Judge, 1917-07-14 · page 6 of 27
Judge — July 14, 1917 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story centers on **Big Bill Halligan**, a cocky college athlete known for his success in football and his reputation with women. The narrative contrasts his athletic prowess with his social superiority complex. The plot involves **Peggy Ballantine**, a young woman Halligan pursues, and **Fred Guthrie**, an intellectual rival who proves Halligan's superior at tennis and social settings despite his less impressive build. The "interloper" refers to Guthrie's unwelcome intrusion into Halligan's pursuit of Peggy. The satire mocks **masculine ego and athletic arrogance**—suggesting that physical prowess and swagger don't guarantee romantic or social success. Guthrie's cleverness and refinement ultimately outclass Halligan's brutish confidence, challenging early 20th-century assumptions about athletic superiority equaling overall male dominance.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ROOKIES” IG BILL HALLI always drove his car with the muffler cut out. He did everything with the mufflercutout. That was how he talked, laughed, and thought of himself. And people who met him—particularly if they happened to be women—were generally quite impressed with his racket. Taken in connection with his good looks and his football record at college, it passed for manly exuberance. When Big Bill invaded quiet Hillcrest. Manor and began paying marked attentions to Peggy Ballantine, Fred Guthrie was not pleased. For Guthrie had spent months of astute and persevering diplomacy in bringing that volatile young lady to a frame of mind where she was ready to make concessions; and now, just as he was on the point of achieving an entente, there was danger that she would lapse back into maddening neutrality. Peggy wickedly enjoyed the situation, It enabled her to reassert her independence. The fact that Halligan’s mentality was hardly on a par with his physique was to her no drawback; because this very un-brilliance, saved from boresomeness by his high animal spirits, was something with which to flout Guthrie's cleverness. Keen was the rivalry that ensued. Halligan took her on long rides in his big red machine, cannonading over good roads and bad at a furious pace. At other times, balancing his huge bulk on the railing of the veranda—a posture that displayed his loud hosiery to advantage—he would relate anecdotes of the football field. His account of how he made his famous touchdown against Harvard was really very effective. Guthrie's athletic prowess was limited to tennis. In this game he was, despite the slightness of his build, remarkably successful. He could flick the corners and sidelines with a cool accuracy that kept his opponent exhaustingly on the run. Halligan, who alw hit the ball though he were trying to destroy it, declared in exasperation that Guthrie played like an old woman. Nevertheless, as a team-mate in doubles Fred always brought victory; and Pe; liked to ac ee as her partner at tennis,could beat all the other men, Halligan, as her partner at a social gathering. could enable her to triumph over all the other gir/s, ina game she enjoyed still more. And, undoubtedly, Peggy liked to win, One afternoon when Halligan was relating to a much impressed group of young people how he had captured the boxing championship at college, Peggy happened to remark that her English coachman was an ex-prize fighter. “Really?” said Halligan. “I'd like to spar with him.” “How perfectly wonderful!” exclaimed one of the girls. “Yes, please do. We'd love to see you box,”’ echoed others. Here was just the opportunity he had been looking for MARCHING TO MESS THE INTERLOPER By LAWTON By such a display of brawn he could make Guthrie MACK ALL in come “Well, Jenkins,” said Halligan veying this tall, raw-boned, long-armed personage, “they tell me you know how to bos “Yes, sir.” “Then would you be willing to put on the gloves with me sometime for a couple of rounds?” ‘Ves; /sie.”” The affair was forthwith planned for the next afternoon. It was to take place on the side lawn. Several of the girls begged to be allowed to bring friends. Indeed, before the group broke up, Big Bill had the satisfaction of hearing an elaborate féte projected, of which he was to be the central figure and hero. That evening he strolled out to the stable to settle a few details. He found Jenkins briskly grooming one of the horses. “Good evening, Jenkins. I just dropped in to see what sort of gloves you had.” The coachman produced a couple of pairs. Recruiting Oficer—How about joining the colors? Have you anyone dependent on you ? Motorist—Have 1? There are two garage owners, six mechanics, four tire dealers, and every gasoline agent within a radius of 125 miles.