The Upas Tree A Christmas Story for all the Year
[Illustration: "That figure was not his own." From a drawing by F.H. Townsend. (_page 202_)] The Upas Tree _A Christmas Story for all the Year_ By Florence L. Barclay _Author of "The Rosary," etc_ G.P. Putnam's Sons New York and London The Knickerbocker Press
"You bet I'll toe it!" growled the now irate farmer. "And don't whimper
if I break a bone or two when I flop ye!"
As Bishop threw his cap to the ground and rushed toward the defiant
millionaire Carter saw fit to interfere.
"Don't do this," he protested, jumping between them. "One of you will
get hurt! It's dangerous for men of your age to wrestle!"
Both of them reached out and brushed Carter away, and the next instant
they were at it.
Bishop ducked and got an underhold, and I was sure Harding would go
down, but he braced himself with his huge legs, and with the strength of
a giant broke the clasp of his opponent's arms. It takes skill as well
as muscle to do this, and I saw at a glance that Harding had not
forgotten the tricks of his boyhood. As Bishop spun half-way around the
other caught him at a disadvantage, raised him clear from the turf and
dashed him down, falling with all his weight upon him.
It was as clean and quick a fall as I have seen, but for a second my
heart stood still, fearing Bishop's neck had been broken. He gasped once
or twice, and then I heard a muffled laugh.
"Let me up, Bob; that's one for you!" he said, and both struggled to
their feet. There was a rent in the right knee of Harding's trousers,
[Illustration: "That figure was not his own." From a drawing by F.H. Townsend. (_page 202_)] The Upas Tree _A Christmas Story for all the Year_ By Florence L. Barclay _Author of "The Rosary," etc_ G.P. Putnam's Sons New York and London The Knickerbocker Press