on　a　side　street；　　and　no　cops　around。　　The　other　guy　had　a　lot　of　science；　but　it　only　　took　me　about　six　minutes　to　lay　him　out。

〃Some　of　the　swallowtails　dragged　him　up　against　some　steps　and　began　　to　fan　him。　　Another　one　of　'em　comes　over　to　me　and　says：

〃'Young　man；　do　you　know　what　you've　done？'

〃'Oh；　beat　it；'　says　I。　　'I've　done　nothing　but　a　little　punching…bag　　work。　　Take　Freddy　back　to　Yale　and　tell　him　to　quit　studying　　sociology　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　sidewalk。'

〃'My　good　fellow；'　says　he；　'I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　I'd　like　　to。　　You've　knocked　out　Reddy　Burns；　the　champion　middle…weight　of　the　　world！　　He　came　to　New　York　yesterday；　to　try　to　get　a　match　on　with　　Jim　Jeifries。　　If　you'

〃But　when　I　come　out　of　my　faint　I　was　laying　on　the　floor　in　a　drug…　store　saturated　with　aromatic　spirits　of　ammonia。　　If　I'd　known　that　　was　Reddy　Burns；　I'd　have　got　down　in　the　gutter　and　crawled　past　him　　instead　of　handing　him　one　like　I　did。　　Why；　if　I'd　ever　been　in　a　　ring　and　seen　him　climbing　over　the　ropes；　I'd　have　been　all　to　the　　sal　volatile。

〃So　that's　what　imagination　does；〃　concluded　Mack。　　〃And；　as　I　said；　　your　case　and　mine　is　simultaneous。　　You'll　never　win　out。　　You　can't　　go　up　against　the　professionals。　　I　tell　you；　it's　a　park　bench　for　　yours　in　this　romance　business。〃

Mack；　the　pessimist；　laughed　harshly。

〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　see　the　parallel；〃　I　said；　coldly。　　〃I　have　only　a　　very　slight　acquaintance　with　the　prize…ring。〃

The　derelict　touched　my　sleeve　with　his　forefinger；　for　emphasis；　as　　he　explained　his　parable。

〃Every　man；〃　said　he；　with　some　dignity；　〃has　got　his　lamps　on　　something　that　looks　good　to　him。　　With　you；　it's　this　dame　that　　you're　afraid　to　say　your　say　to。　　With　me；　it　was　to　win　out　in　the　　ring。　　Well；　you'll　lose　just　like　I　did。〃

〃Why　do　you　think　I　shall　lose？〃　I　asked　warmly。

〃'Cause；〃　said　he；　〃you're　afraid　to　go　in　the　ring。　　You　dassen't　　stand　up　before　a　professional。　　Your　case　and　mine　is　just　the　same。　　　You're　a　amateur；　and　that　means　that　you'd　better　keep　outside　of　the　　ropes。〃

〃Well；　I　must　be　going；〃　I　said；　rising　and　looking　with　elaborate　　care　at　my　watch。

When　I　was　twenty　feet　away　the　park…bencher　called　to　me。

〃Much　obliged　for　the　dollar；〃　he　said。　　〃And　for　the　dime。　　But　　you'll　never　get　'er。　　You're　in　the　amateur　class。〃

〃Serves　you　right；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃for　hobnobbing　with　a　tramp。　　　His　impudence！〃

But；　as　I　walked；　his　words　seemed　to　repeat　themselves　over　and　over　　again　in　my　brain。　　I　think　I　even　grew　angry　at　the　man。

〃I'll　show　him！〃　I　finally　said；　aloud。　　〃I'll　show　him　that　I　can　　fight　Reddy　Burns；　tooeven　knowing　who　he　is。〃

I　hurried　to　a　telephone…booth　and　rang　up　the　Telfair　residence。

A　soft；　sweet　voice　answered。　　Didn't　I　know　that　voice？　　My　hand　　holding　the　receiver　shook。

〃Is　that　you？〃　said　I；　employing　the　foolish　words　that　form　the　　vocabulary　of　every　talker　through　the　telephone。

〃Yes；　this　is　I；〃　came　back　the　answer　in　the　low；　clear…cut　tones　　that　are　an　inheritance　of　the　Telfairs。　　〃Who　is　it；　please？〃

〃It's　me；〃　said　I；　less　ungrammatically　than　egotistically。　　〃It's　me；　　and　I've　got　a　few　things　that　I　want　to　say　to　you　right　now　and　　immediately　and　straight　to　the　point。〃

〃Dear　me；〃　said　the　voice。　　〃Oh；　it's　you；　Mr。　　Arden！〃

I　wondered　if　any　accent　on　the　first　word　was　intended；　Mildred　was　　fine　at　saying　things　that　you　had　to　study　out　afterward。

〃Yes；〃　said　I。　　〃I　hope　so。　　And　now　to　come　down　to　brass　tacks。〃　　I　　thought　that　rather　a　vernacularism；　if　there　is　such　a　word；　as　soon　　as　I　had　said　it；　but　I　didn't　stop　to　apologize。　　〃You　know；　of　　course；　that　I　love　you；　and　that　I　have　been　in　that　idiotic　state　　for　a　long　time。　　I　don't　want　any　more　foolish　ness　about　itthat　is；　I　mean　I　want　an　answer　from　you　right　now。　　　Will　you　marry　me　or　not？　　Hold　the　wire；　please。　　Keep　out；　Central。　　　Hello；　hello！　　Will　you；　or　will　you　not。？〃

