Part 10 (1/2)
”I promised d' Spider I wouldn't, Geoff,” he explained. ”Y' see, I'm sort of in trainin', and Spider says smoke's bad for d' wind, and d'
Spider knows.”
”Spider?” said Mr. Ravenslee, glancing up, ”do you mean Spider Connolly the lightweight?”
”That's d' guy!” nodded Spike.
”Is he a friend of yours?”
”Sure! Him an' Bud M'Ginnis is goin' to get me some good matches soon.”
”Boxing matches?”
”That's what they call 'em, Geoff--but there ain't much boxin' to it; real boxin' don't go down wid d' sports, it's d' punch they wanter see--good, stiff wallops as jars a guy an' makes his knees get wobbly--swings and jolts as makes a guy blind an' deaf an' sick. Oh, I been like that, an' I know--an' it ain't all candy t' hear everybody yellin' to the other guy to go in an' finish ye!”
”Does your sister know you fight?”
”Not much, she don't! I guess she'd like me to be a mommer's pet in lace collars an' a velvet suit, an' soft an' pretty in me talk. She's made me promise t' cut out d' tough-spiel, an' so I'm tryin' to--”
”Are you really, Spike?”
”Well--when she's around I do, Geoff!”
”And she doesn't like you to fight, eh?”
”Nope! But y' see--she's only a girl, Geoff!”
”And that's the wonder of it!” nodded Mr. Ravenslee.
”Wonder? What d' ye mean?”
”I mean that all these years she has managed to feed you, and clothe you, and keep a comfortable home for you, and she's--only a girl!”
”Well, and ain't I tryin' to make good?” cried the boy eagerly.
”Are you really, Spike?”
”Sure! There's lots o' money in d' fightin' game, an' I'm fightin' all for Hermy. If ever I get a champ, I'll have money to burn, an' then she'll never be shy on d' dollar question no more, you bet! There'll be no more needlework or Mulligan's for Hermy; it'll be a farm in d'
country wid roses climbin' around, an' chickens, an'--an' automobiles, an' servants to come when she pushes d' b.u.t.ton--you bet!”
”Is she so fond of the country?”
”Well, I guess yes! An' flowers--Gee, she nearly eats 'em!”
”On the other hand,” said Mr. Ravenslee, watching the smoke from his pipe with a dreamy eye, ”on the other hand I gather she does not like--Mr. M'Ginnis! I wonder why?”
”You can search me!” answered Spike, shaking his head, ”but it's a sure thing she ain't got no use for Bud.”
”And yet--you go around with him, Spike.”
”But don't I tell ye he's been good t' me! He's goin' t' match me with some top-liners; he says if I can stick it I'll be a champion sure.”