Kitabı oku: «Frank Merriwell's Champions: or, All in the Game», sayfa 14

CHAPTER XXXI – THE FIRST BLOW

Hegner was giving Burk his regular daily training, explaining just when it was best to use the stop for the left-hand uppercut and when it was advisable to duck and counter on the body.

Quite a throng had gathered to watch them. Both were stripped down to their regular training suits, which gave Frank a chance to size them up still better than heretofore.

Merriwell saw he had made no mistake in Burk, but, if anything, Hegner was more sinewy and had better muscular development than Frank had thought.

The two lads were working gently, going through the movements for each blow, parry, dodge and counter with deliberation, and Frank soon saw that Hegner really knew his business.

“What do you think of those chaps, Merriwell?” asked Hodge, who seemed strangely restless and nervous.

“I haven’t seen them get to work in earnest yet,” was the answer.

“Say, old man!”

“What is it?”

“I’d like to see you go up against that Hegner and hammer him all over the lot. I despise the sight of him.”

“Perhaps I couldn’t do the trick, you know.”

“What? Get out! I know you could!”

Diamond was attracted by what was passing between them, and dipped in.

“Could? Could what?” he asked.

“Could knock the packing out of Mr. Hegner,” declared Bart, incautiously.

“Of course!” nodded Diamond.

Frank was about to caution them to speak lower, but it was too late. Hegner’s keen ears had heard enough, and he whirled on the trio like a tiger.

“Who is it that can knock the packing out of Mr. Hegner?” he harshly demanded. “If it is one of that party, let him step out! I’ll give him a chance.”

This sudden action confused both Hodge and Diamond, and Merriwell was silent. The eyes of all in the room were turned on the little group.

After a moment, Hegner laughed scornfully.

“What’s the matter with you chaps?” he sneeringly demanded. “I heard one of you say that somebody could knock the packing out of me. If you will bring the gentleman forward, I’ll be happy to give him a chance to try.”

Still the three were silent.

“Bah!” cried Hegner. “You’re a lot of bluffs! I can do you all in turn, one after the other, but there’s not one of the lot who has the nerve to put on the gloves with me.”

“If that is what you think, Mr. Hegner, it won’t take long to show you that you are mistaken,” said Frank, quietly, as he stepped out. “I am willing to put on the gloves with you for a friendly go.”

“You’ll be a snap,” came derisively from Hegner.

“Possibly so; but you can tell better about that later on.”

Creighton was somewhat disturbed.

“Hold on, fellows!” he exclaimed. “If you’re going to box, we do not want any hard feelings about it.”

“Don’t let that worry you as far as I am concerned,” said Frank, as placidly as ever. “Can I borrow a suit, Charlie?”

“Yes, you may have mine.”

Frank followed Creighton to a dressing-room, and Diamond went along. Hodge started to accompany them, and then seemed to change his mind, and remained behind.

“It’s too bad!” declared Creighton, as soon as they were in the room. “I’m sorry anything of the kind should happen.”

“I’m glad of it!” exclaimed Diamond, whose dark face was flushed and who seemed to be well satisfied.

“Oh, it’s all right,” laughed Frank, as he began to strip off. “There’s no damage done, old man.”

“But there may be. Hegner has an ugly temper.”

“Unless he can control it, it will be all the worse for him.”

“I don’t know. You can’t tell what he will do.”

“Don’t let it worry you.”

“But you do not profess to be away up in fighting and that fellow can fight like a tiger.”

“All the same, I shall do my best to give him a lively go.”

Creighton was worried, and he did not get over it quickly. In his heart he feared that Frank would get so much the worst of it that he would be regarded with derision, and he had bragged a great deal about Merriwell as an all-around athlete.

Diamond was not worried at all. He had the utmost confidence in Frank, and he seemed elated to think Merry was about to get at Hegner.

It did not take Frank long to strip and get into Charlie’s suit. Then the three came forth and found Hegner waiting for them.

The fellows present had gathered around, and it was the almost universal opinion that Hegner would make short work of the fellow from Yale.

Frank looked handsome in the sparring suit. He was neither too stocky nor too thin, but was graceful and supple, with a figure that aroused the envy of many a lad who looked him over then.

“This is to be a friendly bout, Mr. Hegner,” he said, as he accepted the gloves which were passed to him. “We are not to attempt to murder each other.”

“Oh, not at all!” said the other, with a crafty twinkle in his eye. “There is not much danger of murder with such gloves as these.”

