They all saw something was wrong with Charlie, but they tried to pass it off.

“I’m glad you take it this way, Charlie,” said the Bearcat. “You’ll see, I’ll be better than ever. I’ll make everything up to you, Charlie, for your worry. I’ll train like the devil every day. Babe will help me. I’ll show you, Charlie.”

Charlie’s mind began to clear. If he had only known of this before, he’d have moved heaven and earth to stop it. But he hadn’t figured that she’d go so far as to marry the Bearcat.

“Charlie,” the Bearcat said pleadingly, “I ain’t pulled nothin’ crooked on you. This ain’t got nothin’ to do with fightin’. It’s somethin’ personal. Somethin’ between me and myself. Somethin’ that’s deep in here.” He pressed his hand against his heart.

Charlie’s eyes were still focussed on the blue sky beyond the window.

The Bearcat’s arms dropped loosely to his sides. His shoulders drooped.

“I guess you don’t see it my way,” he said. “I guess I’m kicked out.” His voice became hoarse. “All right, Charlie, if that’s how you feel. I’ll be packin’.”

Charlie’s eyes swept around to him. His voice was almost a whisper.

“You ain’t pulled nothin’ crooked, kid. But you might of told me. It hurts to be let down like this. But it’s all right, kid. It’s done. I ain’t one to squawk over what’s past. You’re too decent a sap to think of your own good. And I ain’t blamin’ you for not knowin’ what you ain’t found out. I hope it’s all like you think, kid. I hope it is. It sounds swell, the way Mrs. Delaney might be able to help you. It could be that way, and I’d like to see it that way. I’m with you. I like you. Miracles happen, sometimes. But we’ll see who’s with you at the finish and what the finish is. I’m reservin’ my congratulations till then. See you tomorrow at the gym, ten sharp.”

Charlie rose and without another word walked our the door and closed it softly behind him.

X HONEYMOON

BABE and the Bearcat went right in for being big shots. Cokey Jenny and the gang in Toni’s back room were cut dead. Big stuff, or nothing at all, as Babe put it. It was one thing after another, that whirl of high life. Races and ball games in the afternoon, theaters and suppers at night for Babe and the Bearcat’s pals of the fighting fraternity, with nothing but the highest price booze.