Adventure, June 1911 — page 86: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

272 shows how the ‘insiders’ feel about it. Now, you listen to what I’m saying, for I wouldn’t say it to any one else on earth— without your advice. #‘Doolan first hired me to wrestle with him, because I’m husky and heavy and he -négtied a lot of hauling about to prepare him for work in the clinches. He got all the jauling he wanted, all right. Well, the ird day after I began work one of his Sparring partners failed to show up and I “was asked to spar with him for four rounds. At the end of the bout he called me into his dressing-room and offered me the job of Boxing with him at odd times up to the date of the fight. He said, though I was young, I had speed and, as that was the main thing he had to overcome in Farnum, I was just the kid he needed to make him extend him- self. He didn’t want me to do any leading, he said—only to block his leads and counter lightly when I saw an opening. “Look at me, Sis. I hadn’t boxed with that fellow three times before I knew I could hit him when and where I pleased! More than that, I knew I was faster, could hit harder and that he couldn’t put a glove on me in a week, if I didn’t want him to. And here’s another thing—a couple of ’em: I knew that he knew I was at least his equal at all points of the game, and I knew that he knew that I knew it. Follow me? “Now, make a note of this: I never did extend myself boxing with Doolan. Mother needed that five-spot the ‘great heavyweight’ was paying me for each set-to, and I couldn’t afford to lose the job. So, while he couldn’t have helped knowing I was as good at the game as he was, he didn’t know what an easy mark he’d be for me if it came to a real ‘go.’ ‘Now, I’ve not told any one these things. It would sound like boasting, and I’ve no ambition to be a fighter. Only you and I are ‘wise,’ for, though a good many wit- nessed our bouts, I carefully followed my boss’s instructions, working always on the defensive and keeping the sting out of my leads, counters and swings. “‘We boxed the last bout this afternoon, and, when we got through, Doolan took me into his private room and offered me $250 to second him at Friday night’s fight. I told him how mother and you feel about prize- fighting, but he said he could arrange it so I could serve under an assumed name. That $250 looked mighty juicy, the way ~ Adventure things are with us, Sis, and I finally agreed to act as Doolan’s second. “Then something happened that just about knocked me clean silly. What do you suppose that alleged sport told me? . That Friday night’s fight was fixed! Sure— a fake! Doolan was to foul Farnum in the eighth round, and I was to admit the claim when Farnum’s second made it. That’s as far as he got with my instructions when a gang of newspaper men and others broke into the room and my boss shook me by the hand and said we’d go further into the details to-morrow. So you see, Sis, this brace of pug highwaymen propose on next Friday night to steal between thirty thou- sand and forty thousand dollars from the Califrisco Club, which is promoting the contest, and the public, which is always ready to encourage legitimate sport with its good hard money. And your fair- haired brother is supposed to [be in with the robbery! What do you think of it?” “T think it’s a shame and a scand——” “Hold! Here’s where I test your game- ness. You know I’d rather have my head cut off than betray the confidence of a decent man, don’t youP”’ “Certainly I know it.” “Well, this is the first time I’ve been honored with the confidence of a thieving scrub. I want you to advise me to go to Mr. Fulmer, president of the club, and explain the whole situation.” ‘“‘That’s easy.” I advise it.”’ “And, after that, I want you to advise me to do what I think best for all con- cerned,” “But, what——”’ “No ‘buts.’ Be game! advise it.” “*Well—er—g-go ahead.”’ ““Good. Now, you wouldn’t throw a man down for doing what you advise him to do, would your” “Why, no—that is—certainly not.” ‘Then, when I get through doing what I want you to you have advised me to do, I want . you to stand up, like a thoroughbred, and tell mother that I did it at your suggestion.” **But—you—you-—”’ “Are you a quitter?” “'N-no—but I——” “Be game, Sis! Will you stick?” ~“Y-e-es,”” “Then come on. Mother’s waiting.” GoOmiGcbdooksEeo S