E-text prepared by Al Haines
THE UNKNOWN WRESTLER
by
H. A. CODY
Author of "Under Sealed Orders," "Rod of the Lone Patrol," Etc.
McCLelland, Goodchild & Stewart
Publishers :: :: :: Toronto
Copyright, 1918,
By George H. Doran Company
To All
True Wrestlers
this book is
Sympathetically Dedicated
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I STREET MUSIC
II WHERE FLOWS THE TIDE
III CONSCIENCE MONEY
IV SECRET PLANS
V PUT TO THE TEST
VI DOWN BY THE RIVER
VII MENDING THINGS
VIII HOME FOR REPAIRS
IX EVENING GLOW
X PRIDE AND IMPUDENCE
XI THE FACE AT THE DOOR
XII ASTRAY ON THE HILLS
XIII NOTICE TO QUIT
XIV SETTLING THINGS
XV A WET DAY
XVI TWIN FIRES
XVII CRUEL AS THE GRAVE
XVIII SILENT STRIFE
XIX WARMER THAN HE EXPECTED
XX CONFIDENCE
XXI OUTDONE
XXII COMPELLED TO SERVE
XXIII DISPELLING THE CLOUDS
XXIV EMPTY HEARS SOMETHING
XXV PERVERTING JUSTICE
XXVI ON THE ROCKS
XXVII THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
XXVIII KNUCKLING UNDER
XXIX THE CHALLENGE
XXX BY THE OLD PINE TREE
THE UNKNOWN WRESTLER
CHAPTER I
STREET MUSIC
There was no room for him on the sidewalk, so he took up his position
beyond the curbstone. The light from the large arc-lamp overhead,
exposed the old man's thin white hair, withered face and threadbare
clothes. His sightless eyes were turned toward the passing throng, and
his head was slightly bent in an expectant attitude. But the hand that
drew the wheezy bow across the strings of the violin often faltered,
and the broken music, instead of attracting, repelled the crowds. The
player was tired and longed for rest. But the fire of an overmastering
purpose burned in his soul and kept him steadfast to his post.
The girl standing by his side was both weary and embarrassed. Her hand
trembled as she held out her father's soft felt hat to receive the
coins which were so very few. It was quite evident that she was new to
this business, for her cheeks were flushed crimson owing to the remarks
she occasionally heard.
"Listen to that old man sawing wood," one gaily-dressed young fop
laughingly jested to his companion.
"Filing his saw, I should say," was the sarcastic reply. "It's a
wonder to me that such a noise is allowed on a street like this."
"But see the girl," the other insisted, "isn't she a beauty! Look at
her cheeks. My! they are some colour. She seems new to her job.
Suppose we give her a jolt. I'd like to hear what she'd say. Perhaps
she isn't as innocent as she seems."
They had stopped several rods away and were watching the girl as they
talked. Presently they retraced their steps, and when they came near
where she was standing, one of them surged suddenly against her,
causing her to drop the hat in alarm and start back, while the few
coins rolled out upon the hard stones. Her cry of dismay caused the
old man to stop playing and turn quickly toward her.
"What is the matter, Nan?" he anxiously enquired.
"Oh, let us go away," the girl pleaded. "We are not safe here, and I
am so frightened. Two men pushed against me and knocked the hat out of
my hand. I know they did it on purpose, for they went away laughing.
Oh, what is that?" and she leaned eagerly forward as a commotion took
place among the crowd a short distance away.
While the young men were performing their cowardly prank, a man was
intently watching all that was taking place. He had been observing the
blind violinist and the timid girl for several minutes. In his eyes
was an expression of sympathy, which changed at once to intense anger
at the act of the two heartless fops. He stepped quickly forward and
confronted them.
"What right had you to interfere with that girl?" he demanded.
"It's none of your business," replied the one who had done the deed.
"You get out of our way, and do it quick at that, or it won't be well
with you."
At once a heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder, and the gripping
fingers of that hand caused him to wince and try to tear himself away.
A sudden fear smote his heart as he looked up into the blazing eyes of
the man before him. He was beginning to respect that towering form
with the great broad shoulders and the hand that seemed to weigh a ton
and the gripping fingers that were closing like a vise. He suspected
that this was a plain-clothes man in the Police service, and the
thought filled him with a nameless dread. He glanced around for his
companion, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"What do ye want me to do?" he at length gasped.
"Go pick up those coins, and then apologise to the girl for your
rudeness," was the reply.
"Good heavens! I can't do that, ye know. What will me chums say?"
"Never mind what they will say. They'll say a great more if I have to
drag you there by the coat collar. So get a move on at once."
The victim looked helplessly around upon the crowd which had gathered,
as if expecting some assistance. But not a friendly face could he
behold. All seemed to be greatly amused at his plight.
"Hurry up."
The voice was calm but the clutching fingers were becoming almost
unbearable. There was nothing else for the young man to do, so with a
face as pale as death he turned and walked slowly back to where the old
violinist and the girl were standing.
"Now, pick up the coins," was the imperious command.
The culprit at once obeyed, and groped around as well as he could but
nothing could he find. Several street urchins, who had been ahead of
him, now stood near and jeered at his fruitless efforts. At length,
straightening himself up, he turned to his captor. The perspiration
was streaming down his face, and he looked the picture of misery.
"I can't find anything," he gasped.
