Adventure, November 1915 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

128 munched it thoroughly, spat it out, and put the cigar back in his pocket. He eyed Stro- binski while he did it with the mien of an. _ artist, judging lesser art. “I’ve staged more fights,” he answered, “than your man Connolly ever dreamed of winnin’. I’ve seen ’em fight, an’ I’ve heard ’em talk, an’ I know ’em. I know Con- nolly. He’s a big, rough-housin’ mutt, with more luck than he deserves. Just now the others are afraid of him, but it’s my belief that if Billy Blain could be persuaded to get into a ring with him, Connolly ’ud show yellow. He’s a cheese champion, Con- nolly is.” “Cheese nothin’! As Connolly’s manager, Ephraim Stro- binski displayed a line of indignation that alone was worth a good share of the gate receipts. “Mike ’ud fight and lick anything alive that didn’t weigh a ton more than he did. He’s the best welterweight champion we’ve ever had. See what they say about him in the papers. Here—here’s some clip- pings!” Sweeny waved them aside, but allowed one beady eye to rest on a legal-looking documentthat Ephraim had pulled’out with the clippings and laid on the desk. “‘Nix,”’ he answered. " They ll say that, and ‘they say it of all of ’em. of Billy Blain too, and with more truth. He could: have licked Mike Connolly and done it easy.” “Could have once, perhaps—when Mike was about ten years old. Now, -Mike ud——’ “Would Mike dare?” “T’ve told you, Mike ’ud——” “You haven’t got authority to sign him up in any case. He could go back on ou.” “Could he? Just pipe this!’ He picked up the document and passed it over. . “Here’s my contract with him. He’s got to fight any one I say, and no one I don’t say. Read it for yourself.” Sweeny read the contract carefully, and saw that the terms of it were clear enough. It had been drawn in Connolly’s less palmy days, when he had been glad enough to get a manager on any terms at all, and like most contracts of that kind, it ex- tended to the limit of prevision on the manager’s behalf. 2192 hey said it - Adventure & “WELL?” | There was more than the suspi- cion of a sneer. “What’s the use of that? You wouldn’t dare sign him for a fight with Billy Blain. You wouldn’t let him risk the champion- ship.” Strobinski considered himself to be on perfectly safe ground. It was notorious that Billy Blain had given up the ring for- ever and was much too prosperous in his new profession ever to change his mind. “I'd sign him for a finish fight, winner take all, if the law allowed it. He could lick Blain with one hand.” “I don’t believe you’d dare sign him up for ten rounds and twenty-five per cent. of the gate money, win or lose.” “Wish I had the chance!” “Then sign here!” Sweeny pushed a sheet of foolscap paper over to him and handed him a pen. “T’m not saying I can pull it off,” warned Sweeny, as Ephraim stared at him in wide- eyed unbelief. “I’m not saying anything, except that you dasn’t sign; and—even the rumor might be good for business. I’m callin’ your bluff. I don’t believe you dare ‘write down conditions on that sheet and put your name to it.” “But what’s the use?”’ “Thought as much!” sueered Sweeny, losing all apparent interest and glancing at his watch. ‘“‘When I believe a feller’s bluffin’, I like to call him, that’s all.” “You've called a straight flush this time then! Here goes!” “Nix. There’s no money up. You'd have to post a thousand-dollar forfeit.” “What d’ye take me for?” “For a guy that’s afraid to Best, a for- feit.” “Forfeit for what?” “Binding your man to fight Billy Blain © on any date I care to name within six months. I’ve got to wake things up some way. If I can’t get at least the rumor of a real fight with real money posted, I can start a talk-fest the other way, an’ raise a howl in the press because Connolly won’t fight. I want advertising, an’ I’m out to get it.” Ephraim Strobinski drew the paper to him and began to scribble fast. It did not take him long to jot down the conditions which would cover a deposit of a thousand dollars. As in other legal matters, the EORMIC OOO© (G cS (E@) L/L -