When the gloves were carefully put on, they faced each other and shook hands, after which they were at it quickly.

Hegner danced away and came in with a bewildering rush, which was avoided with ease by Frank, who gave him a light body blow as he passed. Like a cat Wallace came about and was after Merriwell again. They sparred a moment, and Hegner tried to get in with a feint and a straight left-hand drive for the face. He put all his force into the blow, and it would have been a stunner had it landed; but Frank guarded with his right and countered with his left, sending Hegner staggering backward.

At the very outset Merriwell had the best of it, much to the surprise of those who had expected Hegner to “walk into him with a rush.” They looked at each other, and then said over and over that there would be a sudden change.

Wallace seemed a bit dazed by the reception he had received, and he ground his teeth with anger. He did not delay about coming to the scratch, however, and the bout went on.

After a little sparring, both led for the face, neither guarding, and both blows told. Then, like a flash, Hegner dropped under and tried to uppercut Frank, thinking to do this before Merry could recover.

The Yale lad went back with a bound, and Hegner found nothing but air. In another instant Frank came in again, and they were at it with fresh fury.

Again both led at the face with their left, but both ducked, and, with crossed arms, their fists shot over each other’s shoulder. They got away instantly, and Hegner followed Frank up, apparently determined to press the battle.

“If he gets Heg angry, he’ll be sorry,” declared one of the club members. “The fur will fly.”

Diamond, who seldom laughed, laughed now.

“If Mr. Hegner knows what is good for him, he’ll hold his temper,” he said. “If he loses it, Frank Merriwell will play with him.”

“Rats!” was the return. “Mr. Merriwell won’t melt things, if he is from Yale. He’s not the only shirt in the laundry; he can be done up.”

“You may be right, but Wallace Hegner hasn’t the starch to do the job.”

“Wait and see.”

For some moments the boxers sparred craftily, feeling for an opening, and then Hegner pushed things again. But his leads were met or dodged, and he received several sharp raps in return. One of his swinging blows came near landing, and it would have knocked Frank down had it reached.

It was plain enough that all Hegner wanted was a good opportunity to strike Merriwell with every bit of force at his command. He tried the trick repeatedly, and the look of rage increased in his eyes as each attempt was a failure.

“Merriwell is cleverer than I fancied he would be,” admitted one of the club members; “but he can’t last. Hegner will get him on the run after a while.”

A lead with Hegner’s left brought a sharp cross-counter from Merriwell, and the tap set the head of the young trainer ringing. He tried to get in with his right, and, instead of retreating a bit, was met with a right-hand cross-counter. Then he made a savage effort to uppercut with his left, but Frank ducked to the right and gave him a wind-killer under the heart.

Then it was seen that Hegner was fast losing his temper. He did his best to get Merriwell’s head under his arm, but simply succeeded in receiving a tap on the nose that made the blood run freely.

Hegner would have gone on fighting with the blood streaming down over his mouth, but several fellows jumped in and stopped the bout for the time, declaring that he must wash up.

“I know nothing has been said about rounds, but this is enough for the first one,” said Creighton.

“Steady, Heg, old man!” warned Burk, as he got hold of the excited fellow. “You are losing your head and giving him all the best of it. Take a little time to cool off, and you will be better off for it, my boy.”

So Hegner was led away to wash off the blood, but he called to Frank that he would return and finish the bout.

With the exception of Hodge and Diamond, nearly every one of the spectators was astonished by what he had seen. It was evident that Frank had much the best of the battle thus far, but still they could not bring themselves to believe he was a more scientific man than the trainer of Hank Burk. Hegner would redeem himself quickly enough in the next round, they were sure.

Frank was quite cool, smiling a bit as he pulled off the gloves and stood talking with Diamond and Hodge. But most remarkable of anything, although, with the possible exception of Frank, those who saw it did not know it, was the fact that there was a smile on the faces of both Bart Hodge and Jack Diamond. A smile was something remarkably rare for the face of either, and never before had they been known to smile both at the same time.

“Oh, this is great – simply great!” muttered Hodge. “Wonder if he isn’t beginning to think I knew what I was talking about when I said you could knock the packing out of him?”

“Oh, if you had on anything but those soft gloves!” said Diamond. “But you want to keep your eyes open. Some of his blows are wicked. They’d shake you up bad if they landed.”

“Have you seen any of them land yet?” asked Merry, in his quiet way.

