{"product_id":"2940012313898","title":"The Scapegoat","description":"Who would not have pity for a poor, helpless victim? Nobody--except another poor victim!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcerpt \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The old guy didn't have a chance. All he could do was shield his head with limp arms and moan, while this other fellow--a young, husky six-footer--gave him a vicious, cold-blooded beating.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Hey, there!\" I yelled indignantly. \"Cut it out!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut the kid kept belting away, as if he were methodically working out on a fifty-pound training bag. Finally, the old man sagged to the pavement. Then this hoodlum began to kick him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI'm not a hero. I'm a newspaper man whose job it is to look at things objectively. But I know right from wrong.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy one punch caught the young bruiser back of the ear and spilled him on the ground. He lay there for a moment, then rolled over. Even by the street light, it was easy to see his eyes were glassy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It gave me lots of satisfaction. I'm not a big man--just compact--but I take care of myself. I don't drink or smoke and I exercise regularly. The result is I can handle myself in the clinches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe kid sat up and pushed himself unsteadily to his feet. I could see now that he was a college boy. The red sweater with the terrycloth border and the white pants with a shortened left leg were a dead giveaway.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Listen here,\" I said roughly, \"you nuts? Beating up an old man!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe appeared to be desperately searching for an explanation--something to say. Then, abruptly, without having uttered a sound, he reeled away and shambled hurriedly down the street.","brand":"eStar Books LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47078955516144,"sku":"2940012313898","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940012313898_p0.jpg?v=1763567336","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940012313898","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}