Cinder Path Tales

THE HOLLOW HAMMER 37 I was willing tounderrate my powers, and fool the fancyon my condition; to win by a scant yard with pretended effort, inorder to pull on my opponent to another race; but to back him on the sly and lie down, to pull money frommy friends, I could not. A gentleman I might notbe, but honestI would be still. Indeed, despite the " winning way " I had, my reputation was of the best as a rare, goodrunner, asa square man who gave his backers a straight run for their money, and as the most knowing man in the States concerning work and training for the cinder- path. On this lastI made up my mind to trade. I announced my absolute retirement as a contestant, andmy intention to make abusi­ ness of training and handling others. My prices startled them a bit at the begin­ ning, but after Ihad made afew winners out of almost impossibletimber, I was kept fairly well occupied. When the winter put a stop to my out-of-doors work, I became instructor in a gymnasium, andgave lessons inboxing and fencing. I even prepared one man for a ring contest, whichhe won, thanks to his perfect condition,after actingas a chopping- block to a better boxer for a couple ofhours, this affair satisfying me at once and forever with the prize ring.