Chapter I: Front Matter

THE FIGHTER

THE FIGHTER

BY
ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE
AUTHOR OF
“CALEB CONOVER, RAILROADER,” “DR. DALE,”
“THE WORLD’S GREAT EVENTS,” ETC.

NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS

COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY
ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE

_Entered at Stationers’ Hall_

_All rights reserved_

TO MY KINDEST, SEVEREST CRITIC,

MY WIFE

SO MUCH OF THIS BOOK AS MAY BE WORTHY HER
APPROVAL IS

DEDICATED

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. CALEB CONOVER WINS 9

II. THE GIRL 23

III. CALEB CONOVER FIGHTS 37

IV. CALEB CONOVER EXPLAINS 53

V. AN INTERLUDE 63

VI. CALEB CONOVER RUNS AWAY 72

VII. THE BATTLE 81

VIII. CALEB CONOVER STORMS A RAMPART 100

IX. A LESSON IN IGNORANCE 121

X. IN THE HOUSE OF RIMMON 134

XI. A PEACE CONFERENCE 151

XII. INTO AN UNKNOWN LAND 161

XIII. MOONLIGHT AND MISTAKES 185

XIV. CALEB CONOVER TAKES AN AFTERNOON OFF 196

XV. CALEB CONOVER LIES 209

XVI. DESIRÉE MAKES PLANS 224

XVII. THE DUST DAYS 233

XVIII. CALEB CONOVER GIVES A READING LESSON 245

XIX. ON THE TOP OF THE WORLD 259

XX. CALEB “OVERLOOKS A BET” 273

XXI. FOREST MADNESS 286

XXII. CALEB CONOVER RECEIVES NEWS 321

XXIII. “THE STRONG ARM OF CHRIST” 337

XXIV. THE LAST FIGHT 352

CAST OF CHARACTERS

CALEB CONOVER, _a self-made man who glorifies his maker_.

AMZI NICHOLAS CAINE, _a young newspaper owner afflicted with certain
ideas_.

JACK HAWARDEN, _a youth who issues drafts on future literary fame_.

REUBEN STANDISH, _decayed branch of a once-mighty family tree_.

BLACARDA, _an exception to the rule concerning honor among
financiers_.

SAUL, _a derelict_.

CLIVE STANDISH, _a victim of “home rule.”_

BILLY SHEVLIN, _a more or less typical small boy_.

THE REV. MR. GRANT, _a minister of the Gospel_.

DR. BOND, _a country physician_.

STEVE MARTIN, _an Adirondack guide_.

JOHN HAWARDEN, SR., }
FEATHERSTONE, } _Pillars of the_
VROOM, } _Arareek Country Club._
DILLINGHAM, }

A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER.

A LOCOMOTIVE FIREMAN.

A STATION AGENT.

DESIRÉE SHEVLIN, _the girl_.

LETTY STANDISH, _the other girl_.

MRS. STANDISH, _whose attitudes are all beatitudes_.

MRS. HAWARDEN, _a chaperone for revenue only_.

SCENE: The City of Granite, the State Capital, Magdeburg Village, and the Adirondacks.

THE FIGHTER