CHAPTER XIV
FISTICUFFS
Siebold, a keen-witted fellow and an athlete, was the leading spiritamong the sophomores of Marshallton Tech. He was class president, stoodeasily at the head of his classes, if head there was, and in most thingshe admittedly surpassed his fellows. His people being well-to-do, heindulged in all the little "side kicks," as the boys termed sports,social diversions and the like.
A really fine chap was Siebold, though he possessed one unfortunatefailing--he persisted in holding to a grudge; and he had never forgivenBill and Gus for that hazing fiasco, nor for bringing down the scorn ofthe school on what had been considered a harmless kind of fun.
Of course, the school had a debating society, of which the membershipwas from all classes. Bill joined it; Gus did not, and it was the onlything in which they acted separately, with the exception of thegymnasium. Bill was sorry he had joined the society, for upon beingchosen one of the three speakers on one side of a subject so decidedlyin their favor that the question should never have been selected asoffering a negative, Bill had so completely overcome the opposition ledby Siebold, who especially prided himself as a debater, that hisopponent and his mates were held up to much ridicule. Whereupon thebreach widened, and Siebold took many occasions to show a paltry spiteagainst Bill and even toward Gus because he was Bill's chum.
In the gym, Siebold also shone as a good boxer, fencer and wrestler.This rarely brought him into contact with Gus who, during his shortexercise, avoided others. Tony, however, was willing to become a victim.The young Italian liked to put on the gloves, as he was quick, strongand good-natured; but the instructor had, for some reason known only tohimself, passed him by.
Late one afternoon Gus stopped pulling weights to watch Siebold box witha big soph who was a mark for quick, scientific work and whose heavypunches and swings often fell short of their aim. Tony also was aninterested spectator and came forward with the request that Siebold showhim some of the points he had mastered. Whereupon Siebold had theItalian lad put on the gloves with Sadler and the big fellow promptlyhit Tony and knocked him off his feet.
The Italian's dark eyes flashed fire, but he smiled and came back. Theinstructor refused to let the bout continue, saying that Tony must gainmore experience. Gus called Tony over.
"I don't want to butt in," he said, "but I didn't like that. You couldlearn that game. Would you mind if----" he hesitated modestly.
"Could you show me? Everything you do so verra good."
Tony was so eager that Gus consented. They agreed to come to the gym ata time when no one, not even the instructor, was there. Then, inaddition, Tony bought a set of gloves so that the two could practice inthe shop now and then. A month went by. Cold weather came; then theChristmas holidays. Bill and Gus went home for the one big day, and cameback to study and to continue their shop work; but Tony was away for tendays, during which he took a few lessons from one of the best teachersof the fistic art that could be found.
"He said I am now there," gleefully announced Tony when the three gottogether again; "and that I can learn one poco, for I did puncha himtimes several and he no hit me sempra. I think you," his dark eyesappraised Gus, "are quite--no, I not throw bouquets--are gooda as he."
"Oh, not so good as Ben Duffy? I know all about him. I went once with mycity uncle to see him fight. He's a crackerjack, sure."
"But he not poka me more as you do," argued Tony.
"Well, I've been studying your defense longer--it's mine too, you know.That's the reason." The generous Gus smiled. "Anyway, let's go to thegym to-morrow. I want to see how you mix it up now with Sadler."
Tony did "mix it up" much to Sadler's discomfort. Siebold stepped up:
"Say, Italy, where did you get it?" And Tony, proud, ever eager to givecredit to a friend, nodded toward Gus.
"To him I do owe it. He one granda master with the feest."
"So? Expert electrician, mechanic, sport spoiler and bruiser, eh? Somecombination." And Siebold turned away with something too much like asneer on his fine face. Gus was hurt, but smiled, as usual. Tonyresented the slur.
"For all which," he said, "the cervel--the brain, is required, eh?Maybe, Soph, if you brain ancora had you could beata heem--but no sonow."
"No? I'll bet a sardine that you could put it all over him," Sieboldsaid, desiring to mollify an upper classman. Tony laughed.
