I couldn't hit the old pace.

Somehow, things were different--or I was different.

At first I thought it was because Barney MacTague was away cruising around the Hawaii Islands, somewhere, with a party.
I came near having the _Molly Stark_ put in commission and going after him; but dad wouldn't hear of that, and told me I'd better keep on dry land during the stormy months.

So I gave in, for I hadn't the heart to go dead against his wishes, as I used to do.

Besides, he'd have had to put up the coin, which he refused to do.
So I moped around the clubs, backed the light-weight champion of the hour for a big match, put up a pile of money on him, and saw it fade away and take with it my trust in champions.