FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147  
148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   >>   >|  
s, before Sally had had time to grasp the fact that this work of art was a gift and no mere loan. "Here, Bugs--wantcher." A youth enveloped in a bath-robe, who had been talking to a group of admirers near the ring, turned, started languidly towards them, then, seeing Sally, quickened his pace. He was an admirer of the sex. Mr. Burrowes did the honours. "Bugs, this is Miss Nicholas, come to see you work out. I have been telling her she's going to have a treat." And to Sally. "Shake hands with Bugs Butler, ma'am, the coming lightweight champion of the world." Mr. Butler's photograph, Sally considered, had flattered him. He was, in the flesh, a singularly repellent young man. There was a mean and cruel curve to his lips and a cold arrogance in his eye; a something dangerous and sinister in the atmosphere he radiated. Moreover, she did not like the way he smirked at her. However, she exerted herself to be amiable. "I hope you are going to win, Mr. Butler," she said. The smile which she forced as she spoke the words removed the coming champion's doubts, though they had never been serious. He was convinced now that he had made a hit. He always did, he reflected, with the girls. It was something about him. His chest swelled complacently beneath the bath-robe. "You betcher," he asserted briefly. Mr. Burrows looked at his watch. "Time you were starting, Bugs." The coming champion removed his gaze from Sally's face, into which he had been peering in a conquering manner, and cast a disparaging glance at the audience. It was far from being as large as he could have wished, and at least a third of it was composed of non-payers from the newspapers. "All right," he said, bored. His languor left him, as his gaze fell on Sally again, and his spirits revived somewhat. After all, small though the numbers of spectators might be, bright eyes would watch and admire him. "I'll go a couple of rounds with Reddy for a starter," he said. "Seen him anywheres? He's never around when he's wanted." "I'll fetch him," said Mr. Burrowes. "He's back there somewheres." "I'm going to show that guy up this afternoon," said Mr. Butler coldly. "He's been getting too fresh." The manager bustled off, and Bugs Butler, with a final smirk, left Sally and dived under the ropes. There was a stir of interest in the audience, though the newspaper men, blase through familiarity, exhibited no emotion. Presently Mr. Burrowes reappea
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147  
148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Butler
 

champion

 

coming

 

Burrowes

 

audience

 
removed
 
languor
 

newspapers

 
composed
 

payers


numbers

 

spectators

 
revived
 

spirits

 
peering
 

starting

 
Burrows
 
looked
 

conquering

 

manner


wished

 

disparaging

 

glance

 

bright

 

bustled

 

manager

 

coldly

 

exhibited

 

emotion

 

Presently


reappea

 
familiarity
 

interest

 

newspaper

 

afternoon

 
rounds
 

starter

 
couple
 

admire

 
anywheres

somewheres
 

wanted

 
briefly
 
photograph
 

considered

 

flattered

 
admirers
 

lightweight

 
singularly
 

arrogance