“Not yet; and that’s why I’m happy. This is going to be the biggest surprise that ever struck the Fairmount Athletic Club.”

Hegner came hurrying back, with his companions trailing at his heels. He had succeeded in stopping the flow of blood very quickly, and now he was palpitating to be at Merriwell again.

“Come on!” he cried. “Let’s settle this thing! I haven’t got warmed up yet.”

“Give it to him, Merry!” cried Hodge.

“Crowd him this time!” whispered Diamond.

Again the lads faced each other. They began sparring slowly, Hegner making an effort to control his temper. He led at Frank a number of times, but Merry broke ground quickly each time, and it began to look as if he had resolved to hold off and keep away from Hegner. Wallace decided this was so, and attempted to press the tussle.

Right there he made his mistake. Merriwell had been trying to lead him on, and the effort was successful. One of the trainer’s rushes was met as if Frank had been nailed to the floor, and Hegner was sent spinning backward with two well-directed blows, catching his heels and sitting down heavily on the floor.

Somebody laughed outright.

Almost frothing at the mouth, the fallen fellow leaped to his feet. For a moment he stood glaring at Frank, and then, with a cry of rage, he threw off both gloves and leaped forward!

“I know when you try a foul!” he grated. “Two can play at the same trick!”

Then he tried to smash Merriwell in the face with his bare fist.

Frank was not in the least excited, and he did not attempt to get the gloves off. He met Hegner, parried his first blow, gave him a jolt that drove him back two steps, followed him up and came in with a swinging smash that landed on the fellow’s jaw.

Hegner was literally lifted off his feet and sent flying through the air. His head struck against the hard wall with a resounding crack, and then he dropped to the floor, where he lay in a limp and motionless heap.

CHAPTER XXXII – A SURPRISE PARTY

“I am sorry it was necessary to strike him such a blow,” said Frank, as he deliberately removed the gloves from his hands; “but I call on you all to bear witness that he came at me with his bare fists, and I was forced to defend myself.”

“That’s right,” said Charlie Creighton, quickly. “Hegner had no right to do such a thing. You would not have been to blame if you had got off your glove and struck him.”

To this a number of the club members agreed, while some were silent. Hank Burk and two others bent over Hegner and tried to arouse him, but the fellow had been severely stunned when his head cracked against the wall and it was some time before he seemed to realize what had happened.

When he did understand, however, he was furious.

“Let me get at him!” he madly cried, struggling to his feet. “I’ll hammer the life out of him! I’ll have revenge!”

“Steady, Hegner!” warned Burk. “You’re in no condition to go against him now. You slipped when he struck you the last time, and – ”

Hegner caught at this eagerly.

“Yes, yes, I slipped!” he snarled. “If it hadn’t been for that, he’d never have got the best of it. And I fell and struck against the wall. I can do him any time.”

“Of course you can, old fellow. But you know a fight will not be allowed in this club. You’ll have to wait for your opportunity. It will come all right.”

Hegner cooled down.

“Take your hands off me,” he said. “I won’t touch him again, but I want to tell him something.”

“Sure you won’t get excited and jump him?”

“Sure.”

“All right.”

They fell back and let him go. He advanced toward Frank, and shook a clinched fist in his face, harshly grating:

“This is all right, Merriwell! I’ll not forget you! You can bet your life I’ll more than get even!”

“I simply defended myself from an attack on your part, and I kept the gloves on all the time, Hegner.”

Frank stood with his hands on his hips, looking the raging fellow straight in the eye.

“You struck me foul before that. Oh, I’ll not forget your blow! I’ll have another whirl with you!”

“Well, let me warn you to look out for my next blow. It may be much more severe than the last one.”

“Bah! You are a blowhard! I’ll not waste my breath on you!”

Then Hegner turned and walked away, accompanied by Burk and two or three others.

Frank turned to Charlie Creighton, saying:

“Old man, I trust you will believe me when I tell you I am very sorry this affair occurred. It was not of my seeking, even though I had no liking for Hegner.”

“You are not to blame in the least, Merriwell, and I believe the majority of the fellows who saw it will say so. Eh, boys?”

“Not in the least,” chorused nearly all those present.

“Still I am sorry it occurred here,” asserted Frank. “I am a visitor here, and – ”

“That is a reason why we should express our regrets, not you,” said a member. “Hegner lost his head when he saw you were getting the best of him. He owes you an apology for that and for his insulting words just now.”