That　was　just　the　uppercut　for　Reddy　Burns'　chin。　　The　answer　came　　back：

〃Why；　Phil；　dear；　of　course　I　will！　　I　didn't　know　that　youthat　is；　　you　never　saidoh；　come　up　to　the　house；　pleaseI　can't　say　what　I　　want　to　over　the　'phone。　　You　are　so　importunate。　　But　please　come　up　　to　the　house；　won't　you？〃

Would　I？

I　rang　the　bell　of　the　Telfair　house　violently。　　Some　sort　of　a　human　　came　to　the　door　and　shooed　me　into　the　drawing…room。

〃Oh；　well；〃　said　I　to　myself；　looking　at　the　ceiling；　〃any　one　can　　learn　from　any　one。　　That　was　a　pretty　good　philosophy　of　Mack's；　　anyhow。　　He　didn't　take　advantage　of　his　experience；　but　I　get　the　　benefit　of　it。　　If　you　want　to　get　into　the　professional　class；　you've　　got　to〃

I　stopped　thinking　then。　　Some　one　was　coming　down　the　stairs。　　My　　knees　began　to　shake。　　I　knew　then　how　Mack　had　felt　when　a　　professional　began　to　climb　over　the　ropes。

I　looked　around　foolishly　for　a　door　or　a　window　by　which　I　might　　escape。　　If　it　had　been　any　other　girl　approaching；　I　mightn't　have　But　just　then　the　door　opened；　and　Bess；　Mildred's　younger　sister；　　came　in。　　I'd　never　seen　her　look　so　much　like　a　glorified　angel。　　She　　walked　straight　tip　to　me；　andandI'd　never　noticed　before　what　　perfectly　wonderful　eyes　and　hair　Elizabeth　Telfair　had。

〃Phil；〃　she　said；　in　the　Telfair；　sweet；　thrilling　tones；　〃why　didn't　　you　tell　me　about　it　before？　　I　thought　it　was　sister　you　wanted　all　　the　time；　until　you　telephoned　to　me　a　few　minutes　ago！〃

I　suppose　Mack　and　I　always　will　be　hopeless　amateurs。　　But；　as　the　　thing　has　turned　out　in　my　case；　I'm　mighty　glad　of　it。




BEST…SELLER



I


One　day　last　summer　I　went　to　Pittsburghwell；　I　had　to　go　there　on　　business。

My　chair…car　was　profitably　well　filled　with　people　of　the　kind　one　　usually　sees　on　chair…cars。　　Most　of　them　were　ladies　in　brown…silk　　dresses　cut　with　square　yokes；　with　lace　insertion；　and　dotted　veils；　　who　refused　to　have　the　windows　raised。　　Then　there　was　the　usual　　number　of　men　who　looked　as　if　they　might　be　in　almost　any　business　　and　going　almost　anywhere。　　Some　students　of　human　nature　can　look　at　　a　man　in　a　Pullman　and　tell　you　where　he　is　from；　his　occupation　and　　his　stations　in　life；　both　flag　and　social；　but　I　never　could。　　The　　only　way　I　can　correctly　judge　a　fellow…traveller　is　when　the　train　is　　held　up　by　robbers；　or　when　he　reaches　at　the　same　time　I　do　for　the　　last　towel　in　the　dressing…room　of　the　sleeper。

The　porter　came　and　brushed　the　collection　of　soot　on　the　window…sill　　off　to　the　left　knee　of　my　trousers。　　I　removed　it　with　an　air　of　　apology。　　The　temperature　was　eighty…eight。　　One　of　the　dotted…veiled　　ladies　demanded　the　closing　of　two　more　ventilators；　and　spoke　loudly　　of　Interlaken。　　I　leaned　back　idly　in　chair　No。　　7；　and　looked　with　　the　tepidest　curiosity　at　the　small；　black；　bald…spotted　head　just　　visible　above　the　back　of　No。　　9。

Suddenly　No。　　9　hurled　a　book　to　the　floor　between　his　chair　and　the　　window；　and；　looking；　I　saw　that　it　was　The　Rose…Lady　and　Trevelyan；　　one　of　the　best…selling　novels　of　the　present　day。　　And　then　the　　critic　or　Philistine；　whichever　he　was；　veered　his　chair　toward　the　　window；　and　I　knew　him　at　once　for　John　A。　　Pescud；　of　Pittsburgh；　　travelling　salesman　for　a　plate…glass　companyan　old　acquaintance　　whom　I　had　not　seen　in　two　years。

In　two　minutes　we　were　faced；　had　shaken　hands；　and　had　finished　with　　such　topics　as　rain；　prosperity；　health；　residence；　and　destination。　　　Politics　might　have　followed　next；　but　I　was　not　so　ill…fated。

I　wish　you　might