ike a tiger. "Well, let's see if you
can stop me from putting over something on you."

Like a mad beast he rushed at the big athlete, his arms swinging in
smashing blows. But not one of them landed; with an agility that made
the spectators open their eyes, Bat side-stepped, and ducked, a
confident smile upon his lips; then with incredible ease he stepped in
and landed a clean, snappy hook which tumbled the pugilist over in a
surprised heap.

A smothered shout went up; Duke Sheehan came from behind his bar as
several men lifted the rather dazed fighting man to his feet.

"Now, look," spoke Sheehan, "this goes! Any saloon I keep is never
intended for a battle-ground. So draw the curtain on that stuff of
yours, Allen. It'll get me into trouble."

The pugilist made not very strenuous efforts to put aside those who had
gathered about him.

"Where is that guy?" demanded he. "Where is he? I'll fix him for that!"

The insincerity of the voice caught Sheehan's attention; he smiled
satirically and winked at Big Slim.

"Get him out of here," ordered the saloon-keeper, briefly. "I don't want
the cops here. Get him out and pile him up somewhere till he's sober."

Allen made no very violent protests at being taken out, and after he'd
gone he resumed his place behind the bar. Looking with much interest at
Scanlon, he said:

"What are you going to have, big fellow?"

Bat waved a hand.

"Not any, thanks. But if you'll pass over a cigarette I'll see what I
can do with that."

A box of cigarettes was thrown before him on the polished bar, and as he
lighted one of them, Sheehan leaned toward him.

"That was nice work," spoke he. "Pretty clean. Ever done much of it?"

"It used to be my meal-ticket," said the big athlete. "Long time ago,
though."

Big Slim extended one of his bony hands.

"I'm much obliged," said he. "That was a good turn you done me."

"That's all right," said Bat, offhandedly. "You ain't got the weight to
mix it with him, and I saw you was going to pull a gun or something. No
use to let yourself get in bad, you know."

Sheehan lingered a little, talking to the two, but when he finally went
away to attend to a party of "spenders" who had just come in, Big Slim
said:

"Been in this burg long?"

"Not very. Ain't doing very well, either. They told me money here was as
loose as dust, but I don't see any of it flying around me."

The burglar cracked his long, bony fingers.

"It's something fierce whe