“Well,” smiled Frank, “I scarcely expect an apology from him, for I believe he is a fellow who will nurse his discomfiture and brood over it, thinking he is the one wronged. I am glad, gentlemen, you do not think I was at all to blame.”

Then Frank, Charlie, Jack and Bart went away to the dressing-room, where Merry stripped off and was rubbed down with a coarse towel before resuming street clothes.

“Merriwell,” said Creighton, as he admired the magnificent figure of the handsome young Yale athlete, whose entire body was glowing from the rub-down, “I want to say right here that I underestimated you previous to this. I knew you were a good man, but did not think you could make a monkey of a fellow like Hegner, who is a semi-professional prize fighter. I was afraid he would be too much for you, and you know I have had considerable to say about you to the fellows.”

“I didn’t know but he might be too much for me when I put on the gloves with him,” confessed Frank; “but that would not have killed me. I do not consider myself invincible.”

“Well, Hegner was a mark for you, and we have considered him as good as anything going in his class. It made him furious when he saw he was no match for you.”

“In my estimation that fellow is a fake,” declared Hodge. “He puts up a big bluff, but – ”

“He may be a good trainer,” said Frank. “Many a first-class trainer is unable to put up much of a mill when it comes right down to business.”

“Oh, you want to be too easy with the fellow!” broke out Diamond. “I don’t believe he is any good, and I am sure he is crooked.”

“You have taken a dislike to him, and that’s why you think that,” said Creighton. “He is all right in his way.”

“But that is a very poor way.”

“I confess that he lost his head and made a fool of himself, and I hope he will realize it when he cools down.”

“If he should apologize I presume you would meet him halfway, Merriwell?”

“You may be sure of that,” nodded Frank, getting into his clothes. “I’d be a churl if I didn’t.”

“If he ever apologizes I am a fool,” grunted Hodge.

When the boys came out of the dressing-room they immediately left the club and proceeded directly to the hotel, where the rest of Frank’s friends were staying.

Barney, Hans, Ephraim and Bruce were engaged in a game of pinochle when the others came in, and the Dutch lad was greatly excited.

“You poys don’d gif nopody a show!” he squawked. “On der last handt Parney feex der carts, und dese dime I haf a shance to meld dree hundret beenuckle, but you don’t let me done him. Uf dot peen fair blaying you vos a liar!”

“Arrah, come off yer perch, ye Dutch chaze!” retorted the Irish lad. “Ye troied to milt two quanes av doimonds an’ two jacks av spades instid av voicy varsey, an’ thot koind av a play don’t go in this game.”

“Vot vos der madder mit me anyvay!” cried Hans, flourishing his cards. “You pelief I don’d know nottings apout dot game, hey? I shown you britty queek, py shimminy! Vait a bit! I haf der deese und a hundred und vifty drums, und den I pelief you vill laugh oudt uf der odder side uf my mouth.”

“Oh, say!” grunted Browning, with a yawn, “are you chaps going to play cards? or are you going to shoot your mouths at each other all the time? I’m getting tired.”

“So be I, b’gosh!” put in Ephraim, banging his fist down on the table. “I never played this game before, and yeou fellers roped me in for a sucker, but I’ll show ye what kind of suckers they raise in Varmont. I’m gittin’ hot enough to melt the hull gol darn pack!”

“There is a lively game of cards,” laughed Frank. “It is better than a circus when they get to playing pinochle.”

The appearance of Frank and his companions broke up the game, for Hans protested that he was being cheated, and refused to play any more, to the disgust of the other players.

Creighton invited the entire party to be present at the bout between Burk and Jackson, and an hour was spent discussing the coming event, at the end of which time Charlie departed, having invited them all to call on him any time. Before departing, he gave Frank and Bart a quiet tip that he would be pleased to see them that evening.

Nearly all the boys had secured tickets for the Chestnut Street Theatre that evening, with the exception of Frank and Bart. They were resolved to have a pleasant time while they remained in the Quaker City.

Although it was September, the evening proved to be very warm, and, on arriving at Creighton’s, Frank and Bart found something of a lawn party was in progress. The garden was illumined by Chinese lanterns, with the exception of certain cozy corners where comfortable seats could be found, and such corners were much sought by more or less sentimental young couples.

An orchestra furnished delightful music, and the hum of voices and sound of laughter could be heard on all sides, while pretty girls and manly-looking lads strolled and flitted hither and thither about the grounds.

