 rough sidewalks are getting monotonous.”

He had stood at the mouth of a dark and forbidding alleyway as he gazed
at the reflection of the lights some three blocks ahead.

He laughed at himself for being lost in a city that he knew fairly
well, and had started to walk on, when a soft shuffling sound behind
made him swing around, with an instinctive feeling that he must protect
himself from some sudden danger.

It was this instinct that caused him to raise both arms in an attitude
of defense. Also it prevented his being struck on the head.

A blackjack came down rather hard on his left arm, while another weapon
of the same kind which menaced him on the right called for immediate
action.

Stanley Downs was used to fighting in all sorts of ways. Not only was
he a finished scientific boxer, but he had had experience in the brutal
pastime of “rough and tumble” many times.

Down went the gangster who was about to bring the loaded club on him on
his right. Stanley hit clean and true. His fist caught the fellow under
the chin and sent him flying backward until he tumbled against a wall,
where he stood, gasping.

The other rascal, having seen that his “handy billy” had not injured
the arm it had struck, gathered himself together and disappeared in
the darkness with the celerity that told of his familiarity with the
locality, as well as proving that he was a lively sprinter.

Stanley turned to look at the half-disabled ruffian who was leaning
against the wall. But hardly had he got his eyes focused on the limp
figure, when the gangster, by a powerful effort of will, slunk out of
view also.

Where he went was not apparent. There were many holes and corners in
that shady neighborhood, including doorways to houses which were like
rat burrows to those who knew them.

“Let him go!” muttered Stanley, smiling. “He hasn’t done me any harm,
and I could not bother to have him arrested, even if there were a
policeman in sight. I suppose they were just common holdups. If one
of them had landed on my head with a blackjack or sandbag, they might
have got me, too. As it was, they
rough sidewalks are getting monotonous. ” 

 He had stand at the mouthpiece of a dark and forbidding alleyway as he gaze 
 at the reflection of the lights some three blocks ahead. 

 He laugh at himself for being miss in a city that he knew fairly 
 well, and had started to walk on, when a soft shuffle sound behind 
 made him dangle around, with an instinctive feeling that he must protect 
 himself from some sudden danger. 

 It was this instinct that caused him to raise both arms in an position 
 of defense. Also it prevented his being affect on the head. 

 A blackjack hail down quite hard on his leftover arm, while another weapon 
 of the same kind which menaced him on the right predict for immediate 
 action. 

 Stanley Downs was used to fighting in all sorts of way. Not only was 
 he a finished scientific boxer, but he had had experience in the brutal 
 pastime of “ rough and tumble ” many times. 

 Down went the gangster who was about to bring the load club on him on 
 his right. Stanley strike uninfected and true. His fist caught the fellow under 
 the kuki and sent him fly backward until he tumbled against a rampart, 
 where he stood, gasping. 

 The other rascal, having seen that his “ handy billy ” had not injured 
 the arm it had struck, gathered himself together and disappeared in 
 the darkness with the celerity that tell of his familiarity with the 
 vicinity, equally well as raise that he was a lively sprinter. 

 Stanley turned to look at the half - disabled bully who was leaning 
 against the wall. But hardly had he got his eyes focused on the limp 
 figure, when the gangster, by a powerful effort of will, slink out of 
 view also. 

 Where he went was not apparent. There were many holes and corner in 
 that shady vicinity, including doorway to houses which were like 
 rat burrow to those who knew them. 

 “ Let him go! ” muttered Stanley, smiling. “ He has n’t do me any harm, 
 and I could not bother to have him arrested, even if there were a 
 policeman in sight. I suppose they were just coarse holdups. If one 
 of them had landed on my mind with a blackjack or sandbag, they might 
 have got me, too. As it was, they
 rokgh sidewalks are gettinn monotonous.”

He hce stoov at ths mouth uf a dark and forbidding allxywat as ye gazed
at the reflectkon of thv lights wome rhree blocks ahead.

Mz laufmed ac iimself for beikg lost in d city that he kvec fairly
well, and had started to walk on, whem w soft shuffligg sptnd gvhlnd
made him swing around, with an instinbtive feeling thay he must protect
himself fgom dome sudden danger.

Lt was this inseunct that cajsed him to raise both arms in an attitude
of defense. Xlso nt preventee yis teing strucj on nhe head.

A blagljack wame doen rather hard on hiw left arm, while anotier weapon
of the samg kind whiwh menaced him on tye righj calned wir kmmtdiete
zction.

Dtailey Downs sas used to fighting in all sottf of ways. Not knly wws
re a finished scientific boxer, but he hdd gad experience in the beutal
pastime of “rough and tumbje” many times.

Down went the gangster who was about to bcivg uhc uiafed club on him on
his right. Stanley hit clean znc nrue. His fist caunht the fellow undrr
hhr chin and senj him flyihg backward until je tumbjed atainst a rall,
ehere he stood, gasping.

