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I guess I sounded just official enough for Big Red to relax his grip The black boy took off like a shot

“Look e got here, er-lover”

Without warning he charged and struck

Chapter 59

I WAS SLAMMED DOWN on the hard dirt street, and before I could catch my breath Red jumped on top of me

“Reckon I’ll have to teach you how to mind your own business”

I was trying to figure a way out of this I had once watched Bob Fitzsimmons demolish an opponent with a third-round knockout That was one way to do it But there was another way to win a fight

I reached up and pressed my thumbs into the soft, unprotected flesh of the fat ht over my head Red landed face-first in the dirt and scuffed up his lip Blood was co out of his nose too

I jued at ht uppercut He dropped like a rock and was out cold in the street

Now there were two dazed bullies down, but the third got behindhis fists into my ribs

I knew there was a thick wooden post supporting the gallery in front of Jenkins’ Mercantile, so I leaned allhiht into it His ar He’d hit that post pretty hard, maybe cracked a couple of ribs

“Nigger-lover,” he spat, but then he struggled up and started to run So did the other two

It was quiet again, the street empty

Well, almost empty

Chapter 60