“Jove!” muttered Frank, as he and Bart paused and looked about. “This is a surprise! Creighton didn’t tell us what was going to happen.”

“If he had, I should have spruced up a trifle more,” came ruefully from Hodge. “I have half a mind to skip out now.”

“And I have half a mind to skip with you,” confessed Merry.

“Neither of you shall do anything of the kind!” exclaimed the voice of Mabel Creighton, and then she, accompanied by Bessie Blossom, swooped down on the hesitating lads and made them captives.

“This is just a jolly surprise all around,” Mabel explained. “There is scarcely a soul present who knew what was going to happen. Charlie said it was the last opportunity we’d have for a lawn party this season, and we decided to improve the occasion. We’ll have a jolly time.”

“We always have a splendid time here,” said Bessie, clinging to Bart’s arm. “Charlie said you were coming, and we have been waiting for you.”

“And now we’ve caught you, you can’t get away,” laughed Mabel.

“Then we must resign ourselves to fate and thank goodness we have such charming captors,” smiled Frank.

“I don’t seem to care what happens to me now,” Hodge declared. “I can be led to any fate without a struggle.”

“Then come on,” cried Mabel, “and we’ll lead you to cake and ices.”

Soon they were cozily seated at a small table, with ices before them. As they chatted and laughed, another couple came along and took a table near at hand. Before they appeared Frank recognized the saucy laugh of Fanny Darling.

“Oh, it was such fun!” she was saying, as she sat down. “I knew I could touch him if I kept firing hot shots in his direction, and I was right. He stood it as long as he could, and then he shot back. But wait till I get another good chance. I won’t do a thing to that fellow!”

“He is not worth wasting your time and breath on, Miss Darling,” said the voice of Wallace Hegner. “The best thing you can do is not to notice him.”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that! There wouldn’t be any fun in it. He may be smart, but there are others. I’d like to see you get at him, Mr. Hegner. I’ll bet you’d do him up in short order with the gloves.”

“Well – ahem!” coughed Hegner, “I mean to get at him some time, and I may not wear the gloves. What I’d like to do is to leave the mark of my fist on his – ”

The girl gave a startled exclamation and grasped Hegner’s arm, saying something in a low tone. Hegner was heard to ask, “Where?” and a whispered conversation followed.

Frank was genuinely amused, for he knew they had been speaking of him. A low, musical laugh came from his lips, and he observed:

“It is remarkable how really amusing some little occurrences are, Miss Creighton. Did you ever notice it?”

The others of the party had not failed to take in the significance of the words they had heard, and it was with no small difficulty that they repressed a hilarious burst of laughter. Indeed the girls were unable to refrain entirely from laughing, and Hodge smiled in a weary, derisive way, saying:

“Some people never know how really amusing they are. They go through the world thinking they are having fun with everybody else, and all the while they are making a show of themselves.”

Fanny Darling jumped up quickly.

“Come, Mr. Hegner,” she said, her voice not quite steady; “I do not care to sit here.”

Hegner said something in a growling tone, and they moved away.

“It’s too bad,” said Frank; “but we are not to blame. We could not help hearing.”

“I don’t know as it’s too bad,” declared Mabel. “They should be careful what they say. I can’t bear Wallace Hegner, and I do not understand what there is about him that interests Fanny. But she is queer, anyway.”

“It doesn’t strike me that she is very agreeable,” said Bart.

“If she takes a fancy, she can be awfully hateful; but she is good-hearted, and when she likes a person she would do anything in her power for him. It’s too bad she is so freakish.”

“She is just saucy enough to be amusing,” declared Frank. “I do not mind it in the least.”

“It is evident she does not know of your little bout with Mr. Hegner,” said Hodge. “She thinks he can do you.”

“Charlie told me all about it,” put in Mabel, quickly. “I’m so glad, for Wallace Hegner has carried himself with an air that was little short of bullying.”

“Perhaps he has learned a lesson,” smiled Bessie.

“It will take more than that to teach him a lesson,” Mabel asserted. “What he really needs is a good whipping.”

“Well, that is what he is liable to get if he does not let Merry alone,” nodded Bart.

A few minutes later Creighton appeared.

“Hello, fellows!” he cheerfully called. “I’m glad you are here, and I see you have found the parties who told me to be sure to invite you.”

This confused Bessie somewhat, but Mabel immediately confessed that she had told her brother to be sure to invite Frank.

Charlie sat down a few moments and talked, and then strolled away, saying he must see that every one was enjoying the evening.