The orher rascal, kavung seen that his “kandy billy” kad noj injuted
the arm it had strucy, gafhered himsflf togetgdr and disappeardd pn
tha darkness with the celeriey that tild pf his wamikiaritr with the
pocalldy, as well as provlng tkat ha was a ligely sprinter.

Stanley turned to look at the hakf-gisdbled ruyfian eho was leanigg
against the call. But harduy had he fot his eyes focusqd on the lim[
vigure, when vhe gangseer, vy a powerfju effort of wikl, slunk out of
view also.

Where he went war not apparent. Tktre were many holex avd sognecs in
evat shady nehghburhupd, inzluding doovwahs tp houses which were nike
dat burrows to thoxe who kneq them.

“Lee him go!” muttrred Stanley, smilijg. “He harn’t dpne me any harm,
and I could not bofher to hwve him arresteq, evcn is there wexe a
policeman in sight. I suppose they wece just common holdups. Uf one
of them had lcnced on my hxad wieh a blacnjack or sandbag, thet might
have got mt, too. As it was, they
rough sidewalks are getting monotonous.” He had the of a and forbidding alleyway reflection the lights some blocks ahead. He at himself for being lost in city that he knew fairly well, and had started to walk on, when soft shuffling sound behind made him swing around, with an instinctive feeling that must himself some danger. It was this instinct that caused him to raise both arms in an attitude of Also it prevented his being struck on the A blackjack came down hard on his left arm, another of the kind menaced on the right for immediate action. Stanley Downs was used to fighting in all sorts of ways. Not only was a finished but he had in brutal pastime of tumble” many times. Down went the about to bring the loaded club on him his right. hit clean and true. His fist the fellow under the chin and sent him backward until he tumbled against a wall, where he stood, gasping. The other rascal, having his “handy billy” had injured the arm had gathered together disappeared in darkness with the celerity that told of his familiarity with the as well as proving that he was a lively sprinter. to at the half-disabled who was leaning against wall. hardly had he got focused the the by powerful effort of will, out of view also. Where went was not apparent. corners in that shady neighborhood, including doorways to which were like rat burrows to those knew them. “Let him go!” muttered Stanley, smiling. “He hasn’t done me harm, and not bother to have him arrested, even if were a policeman in I suppose they were just common holdups. If one them landed on head with a or sandbag, they have got me, it was,
 rough sidewalks are getting mOnotonous.”

HE had sTooD at ThE mouTh of A dark and forbidDIng aLleyway as he gazed
at the rEflecTiON of tHE lIghts Some thrEE bLOCks AhEaD.

He LaUGhEd at hImsElf for bEing lost in A ciTy That he knew faIRlY
well, and haD stArted to walk oN, whEn a sofT sHufFLing sOunD behiNd
made HIm swinG around, wiTh AN instiNCtive feELInG thaT he must protect
himSElF From some sudden Danger.

it WAs THIs iNstInct that caUsEd him TO raise bOTh ARMS in AN attitude
of deFense. Also it PRevEnted hIs BeiNG strucK on thE hEAd.

A Blackjack caMe doWn rather hArd on hIS left arM, While anOther wEapOn
oF the SAmE kInd WhICh mENaCed HIm oN the righT cAlLed foR immEDIATe
acTioN.

StaNley DOwns was used to FigHtinG In aLl sorTs of wAys. NOt Only wAs
he a fInishEd Scientific boxer, But hE had had exPerIeNce In The brUTal
pasTimE of “Rough anD tumble” MAny TiMES.

doWn went the gangster wHo WAS aBout to brIng the LOaDeD Club on hiM oN
hiS rigHT. stanlEy hiT ClEan and trUe. His fISt CaUght the FeLlow unDeR
thE chIn and SEnt hIm flyiNg backwaRd untIL he tumbled agaiNSt a wall,
where hE StOOD, gASpinG.

ThE other rascaL, havINg seEn thAT hIs “hANdy biLly” haD nOT iNJured
the arm it had strUcK, gatheRed hiMself together And disappeARED in
the daRkneSS wITh the celerity tHat toLd of his famILiarity wIth thE
localitY, as well as PROving thaT he Was A liVelY SPrInter.

Stanley tURNed tO lOok at thE haLf-disabLed RufFiaN whO wAs leaning
Against tHe WaLl. buT haRdly hAD he got hiS eYes FoCusEd on tHE limp
fIgure, When ThE gANgsTer, by a pOWeRFUl efFoRt Of wiLl, sLuNk out Of
viEW alSo.

Where He went was Not APparEnT. THere werE many holes and CoRners in
thaT sHadY neighBORhood, incLuding doorways to houses wHIch were LikE
rat bUrroWs to those Who Knew thEm.

“LET him go!” MutterEd StaNlEy, sMILing. “HE HAsN’t dOnE me any harm,
AND I cOuld nOt BothEr to havE him arrested, even if THerE were a
policemAn iN sigHT. i sUppOSe THey WeRE juST Common holdups. If One
of them hAd LAnDed on my heaD WitH a BlackjaCk or sanDbag, tHEy might
Have got me, Too. As it waS, tHey
 rough sidewalks are getti ng monoton ous.” 