"No; not coulda you ancora, nor any other one in this school."
Siebold turned away, as he added: "You won't have a chance to provethat. I pick my company. But you will get another go at Sadler after Igive him some more pointers." It was evident that the leader among thesophomores was something of a snob. A little later his prediction cametrue regarding Sadler and Tony.
Gus was again a witness to the bout. It had become noised around and thegym held a goodly crowd of students. At such times the instructor,though interested and often a witness, dodged participation because ofthe slugging tendency and its possible effect on the school if heencouraged such a thing.
Tony went into the game with a smile. Sadler, though generallygood-natured, was serious and determined from the start. He got a numberof stinging cracks on his ribs and in the stomach, Tony hardly beingable to reach his head. Beaten again at points, landed on five times asoften as he landed, he began to resort to a waiting game, for there wasno doubt he could stand punishment. Stand it he did until Tony gotenough confidence for infighting, though he should never have attemptedto swap punches with such a big fellow.
Suddenly Sadler caught the smaller man starting a short arm upper cutfor the jaw and he took it open, delivering at the same instant a hookthat no man when giving a blow could hope to block. He caught Tonycoming in and that lent additional momentum to the blow which got Tonyon the side of the neck, over the artery, and it was as clean aknock-out as could be given. They carried the Italian to a wrestlingmat, fanned and bathed his face, and when he came to and sat up, Sieboldwas there with his ready tongue.
"He's too heavy for you. No fellow could hope to stand up to Sadler athis own game. I told you so."
Gus saw Tony's real hurt and was incensed. "Oh, don't you believe that,"he said to Tony. "Another time----"
"Huh, fellow! Maybe you think you could stand up to Sadler. I'd like tosee you, or anyone here, even the instructor." He glanced around. "Couldthey, Mr. Gay?"
"Well, perhaps not. Sadler has the punch and you can't hurt him," saidthe instructor, coming up. "Feel all right now, Sabaste?"
Nothing more was said about another bout, but the subject stirred thecrowd so that it could not die out entirely. Three or four days laterthe instructor and Siebold entered the gym together, and stopped towatch Gus punching the bag. Siebold had never seen anything quite sosnappy as that. Mr. Gay made some remarks.
"That fellow must have had some instructions under a strong teacher--there's good material there! Say, look at the way he plays a tattooand swings, too, and gets away from it. Foot work, my boy--foot work!You're good, Siebold, but we haven't anything like that in the school.I had no idea of it."
"Shucks! All the same I'd like to see him swap cracks with Sadler," saidSiebold doggedly. Just at that instant Sadler came lumbering in with adozen other fellows at his heels.
"Better not start anything rough," cautioned Mr. Gay.
But Siebold paid no heed. He walked over to Gus and addressed himroughly:
"Say, would you have the nerve to fight Sadler?"
"Fight? Fight? Why, man, I have no reason to. I haven't anything againsthim." Gus was indignant. "And as to boxing bouts, I'm not in this game.Too busy!"
"Shucks! One way to whitewash a little streak of yellow." This with asneer.
Suddenly the kindly smile on Gus's manly face faded out. He steppedquickly in front of Siebold.
"You can't say that to me! I'll fight you here and now; bare knuckles ifyou like."
Mr. Gay overheard the conversation and came back to the boys.
&
nbsp; "None of that here," he said. "If you want to have a friendly bout withthe gloves, all right--even to a finish--but no bad blood."
Gus turned away. So did Siebold. Sadler, who was tired of being punchedat Siebold's request, would prefer to do a little looking on. Withsatisfaction he saw Mr. Gay take his hat and leave the building. Theinstructor may have seen a scrap on the way and wished to evaderesponsibility. He was anxious to be popular with the boys.
Sadler offered a few suggestions. Immediately several boys surroundedgood-natured Gus and shoved him into the open center of the room. Thenthey did the same to Siebold, but with more verbal persuasiveness and ina moment the two were facing each other, and a pair of boxing-gloves washanded to each.