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The skipping…rope faltered in its sweep； caught in the skipper's legs； and sent him staggering across the room。 Ogden threw back his head and laughed merrily。 He liked free entertainments； and this struck him as a particularly enjoyable one。
There are moments in the life of every man when the impulse attacks him to sacrifice his future to the alluring gratification of the present。 The strong man resists such impulses。 Jerry Mitchell was not a weak man； but he had been sorely tried。 The annoyance of Ogden's presence and conversation had sapped his self…restraint； as dripping water will wear away a rock。 A short while before； he had fought down the urgent temptation to massacre this exasperating child； but now； despised love adding its sting to that of injured vanity； he forgot the consequences。 Bounding across the room； he seized Ogden in a powerful grip； and the next instant the latter's education； in the true sense of the word； so long postponed； had begun； and with it that avalanche of sound which； rolling down into the drawing…room； hurled Mrs。 Pett so violently and with such abruptness from the society of her guests。
Disposing of the last flight of stairs with the agility of the chamois which leaps from crag to crag of the snow…topped Alps； Mrs。 Pett finished with a fine burst of speed along the passage on the top floor； and rushed into the gymnasium just as Jerry's avenging hand was descending for the eleventh time。
CHAPTER XI
JIMMY DECIDES TO BE HIMSELF
IT was less than a quarter of an hour latersuch was the speed with which Nemesis； usually slow； had overtaken himthat Jerry Mitchell； carrying a grip and walking dejectedly； emerged from the back premises of the Pett home and started down Riverside Drive in the direction of his boarding…house； a cheap； clean； and respectable establishment situated on Ninety…seventh Street between the Drive and Broadway。 His usually placid nervous system was ruffled and a…quiver from the events of the afternoon； and his cauliflower ears still burned reminiscently at the recollection of the unplimentary words shot at them by Mrs。 Pett before she expelled him from the house。 Moreover； he was in a mild panic at the thought of having to see Ann later on and try to explain the disaster to her。 He knew how the news would affect her。 She had set her heart on removing Ogden to more disciplinary surroundings； and she could not possibly do it now that her ally was no longer an inmate of the house。 He was an essential factor in the scheme； and now； to gratify the desire of the moment； he had eliminated himself。 Long before he reached the brown…stone house which looked exactly like all the other brown…stone houses in all the other side…streets of uptown New York the first fine careless rapture of his mad outbreak had passed from Jerry Mitchell； leaving nervous apprehension in its place。 Ann was a girl whom he worshipped respectfully； but he feared her in her wrath。
Having entered the boarding…house； Jerry； seeking pany in his hour of sorrow； climbed the stairs till he reached a door on the second floor。 Sniffing and detecting the odour of tobacco； he knocked and was hidden to enter。
〃Hello； Bayliss！〃 he said sadly； having obeyed the call。
He sat down on the end of the bed and heaved a deep sigh。
The room which he had entered was airy but small； so small； indeed； that the presence of any furniture in it at all was almost miraculous； for at first sight it seemed incredible that the bed did not fill it from side to side。 There were however； a few vacant spots； and in these had been placed a wash…stand； a chest of drawers； and a midget rocking…chair。 The window； which the thoughtful architect had designed at least three sizes too large for the room and which admitted the evening air in pleasing profusion； looked out onto a series of forlorn back…yards。 In boarding…houses； it is only the windows of the rich and haughty that face the street。
On the bed； a corn…cob pipe between his teeth； lay Jimmy Crocker。 He was shoeless and in his shirt…sleeves。 There was a crumpled evening paper on the floor beside the bed。 He seemed to be taking his rest after the labours of a trying day。
At the sound of Jerry's sigh he raised his head； but； finding the attitude too severe a strain on the muscles of the neck； restored it to the pillow。
〃What's the matter； Jerry？ You seem perturbed。 You have the aspect of one whom Fate has smitten in the spiritual solar plexus； or of one who has been searching for the leak in Life's gaspipe with a lighted candle。 What's wrong？〃
〃Curtains！〃
Jimmy； through long absence from his native land； was not always able to follow Jerry's thoughts when concealed in the wrappings of the peculiar dialect which he affected。
〃I get you not； friend。 Supply a few footnotes。〃
〃I've been fired。〃
Jimmy sat up。 This was no imaginary trouble； no mere malaise of the temperament。 It was concrete； and called for sympathy。
〃I'm awfully sorry；〃 he said。 〃No wonder you aren't rollicking。 How did it happen？〃
〃That half…portion Bill Taft came joshing me about my beezer till it got something fierce；〃 explained Jerry。 〃William J。 Bryan couldn't have stood for it。〃
Once again Jimmy lost the thread。 The wealth of political allusion baffled him。
〃What's Taft been doing to you？〃
〃It wasn't Taft。 He only looks like him。 It was that kid Ogden up where I work。 He came butting into the gym； joshing me aboutmakin' pers'nal remarks till I kind of lost my goat； and the next thing I knew I was giving him his！〃 A faint gleam of pleasure lightened the gloom of his face。 〃I cert'nly give him his！〃 The gleam faded。 〃And after thatwell； here I am！〃
Jimmy understood now。 He had e to the boarding…house the night of his meeting with Jerry Mitchell on Broadway； and had been there ever since； and frequent conversations with the pugilist had put him abreast of affairs at the Pett home。 He was familiar with the personnel of the establishment on Riverside Drive； and knew precisely how great was the crime of administering correction to Ogden Ford； no matter what the cause。 Nor did he require explanation of the phenomenon of Mrs。 Pett dismissing one who was in her husband's private employment。 Jerry had his sympathy freely。
〃You appear；〃 he said； 〃to have acted in a thoroughly capable and praiseworthy manner。 The only point in your conduct which I would permit myself to criticise is your omission to slay the kid。 That； however； was due； I take it； to the fact that you were interrupted。 We will now proceed to examine the future。 I cannot set that it is altogether murky。 You have lost a good job； but there are others； equally good； for a man of your calibre。 New York is crammed with dyspeptic millionaires who need an efficient physical instructor to look after them。 Cheer up； Cuthbert； for the sun is still shining！〃
Jerry Mitchell shook his head。 He refused to be forted。
〃It's Miss Ann；〃 he said。 〃What am I going to say to her？〃
〃What has she got to do with it？〃 asked Jimmy； interested。
For a moment Jerry hesitated； but the desire for sympathy and advice was too strong for him。 And after all there was no harm in confiding in a good rade like Jimmy。
〃It's lik