you fight anywheres, have I?"

"No, but I've seen you, Spider, I saw you beat Larry McKinnon at
'Frisco."

"Which sure was some fight!" nodded the Spider. "Them half-arm jolts of
his sure shook me some; he'd have got me in th' third if I hadn't
clinched."

"He was a terror at in-fighting."

"He sure was, bo!"

"It was your jabbing and footwork won you the fight, Spider, one of the
best I've ever seen--very little clinching and clean breakaways."

"Larry sure was game all through, yes--right up to the knock-out. A
good, clean fighter. 'N' say, bo, I was real sorry to see him counted
out."

"It meant a big purse for you, I remember."

"Oh, sure, I had money to burn. I ain't got much left now, though," said
the Spider ruefully.

"You came pretty near being a world's champion, Spider."

"Aw--jest near enough t' miss it, I guess. Talkin' o' champeens, the
greatest of 'em, th' best fightin' man as ever swung a mitt, I reckon
was Joe Madden, as retired years ago. Nobody could ever lick Joe
Madden."

"Did you know him?"

"Not me, bo, I wasn't in his class. But I seen him fight years ago."

"Do you think Spike will ever make a champion?" enquired Ravenslee
suddenly. "I mean if he were given every chance?"

"Well," answered the Spider slowly, "he sure has the grit; ther ain't
nothin' on two legs he's afraid of except--himself, bo. He's too
high-strung. Nerves is his trouble, I reckon. Why, Chee! When he's in d'
ring he can't be still a minute, can't let himself rest between rounds,
see? He kinder beats himself, I guess."

"I know what you mean," nodded Ravenslee, "and I'm sure you're right.
By the way, have you ever seen M'Ginnis fight?"

"I seen him scrap once or twice--he's sure ugly in a rough-house, but in
th' ring--well, I dunno!"

"Has he a punch?"

"Bo, he's got a sleep-pill in each mitt if--if he can land his wallop
right! Yes, siree, if Bud can hit a guy where it'll do most good, that
guy's sure goin' to forget his cares an' troubles for a bit. But he's
slow an' heavy, Bud is, though I ain't never seen him mix it in th'
ring, mind."

"H'm," said Ravenslee thoughtfully, "M'Ginnis seems to have it all his
own way around here--why?"

"Well, because Bud's Bud, an' because Bud's old man is a Tammany
boss--which gives Bud a big pull wid d' police. 'Nuff said, I guess."

"Quite!" nodded Ravenslee, and walked thereafter deeper in thought than
ever. "Where are you taking me?" he enquired, as they turn