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taking his fiercest punishment； it had been bleak and gray； and
still later； when living through and clutching and holding on； it
had taken on a wistful expression。 But now； out of danger himself
and as he forced the fight； his fighting face came upon him。 She
saw it and shuddered。 It removed him so far from her。 She had
thought she knew him； all of him； and held him in the hollow of her
hand； but this she did not knowthis face of steel； this mouth of
steel； these eyes of steel flashing the light and glitter of steel。
It seemed to her the passionless face of an avenging angel； stamped
only with the purpose of the Lord。
Ponta attempted one of his old…time rushes； but was stopped on the
mouth。 Implacable； insistent； ever menacing； never letting him
rest； Joe followed him up。 The round； the thirteenth； closed with a
rush； in Ponta's corner。 He attempted a rally； was brought to his
knees； took the nine seconds' count； and then tried to clinch into
safety； only to receive four of Joe's terrible stomach punches； so
that with the gong he fell back； gasping； into the arms of his
seconds。
Joe ran across the ring to his own corner。
〃Now I'm going to get 'm；〃 he said to his second。
〃You sure fixed 'm that time；〃 the latter answered。 〃Nothin' to
stop you now but a lucky punch。 Watch out for it。〃
Joe leaned forward； feet gathered under him for a spring； like a
foot…racer waiting the start。 He was waiting for the gong。 When it
sounded he shot forward and across the ring； catching Ponta in the
midst of his seconds as he rose from his stool。 And in the midst of
his seconds he went down； knocked down by a right…hand blow。 As he
arose from the confusion of buckets； stools； and seconds； Joe put
him down again。 And yet a third time he went down before he could
escape from his own corner。
Joe had at last become the whirlwind。 Genevieve remembered his
〃just watch； you'll know when I go after him。〃 The house knew it；
too。 It was on its feet； every voice raised in a fierce yell。 It
was the blood…cry of the crowd； and it sounded to her like what she
imagined must be the howling of wolves。 And what with confidence in
her lover's victory she found room in her heart to pity Ponta。
In vain he struggled to defend himself； to block； to cover up； to
duck； to clinch into a moment's safety。 That moment was denied him。
Knockdown after knockdown was his portion。 He was knocked to the
canvas backwards； and sideways； was punched in the clinches and in
the break…awaysstiff； jolty blows that dazed his brain and drove
the strength from his muscles。 He was knocked into the corners and
out again； against the ropes； rebounding； and with another blow
against the ropes once more。 He fanned the air with his arms；
showering savage blows upon emptiness。 There was nothing human left
in him。 He was the beast incarnate； roaring and raging and being
destroyed。 He was smashed down to his knees； but refused to take
the count； staggering to his feet only to be met stiff…handed on the
mouth and sent hurling back against the ropes。
In sore travail； gasping； reeling； panting； with glazing eyes and
sobbing breath； grotesque and heroic； fighting to the last； striving
to get at his antagonist； he surged and was driven about the ring。
And in that moment Joe's foot slipped on the wet canvas。 Ponta's
swimming eyes saw and knew the chance。 All the fleeing strength of
his body gathered itself together for the lightning lucky punch。
Even as Joe slipped the other smote him； fairly on the point of the
chin。 He went over backward。 Genevieve saw his muscles relax while
he was yet in the air； and she heard the thud of his head on the
canvas。
The noise of the yelling house died suddenly。 The referee； stooping
over the inert body； was counting the seconds。 Ponta tottered and
fell to his knees。 He struggled to his feet； swaying back and forth
as he tried to sweep the audience with his hatred。 His legs were
trembling and bending under him； he was choking and sobbing；
fighting to breathe。 He reeled backward； and saved himself from
falling by a blind clutching for the ropes。 He clung there；
drooping and bending and giving in all his body； his head upon his
chest； until the referee counted the fatal tenth second and pointed
to him in token that he had won。
He received no applause； and he squirmed through the ropes；
snakelike； into the arms of his seconds； who helped him to the floor
and supported him down the aisle into the crowd。 Joe remained where
he had fallen。 His seconds carried him into his corner and placed
him on the stool。 Men began climbing into the ring； curious to see；
but were roughly shoved out by the policemen； who were already
there。
Genevieve looked on from her peep…hole。 She was not greatly
perturbed。 Her lover had been knocked out。 In so far as
disappointment was his； she shared it with him； but that was all。
She even felt glad in a way。 The Game had played him false； and he
was more surely hers。 She had heard of knockouts from him。 It
often took men some time to recover from the effects。 It was not
till she heard the seconds asking for the doctor that she felt
really worried。
They passed his limp body through the ropes to the stage； and it
disappeared beyond the limits of her peep…hole。 Then the door of
her dressing…room was thrust open and a number of men came in。 They
were carrying Joe。 He was laid down on the dusty floor； his head
resting on the knee of one of the seconds。 No one seemed surprised
by her presence。 She came over and knelt beside him。 His eyes were
closed； his lips slightly parted。 His wet hair was plastered in
straight locks about his face。 She lifted one of his hands。 It was
very heavy； and the lifelessness of it shocked her。 She looked
suddenly at the faces of the seconds and of the men about her。 They
seemed frightened； all save one； and he was cursing； in a low voice；
horribly。 She looked up and saw Silverstein standing beside her。
He； too； seemed frightened。 He rested a kindly hand on her
shoulder； tightening the fingers with a sympathetic pressure。
This sympathy frightened her。 She began to feel dazed。 There was a
bustle as somebody entered the room。 The person came forward；
proclaiming irritably： 〃Get out！ Get out！ You've got to clear the
room！〃
A number of men silently obeyed。
〃Who are you？〃 he abruptly demanded of Genevieve。 〃A girl； as I'm
alive！〃
〃That's all right； she's his girl；〃 spoke up a young fellow she
recognized as her guide。
〃And you？〃 the other man blurted explosively at Silverstein。
〃I'm vit her；〃 he answered truculently。
〃She works for him；〃 explained the young fellow。 〃It's all right； I
tell you。〃
The newcomer grunted and knelt down。 He passed a hand over the damp
head； grunted again； and arose to his feet。
〃This is no case for me；〃 he said。 〃Send for the ambulanc