"Well, then, apologise to the girl. Tell her you are sorry for what
you did and that you will never do such a thing again."
With trembling lips the young man stammered forth a few broken words as
he stood facing the surprised and abashed girl. It was hard to
understand what he said, but that did not really matter. His
punishment had been severe, and his captor felt somewhat satisfied.
"Now, clear out," he ordered, "and be thankful all the rest of your
days that you have escaped so easily."
Scarcely had he finished speaking ere a large police officer forced his
way through the crowd. He grasped the situation in an instant, and
when he saw the man standing near the culprit, a light of recognition
came into his eyes.
"Shall I take him, sir?" he asked, at the same time giving the salute.
"No, Sergeant, I think we had better let him go this time," was the
reply. "He has been taught a lesson already which he is not likely to
forget."
When the crowd saw that there was to be no more excitement, it quickly
dispersed, and the stream of humanity surged along the street as
before. The policeman, too, moved away, leaving the girl and her
protector standing near each other.
"You have had a hard time to-night," the man remarked. "I am so sorry
those rascals gave you such trouble."
"Oh, it was so kind of you to come to our assistance," the girl
replied. "My father is very tired, and the little money we made is all
gone."
"May I have your violin for a while, sir?" the stranger asked turning
to the violinist, at the same time taking the instrument gently from
the trembling hands. "You must be very tired."
During the whole of the scene the old man had been trying to comprehend
the meaning of the commotion. His daughter was too greatly excited to
explain anything. But when he heard the stranger speak to him he at
once complied with his request and allowed him to take his beloved
instrument. The girl slipped her hand in his and squeezed it hard, and
then stood watching her kind protector.
The latter lifted the violin quickly to his shoulder, faced the crowded
street, and drew the bow across the strings. There was a great
difference now in the playing, and many people paused to listen. There
was something which appealed to them in the music which was pouring
forth. It stirred their nobler feelings and aroused in them the spirit
of sympathy for the poor and unfortunate. They comprehended the
purpose of the musician when they saw the feeble old man and the girl
standing nearby. The hearts of many were strangely stirred, and they
vied with one another in dropping money into the dusty hat which the
girl was again holding forth. Silver mingled with bills, and the
girl's face grew bright and her heart happy the heavier the hat became.
It seemed to her like a wonderful dream, and that the player was a
fairy who had come to her assistance. She wanted to watch him and
listen to the music he was making, but she had little time for that, as
she had to pay attention to the money she was collecting.
Suddenly the music stopped and when the girl turned her head she saw
the stranger handing the violin to her father. She wanted to speak to
him, to thank him for his kindness, but before she could act he had
disappeared among the crowd.
As the music ceased, so did the giving, and the unheeding crowd once
more surged on its way. But the girl did not care, as she had all the
money she could manage.
"Let us go now, father," she said. "We have done well to-night, and I
am so anxious to know how much we have."
"Yes, Nan, let us be off at once," the old man wearily replied. "I am
greatly confused and do not fully understand all that has taken place.
You must thank the stranger for his kindness, though. His music was
wonderful."
"But he has gone, father. He vanished among the crowd, and I am afraid
that I shall never see him again. Oh, he was splendid! How I wish you
could have seen him."
"But I heard him speak, Nan, and listened to his playing, so that was
something."
They were standing close to each other, talking as simply as if they
were completely alone. In her great innocence, Nan did not realise
that greedy eyes were watching the bulging hat she was still holding
before her, and that itching hands were but waiting an opportunity to
snatch away the treasure.
They had turned to leave the place, when a policeman suddenly appeared
before them.
"I have been instructed to accompany you home," he briefly informed
them.
Into the girl's eyes came a look of fear which the policeman was not
slow to notice.
"Don't be afraid, Miss," he remarked. "It is for your welfare that I
am here. It is not safe for you to go alone through the streets with
all that money. There are people watching you already to snatch it
away from you."
"Are there?" and the girl looked fearfully around. "I don't see them."
"No, I know you don't. But they are watching you, nevertheless, so let
us go at once."
"Who sent you here to help us?" the girl enquired, as they moved along
by the side of the policeman. "Was it that kind man who played so
nicely?"
"I received orders to come," was the reply. "That is all I can tell
you. But I think you had better let me carry that money," he added,
"perhaps it will be safer with me."
The girl was only too glad to comply with his request, for she was
beginning to get quite nervous as they moved along through the crowds.
She imagined now that many people were following them in order to steal
their treasure.
It was quite a distance they had to travel, and very glad was the old
man when at length they stopped before the door of a house on a narrow
street.
"You live here?" the policeman asked, as he handed the hat with the
money to the girl.
"Oh, no," was the reply. "We are only staying here for the night. We
live in the country. This is a boarding place, and we have been here
before. We are very grateful to you for your kindness, sir, and we
shall never forget you."
"It's all in the night's work," the policeman replied. "But be careful
of that money. Keep a good watch over it."
"Indeed I shall," and the girl hugged it close to her breast. "It
means so much to us."
The policeman moved away, and then stopped and watched the house for a
few minutes after the old man and the girl had entered the building.
"Good Lord! what innocents," he muttered to himself. "They wouldn't
have got half a block with that money if I hadn't been along. I wonder
how they'll make out getting away. Live in the country, the girl said.
They should stay there, then. The city's certainly no place for such
as them."