Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

q THE KENTUCKY WONDER. yuh do it last night?’ I asks him sorta snappy like. “ Countin’ th’ decoration, K. O.’s face goes patriotic, then it changes tuh a port red. I’m expectin’ him tuh blow up an’ bust me one, but he don’t; instead’ he kinda laughs. “*Why, yuh poor goof—couldn’t yuh see I was pullin’ my punches?’ ‘“* Sure!’ I tells him. ‘ Just like Carpen- tier pulled ’em on Dempsey!’ ‘“ F’r this I look tuh connect with K. O.’s right, but I don’t. K. O. only sniffs, an’ when he gets his mouth workin’ he speaks low. “* Wait till I fight him again!’ “* Wait!’ I laughs. ‘Why, yuh poor goof—anybody that would match yuh an’ him ’d match Abe Atell an’ Dempsey—to- gether!’ “* All right,’ he says; ‘ yuh win!’ Then he gets snappy. ‘ How much yuh out on me?’ “J tells him, an’ what does he do but hand me a I. O, U. f’r th’ full amount? This sorta hurts me; I know ten thousand smackers ain’t gonna bust him—he’s been winnin’ reg’lar, sinkin’ his jack in good real estate, an’ his paper’s good as cash. But I don’t want his jack. I took a chance, got a run f’r my money, an’ ain’t exactly where I’m beggin’ tuh keep me outa th’ poorhouse. don’t listen. ‘ * Now,’ he bellers, ‘ beat it "fore I f’rget yuh look like Rip Van Winkle!’ “<Suits me!’ I tells him; an’ when [ backs through th’ door I take th’ long chance. ‘K. O.,’ I says, ‘if yuh ever fight that bird again, sign him up tuh come in handcuffed!’ Then I grabs a rattler f’r this man’s town—an’ here I am!” As far as Carrigan was concerned, this was the end of his.story; yet he wanted some comment, sympathy, anything, and he turned his eyes to Walden, with the question: ‘What d’you call it?” “Tough luck,’ Walden said, nodding dolefully; ‘‘ but if Kentucky Kid’s got th’ goods, why didn’t yuh take him under yer wing?” I try tuh tell him this, but he * ‘“ Goods?” Carrigan grinned. “ Why, th’ way I got it figured, he was kiddin’ us all th’ time. Looks like he was just stallin’ tuh get another fight; but when K. O. got rough he changed his mind. No, sir, mister; he’s a Kentucky wonder—hadda be tuh clean up on K. O.!” “Well,” Walden offered, smiling, ‘“ he might be a champion! Grab him up; I'll match him with Kid Troubles. What say?” “Mister,” Carrigan chuckled, reaching for the telegraph pad, “Ill say th’ next thing is tuh see if I can land him!” Il. Two weeks later Kentucky Kid, signed for ten rounds with Kid Troubles, opened training quarters under the management of Jim Carrigan. The bout was only ten days off, but it was ample time for a regular fighter to get into condition; and the day of the fight, as Carrigan announced, Ken- tucky Kid was “ right in th’ pink.” That night was one never to be for- gotten by the management of the club. The house wes packed with a throng of eager fight-loving fans; they were there with a fight-or-money guarantee, and their lusty throats told the world that they expected — fight. A big crowd had come up from the South to pull for Kentucky Kid, and they strove to make the name of their favorite heard above the uproar. Out in the dressing room, Kentucky Kid, fresh from the rubbing table, watched as Carrigan carefully taped his hands. His lithe body rippled with splendid, well- trained muscles, and his regular features were warped with a smile of confidence. Just as he slid to his feet, ready to enter the ring, Walden came rushing through the door. The matchmaker’s face was pale, his fists were clenched, and he breathed heavily. » “Say!” he panted. ‘‘ We’re sure outa luck—can’t find Kid Troubles nowhere! Gotta call th’ fight off—er—er ring in a substitute!” He paused, searching the faces of both Carrigan and the fighter. “ Might find a ham, an’ by handlin’ him easy we CONNIE OOO KS Eola)