Read Online The Bruiser by Jim Tully - Free Book Online Page A

I’d sling hash a year for that much.”
    â€œWell, it’s different,” Shane was earnest, “All I’ve got to have is a strong jaw and a weak mind.”
    â€œYour mind’s not so weak, dear.” Her hand touched the muscle of his arm. “It would be nice to leave here—you know how it is—you can’t turn sideways in a town like this but what they’ll talk about you—and a girl can’t stay home all the time twiddlin’ her thumbs.”
    â€œThat’s right,” agreed Shane.
    â€œIt wouldn’t be so bad, but I have to send my stepfather money. He’s not much good, but my mother used to like him before she died.”
    â€œThat’s too bad—I mean,” Shane was confused.
    â€œThat’s right—it was too bad—she done everything for him—but that’s the way it goes. If you don’t kick a man first, he will you.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Shane agreed.
    With such talk, the hours passed.
    She would hold his hand in the movies, and sigh atthe tribulations of the heroine. The love scenes enthralled her. Above the silence her breath would come quickly.
    Intent on the coming fight and vengeance, the days flew swiftly. The wind purring the sand down the streets of Cheyenne did not sound lonely to him. Dilly Dally was in town.
    â€œNow listen, Shane,” Connors said two days before the fight, “I’ve tried to steer you right—don’t go nuts on that kid. She’s smart as salt in a fresh cut. Never trust a dame in a railroad restaurant. She’s too purty. Have all the fun you want—but don’t get that calf look in your eyes. I’m not sayin’ anything against her—it’s not that—I used to have a bird dog. If anybody picked up a gun around it, it’d go nuts—it couldn’t help it—it was anybody’s dog who’d go huntin’.”
    â€œYou don’t mean she’s not on the square?”
    â€œNow, what would you think—she took me for a hundred before I got next—said the baby was mine.”
    â€œI don’t believe you—you’re kiddin’,” said Shane.
    The talk still worried him.
    â€œYou’ve never done nothin’ wrong in this town, have you, Dilly?”
    Her eyes raised. “I should say not—nor no other town—we’ve been together a long time— I’m straight with you and I like you.” She became fretful. “I just knew they’d talk about me if I ever met some boy I liked.” Her eyes were tearful.
    Shane was ashamed.
    â€œNow don’t let on to anybody—we can get out ofhere when the fight’s over—when I do find the man I love, that’ll be different.”
    â€œIs it me?”
    She huddled close. “Can’t you guess?”
    Shane looked straight ahead and saw nothing.
    He was in his dressing-room while the first preliminary was being fought.
    Two men entered without knocking.
    He was carefully rolling the tape over his knuckles.
    â€œHello there, Rory,” said the heavier man. “You look in good shape—how long’s the fight gonna last?”
    â€œOh,” Shane shrugged, “you can’t tell—he’s a good boy—anything can happen in there.”
    â€œThat’s what we wanta talk to you about—to keep the record clear—you understand.”
    â€œWhat’s there to understand?”
    â€œPlenty,” was the answer. “You’re a good-lookin’ kid—we don’t even know where your mother lives—if you’ve got one—and we don’t wanta be mean and send you to her in a box—”
    The heavier man fondled a revolver.
    â€œI get it,” said Shane. “You’re on McCoy to win.”
    â€œThat’s it.”
    â€œMcCoy’s got to win, huh.”
    â€œYou guessed it again. The bank roll’s on him.”
    â€œWhy