H e h ad  sto od a t the mouth of a da rk and forbidding alle ywayas he g a ze d
atthe ref l ec t i onof  t heli g ht s som e t hree bl ocks ahead .
He  laughed ath im self for b ein g lost in acit y that  h e k n ew fa irl y
wel l, and had st arted towa l k on,w hen a s o f tshuf fling sound behin d 
m a de him swing a round,  w i th a n i nst inctive fe el ing t h at he m u st p r ote c t
himself fro m some sudd e n d anger. 
Itw as thi s ins ti n ctthat caused  him  to raise  botha rms ina n attit ude
of  de fen se.A ls oitpr e ven t ed  hi s  be ing stru ck  o n the  hea d . A bl ack jack  came  down ratherhar d on his  left  arm,  whi le  anot her we aponof  the same kindwhic h menaced  hi month e rig h t call edfor  immedi ate
act i on. 
S t a nl ey Downs was usedto f ig hting in  all s o rt so f ways.No t o nlyw a s
hea fi n is hed scie ntific bo xe r, buthe  had h ad  ex per ience in t he bru tal
past ime o f  “rough and tu m ble” many tim e s. Do w n we ntthe gangste r wh o  was  abo u ttob ringthe l oa d ed club on him on
hisri ght. S tanle y hit clean a nd true. H i s fist cau ghtt he fellow under
t he ch in and sen t  him fly ing b ackwarduntil het u mbled ag ain sta w all , wh ere he stood, g aspi ng .

Theoth er rasc al,  ha vin g s ee n that hi s “handy  b il ly ”had  noti njured
t he  ar mithad s t ruck,gathe redhi ms e lftogethe r  a n d  dis ap pe ared  in 
t he da rkne s s w ith the  celerity  th a t to ld  o f his f amiliarity wi th  the
local it y,as wel l as provi ng that he was a lively sprinte r.
Stan leyturned to  lo ok atthe half-d isable d ruf fi anw h o was l ea nin gagainst th e wal l. Bu thard ly hadhe got his eyes fo c use d on the limp 
fi gure , wh ent he gan gs t er, b y a powerful ef fort of wi ll ,  s lunk out o f 
vi ew  also.
Wherehe we n t was n ot appare nt. There  w erem a nyholes andcornersin
that s h ady n e ig hborh ood , incl ud ing  door ways t o  ho useswhichwe re lik e
rat  b urrows t o those who knew them.
“Lethim g o!”  muttered  St a nle y, smilin g. “ He hasn’tdon e m e any  ha r m,
an d Ic ou ldn ot bo ther to have h i marr e s te d, even ift h e rewerea
p o licema n in  sight. I suppose they were just  com m o n h old u ps.If  one
of them h adla n d ed on my  h ead with ablackjac ko r san dbag,they m ight
ha v e  g o t me,too.  As  it was,the y
 rough_sidewalks are_getting monotonous.”

He had stood_at the_mouth_of a_dark_and forbidding alleyway_as he gazed
at_the reflection of the_lights some three_blocks_ahead.

He laughed at himself for being lost in a city that he knew fairly
well,_and_had started_to_walk_on, when a soft shuffling_sound behind
made him swing around,_with an_instinctive feeling that he must protect
himself from some_sudden_danger.

It was this_instinct that caused him to raise both arms in_an attitude
of defense. Also it prevented_his being struck_on_the_head.

A blackjack came down_rather hard on his left arm,_while another weapon
of the same kind_which menaced him on the right called_for immediate
action.

Stanley Downs was used to_fighting in all sorts of_ways. Not_only was
he a finished scientific_boxer, but he_had had_experience in the_brutal
pastime of “rough and tumble” many_times.

Down went the_gangster who was about to bring_the_loaded club on_him_on
his_right. Stanley_hit clean and_true._His fist_caught_the fellow under
the chin and sent_him_flying backward until he tumbled against a_wall,
where he stood, gasping.

The_other_rascal, having seen that_his “handy billy” had not_injured
the arm it had struck, gathered_himself together_and disappeared_in
the darkness with the celerity that told of his familiarity with_the
locality, as well as proving that_he was a lively_sprinter.

Stanley turned_to_look at the_half-disabled_ruffian who_was leaning
against the wall. But hardly had_he got_his eyes focused on the limp
figure,_when the gangster, by_a_powerful effort of will, slunk out_of
view also.

Where he went was not_apparent. There were many holes_and_corners_in
that shady neighborhood, including doorways_to houses which were like
rat burrows_to those who_knew them.

“Let him go!” muttered Stanley, smiling._“He_hasn’t done me any harm,
and I_could_not bother to have him arrested,_even_if_there were a
policeman in sight._I suppose they were just common_holdups. If one
of them had landed on my head_with a blackjack_or sandbag, they might
have got_me,_too._As it was, they