Argosy All-Story Weekly, March 15, 1924 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

“a SOCKER DOOLEY gazing at the backs of the fifty centers, which accounts for Socker’s being at the end of the aisle. Like a conquering hero Dink seized Socker by the arm and thrust him aside. ‘ How d’ye git dat way, yuh towel swing- ing bucket hound?” demanded Socker. And then he shoved back strenuously. Could ‘he permit these men about him to think that Socker Dooley feared a semi-windup ‘artist? And could ‘Dink permit them to get an idea that a has-been like Dooley could get away with that shove? Not in a land where that one wallop means every- thing. ‘é Git outa me way, yuh bum,” countered Dink. “I t’ought. dey locked up de old men’s home at nine uh clock!” Bitter, ‘bit- ter words to the ears of him who ruled su- preme in his day. And bitter words, too, with an impersonal but deep sting to those others of the fringe who witnessed the | tableau. In an-instant these made a circle about the two men and prayed that Socker might retaliate for the insult they all felt. - And Socker did. He—well, Dink’s man- ager, who wasn’t three feet away when the thing happened, claims that Socker hit Dink hard enough to knock him “ so cock- eyed he was peekin’ out from behind his own ears.” ‘They gathered Dink up and toted him out to’ his dressing room: The ringside boys began clamoring for their _dividends of death and tne general plans of the evening seemed on the verge of going askew irreparably. When they got Dink back:in the land of reality they asked him how he felt. “ Queer’s ’ell,”” was his reply, with no dis- senting votes. “ Kin yuh go on, Dink?” asked the man- ager specimen. “ Kid,” says Dink thoughtfully, “if ut’s all de same ter you an’ de customers, I t’ink I'll take me rest period about now! » “ Damn dis guy Dooley!” blustered the manager. “Of all de”—then he saw Socker gazing at him from the doorway and thought better of, the words he was embarking upon——“ wallops I ever seen, he’s got de sweetest. My hat’s off ter him!” And in the eyes of the venerable Socker there glowed a light long dormant. LEAVES THE FRINGE. 147 The promoter burst into the room with the air of one demented. With eyes dis- tended he heard the tale of the wallop that had ruined. his semi-windup. ‘Then: “ Who was it socked this piece of bric-a- brac? Why the hell didn’t you bring him here wrapped in excelsior?” ‘“ Dooley sloughed him,” crestfallen manager. ‘Dooley who?” “ Socker Dooley!” “Soak me! Socker Dooley! I sat on my father’s shoulder to watch his last fight, and here he is spreading my semifinal all over the clubhouse!” - The promoter was faced by a very acute problem. He had a semifinal to fix in a matter of minutes. Looking about him, he vouchsafed the ‘saw many familiar faces that he had per- mitted to slip by the gate to constitute the fringe. ‘“Who’s here that can give Cohen a fight?” he demanded. “Some of you guys slide out. into the hall and see who’s sitting around. Maybe Spike Dillon or Tommy Craft will -go on as a sub.” But search was useless. There was no one in the hall who seemed to answer the purpose. The promoter tried vainly to in- duce Dink to go on. His efforts elicited only a rueful rubbing of the injured chin and a cautious assurance ‘to the effect that Socker Dooley “ had de most emphasis in his right mitt of any guy. in de world.” Cohen’s manager burst upon the scene with angry demands for an explanation of -the delay. He saw Dink cringing on the table. | : “Yellow, eh? Well, I thought we was gonna get you into a ring this time, but I see | was wrong. What’s the idee? Try- in’ to kid us into dressin’ for nothin’? Come on out an’ fight like a man. How about our end of this purse?” He brought to bear many pointed argu- ments, but all to no avail. Dink had sud- denly discovered the power of a real wallop and was content to rest upon the laurels of his present explorations. In despair Co- hen’s manager asked the same question as the promoter: — “Who bumped against this the crowd?” ‘“misht’ in DOO