the efficiency expert-第14章
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By this time waiters and patrons were crowding forward from all parts of the room； and Feinheimer； shrieking at the top of his voice； was endeavoring to worm his fat； toadlike body through the cordon of excited spectators。 The proprietor reached the scene of carnage just in time to see Jimmy plant a lovely left on the point of Murray's jaw。
The big man tottered drunkenly for an instant； his knees sagged； and； as Jimmy stood in readiness for any eventuality； the other crashed heavily to the floor。
Towering above the others in the room suddenly came a big young fellow shouldering his way through the crowd； a young man in the uniform of a chauffeur。 Elizabeth saw him before he discovered her。
〃Oh David！〃 she cried。 〃Quick！ Quick！ Take us out of here！〃
As the chauffeur reached her side and took in the scene he jerked his head toward Jimmy。 〃Did any one hurt you miss？〃
〃No； no！〃 she cried。 〃This man was very kind。 Just get us out of here； David； as quickly as you can。〃 And； turning to Jimmy： 〃How can I ever repay you？ If it hadn't been for youoh； I hate to think what would have happened。 Come out to the car and give David your name and address； and I will send you something tomorrow。〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 said Jimmy。 〃You just get out of here as quick as you can。 If the police happened to look in now you might be held as a witness。〃
〃How utterly horrible！〃 exclaimed Elizabeth。 〃Come； David！ Come； Harriet！〃 David making a way for her； she started for the door。
Harriet paused long enough to extend her band to Jimmy。 〃It was wonderfully brave of you；〃 she said。 〃We could never do enough to repay you。 My name is Harriet Holden；〃 and she gave him an address on Lake Shore Drive。 〃If you will come Monday morning about ten o'clock；〃 she said； 〃I am sure that there is something we can do for you。 If you want a better position；〃 she half suggested； 〃I know my father could help； although he must never know about this to…night。〃
〃Thanks；〃 said Jimmy； smiling。 〃It's awfully good of you； but you must hurry now。 There goes your friend。〃
Feinheimer stood as one dazed； looking down at the bulk of his friend and associate。
〃Mein Gott！〃 he cried。 〃What kind of a place you think I run； young man？〃 He turned angrily on Jimmy。 〃What you think I hire you for？ To beat up my best customer？〃
〃He got what was coming to him；〃 said a soft feminine voice at Jimmy's elbow。 The man looked to see Little Eva standing at his side。 〃I didn't think anybody could do that to Murray；〃 she continued。 〃Lord； but it was pretty。 He's had it coming to him ever since I've known him； but the big stiff had everybody around this joint buffaloed。 He got away with anything he started。〃
Feinheimer looked at Little Eva disgustedly。
〃He's my best customer；〃 he cried； 〃and a bum waiter comes along and beats him up just when he is trying to have a little innocent sport on Christmas Eve。 You take off your apron； young man； and get your time。 I won't have no rough stuff in Feinheimer's。〃
Jimmy shrugged his shoulders and grinned。
〃Shouldn't I wait to see if I can't do something more for Mr。 Murray？〃 he suggested。
〃You get out of here！〃 cried Feinheimer 〃Get out of here or I'll call the police。〃
Jimmy laughed and took off his apron as he walked back to the servants' coat…room。 As he emerged again and crossed through； the dining…room he saw that Murray had regained consciousness and was sitting at a table wiping the blood from his face with a wet napkin。 As Murray's eyes fell upon his late antagonist he half rose from his chair and shook his fist at Jimmy。
〃I'II get you for this； young feller！〃 he yelled。 〃I'll get you yet； and don't you forget it。〃
〃You just had me；〃 Jimmy called back； 〃but it didn't seem to make you very happy。〃
He could still hear Murray fuming and cursing as he passed out into the barroom； at the front of which was Feinheimer's office。
CHAPTER XII。
UP OR DOWN？
After Jimmy had received his check and was about to leave； a couple of men approached him。
〃We seen that little mix…up in there；〃 said one of them。 〃You handle your mitts like you been there before。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jimmy； smiling； 〃I've had a little experience in the manly art of self…defense。〃
The two men were sizing him up。
〃Feinheimer can you？〃 asked one of them。 Jimmy nodded affirmatively。 〃Got anything else in view？〃
〃No；〃 said Jimmy。
〃How'd you like a job as one of Brophy's sparring partners？〃
〃I wouldn't mind；〃 said Jimmy。 〃What is there in it？〃
They named a figure that was entirely satisfactory to Jimmy。
〃Come over the day after Christmas；〃 he was told； 〃and we'll give you a trial。〃
〃I wonder；〃 thought Jimmy as he started for home； 〃if I have gone up a notch in the social scale or down a notch？ From the view…point of the underworld a pug occupies a more exalted position than a waiter； but oh； well； a job's a job； and at least I won't have to look at that greasy Feinheimer all day。〃
At ten o'clock Monday Jimmy was at Young Brophy's training quarters； for； although he had not forgotten Harriet Holden's invitation； he had never seriously considered availing himself of her offer to help him to a better position。 While he had not found it difficult to accept the rough friendship and assistance of the Lizard； the idea of becoming an object of 〃charity；〃 as he considered it； at the hands of a girl in the same walk of life as that to which he belonged was intolerable。
Young Brophy's manager； whom Jimmy discovered to be one of the men who had accosted him in Feinheimer's after his trouble with Murray； took him into a private office and talked with him confidentially for a half…hour before he was definitely employed。
It seemed that one of the principal requisites of the position was a willingness to take punishment without attempting to inflict too much upon Young Brophy。 The manager did not go into specific details as to the reason for this restriction； and Jimmy； badly in need of a job； felt no particular inclination to search too deeply for the root of the matter。
〃What I don't know；〃 he soliloquized； 〃won't hurt me any。〃 But he had not been there many days before the piecing together of chance remarks and the gossip of the hangers…on and other sparring partners made it very apparent why Brophy should not be badly man…handled。 As it finally revealed itself to Jimmy it was very simple indeed。 Brophy was to be pitted against a man whom he had already out…pointed in a former bout。 He was the ruling favorite in the betting； and it was the intention to keep him so while he and his backers quietly placed all their money on the other man。
One of the sparring partners who seemed to harbor a petty grudge against Brophy finally explained the whole plan to Jimmy。 Everything was to be done to carry the impression to the public through the newspapers； who were usually well represented at the training quarters； that Brophy was in the pink of condition； that he was training hard； that it was impossible to find men who could stand up to him on account of the terrific punishment he inflicted upon his sparring partners； and that the result of the fight was already a foregone conclusion； and then in the third round Young Brophy was to lie down and by reclining peacefully on his stomach for ten seconds make more money than several years of hard and conscientious work earnestly performed could ever net him。
It was all very； very simple； but how easily public opinion might be changed should one of the sparring partners really make a good stand against Brophy in the presence of members of the newspaper fraternity！
〃I see； 〃said Jimmy； running his fingers through his hair。 〃Oh； well； it's none of my business； and if the suckers want to bet their money on a prize…fight they're about due to lose it anyway。〃
And so he continued permitting himself to be battered up four or five times a week at the hands of the pussy Mr。 Brophy。 He paid back the twenty the Lizard had loaned him； got his watch out of pawn； and was even figuring on a new suit of clothes。 Never before in his life had Jimmy realized what it meant to be prosperous； since for obvious reasons Young Brophy's manager was extremely liberal in the m
