И проиграли бой

           "No,’coursenot."

           "Well,solong."Heswungout."Youdirtyson-of-a-bitch,"heyelledashehittheground.

           Maclaughedandpulledthedoornearlyshut.Forafewmomentsthetrainrolledslowly.Andtherail-endtempoincreased.Macthrewthedoorwideagainandsatdowninthesun."Therewasabeauty,"hesaid.

           Jimasked,"Areyoureallyaprize-fighter,Mac?"

           "Hellno.Hewastheeasiestkindofasucker.HefiguredIwasscaredofhimwhenIofferedhimsomeofmypaper.Youcan’tmakeageneralruleofit,becausesometimesitflops,butmostlyaguythattriestoscareyouisaguythatcanbescared."Heturnedhisheavy,good-naturedfacetoJim."Idon’tknowwhyitis,buteverytimeItalktoyouIeitherendupsoap-boxingorgivingalecture."

           "Well,hell,Mac,Iliketolisten."

           "Iguessthat’sit.We’vegottogetoffatWeaverandcatchaneast-boundfreight.That’saboutahundredmilesdown.Ifwe’relucky,weoughttogettoTorgasinthemiddleofthenight."Hepulledoutasackoftobaccoandrolledacigarette,holdingthepaperinoutoftherushingair."Smoke,Jim?"

           "No,thanks."

           "Yougotnovices,haveyou.Andyou’renotaChristereither.Don’tyouevengooutwithgirls?"

           "No,"saidJim."Usedtobe,whenIgotriledupI’dgotoacat-house.