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〃You wait； and you'll see。 An' don't get scared at the start。 The
first few rounds'll be something fierce。 That's Ponta's strong
point。 He's a wild man； with an kinds of punches；a whirlwind；
and he gets his man in the first rounds。 He's put away a whole lot
of cleverer and better men than him。 It's up to me to live through
it； that's all。 Then he'll be all in。 Then I go after him； just
watch。 You'll know when I go after him； an' I'll get'm； too。〃
They came to the hall； on a dark street…corner； ostensibly the
quarters of an athletic club； but in reality an institution designed
for pulling off fights and keeping within the police ordinance。 Joe
drew away from her； and they walked apart to the entrance。
〃Keep your hands in your pockets whatever you do；〃 Joe warned her；
〃and it'll be all right。 Only a couple of minutes of it。〃
〃He's with me；〃 Joe said to the door…keeper； who was talking with a
policeman。
Both men greeted him familiarly； taking no notice of his companion。
〃They never tumbled； nobody'll tumble；〃 Joe assured her； as they
climbed the stairs to the second story。 〃And even if they did； they
wouldn't know who it was and they's keep it mum for me。 Here； come
in here！〃
He whisked her into a little office…like room and left her seated on
a dusty； broken…bottomed chair。 A few minutes later he was back
again； clad in a long bath robe； canvas shoes on his feet。 She
began to tremble against him； and his arm passed gently around her。
〃It'll be all right； Genevieve；〃 he said encouragingly。 〃I've got
it all fixed。 Nobody'll tumble。〃
〃It's you； Joe；〃 she said。 〃I don't care for myself。 It's you。〃
〃Don't care for yourself！ But that's what I thought you were afraid
of！〃
He looked at her in amazement； the wonder of woman bursting upon him
in a more transcendent glory than ever； and he had seen much of the
wonder of woman in Genevieve。 He was speechless for a moment； and
then stammered：…
〃You mean me？ And you don't care what people think？ or anything？
or anything？〃
A sharp double knock at the door； and a sharper 〃Get a move on
yerself； Joe！〃 brought him back to immediate things。
〃Quick； one last kiss； Genevieve；〃 he whispered； almost holily。
〃It's my last fight； an' I'll fight as never before with you lookin'
at me。〃
The next she knew； the pressure of his lips yet warm on hers； she
was in a group of jostling young fellows； none of whom seemed to
take the slightest notice of her。 Several had their coats off and
their shirt sleeves rolled up。 They entered the hall from the rear；
still keeping the casual formation of the group； and moved slowly up
a side aisle。
It was a crowded； ill…lighted hall； barn…like in its proportions；
and the smoke…laden air gave a peculiar distortion to everything。
She felt as though she would stifle。 There were shrill cries of
boys selling programmes and soda water； and there was a great bass
rumble of masculine voices。 She heard a voice offering ten to six
on Joe Fleming。 The utterance was monotonoushopeless； it seemed
to her； and she felt a quick thrill。 It was her Joe against whom
everybody was to bet。
And she felt other thrills。 Her blood was touched； as by fire； with
romance； adventurethe unknown； the mysterious； the terribleas
she penetrated this haunt of men where women came not。 And there
were other thrills。 It was the only time in her life she had dared
the rash thing。 For the first time she was overstepping the bounds
laid down by that harshest of tyrants； the Mrs。 Grundy of the
working class。 She felt fear； and for herself； though the moment
before she had been thinking only of Joe。
Before she knew it； the front of the hall had been reached； and she
had gone up half a dozen steps into a small dressing…room。 This was
crowded to suffocationby men who played the Game； she concluded；
in one capacity or another。 And here she lost Joe。 But before the
real personal fright could soundly clutch her； one of the young
fellows said gruffly； 〃Come along with me； you；〃 and as she wedged
out at his heels she noticed that another one of the escort was
following her。
They came upon a sort of stage； which accommodated three rows of
men； and she caught her first glimpse of the squared ring。 She was
on a level with it； and so near that she could have reached out and
touched its ropes。 She noticed that it was covered with padded
canvas。 Beyond the ring； and on either side； as in a fog； she could
see the crowded house。
The dressing…room she had left abutted upon one corner of the ring。
Squeezing her way after her guide through the seated men； she
crossed the end of the hall and entered a similar dressing…room at
the other corner of the ring。
〃Now don't make a noise； and stay here till I come for you；〃
instructed her guide； pointing out a peep…hole arrangement in the
wall of the room。
CHAPTER IV
She hurried to the peep…hole； and found herself against the ring。
She could see the whole of it； though part of the audience was shut
off。 The ring was well lighted by an overhead cluster of patent
gas…burners。 The front row of the men she had squeezed past；
because of their paper and pencils； she decided to be reporters from
the local papers up…town。 One of them was chewing gum。 Behind
them； on the other two rows of seats； she could make out firemen
from the near…by engine…house and several policemen in uniform。 In
the middle of the front row； flanked by the reporters； sat the young
chief of police。 She was startled by catching sight of Mr。 Clausen
on the opposite side of the ring。 There he sat； austere； side…
whiskered； pink and white； close up against the front of the ring。
Several seats farther on； in the same front row； she discovered
Silverstein； his weazen features glowing with anticipation。
A few cheers heralded the advent of several young fellows； in shirt…
sleeves； carrying buckets； bottles； and towels； who crawled through
the ropes and crossed to the diagonal corner from her。 One of them
sat down on a stool and leaned back against the ropes。 She saw that
he was bare…legged； with canvas shoes on his feet； and that his body
was swathed in a heavy white sweater。 In the meantime another group
had occupied the corner directly against her。 Louder cheers drew
her attention to it； and she saw Joe seated on a stool still clad in
the bath robe； his short chestnut curls within a yard of her eyes。
A young man； in a black suit； with a mop of hair and a
preposterously tall starched collar； walked to the centre of the
ring and held up his hand。
〃Gentlemen will please stop smoking；〃 he said。
His effort was applauded by groans and cat…calls； and she noticed
with indignation that nobody stopped smoking。 Mr。 Clausen held a
burning match in his fingers while the announcement was being made；
and then calmly lighted his cigar。 She felt that she hated him in
that moment。 How was her Joe to fight in such an atmosphere？ She
could scarcely breathe herself； and she was only sitting down。
The announcer came over to Joe。 He stood up。 His bath robe fell
away from him； and he stepped forth to the centre of the ring； naked
save for the low canvas shoes and a narrow hip…cloth of white。
Genevieve's eyes dropped。 She sat alone； with none to see； but her
face was burning with shame at sight of the beautiful nakedness of
her lover。 But she looked again； guiltily； for the joy that was
hers in beholding what she knew must be sinful to behold。 The leap
of something within her and the stir of her being toward him must be
sinful。 But it was delicious sin； and she did not deny her eyes。
In vain Mrs。 Grundy admonished her。 The pagan in her； original sin；
and all nature urged her on。 The mothers of all the past were
whispering through her； and there was a clamour of the children
unborn。 But of this she kn