4»
ILS BERGSTROM. known to Pacific
Coast ring followers as "The Bani-
mcr." was pounding the punching bag in
Able (‘lioue's gymnasium. His mild bill.
eyes were aligbt. n blissful smile beamed
on his rather bovine countenance, and his
long l'll'llls' shot back and forth with (ll.
case of an engine's pistons.
"Tbe ll.ini:i.cr'>»" ti~ti~ r-nrcer. though
lhorl. b‘ul Inn-I. qut.nul.tr. Lou than 1
year brim'v. still \\-;i"IIi.: illl‘ \‘ltilbel in
which in- i‘.ii :'»~ »»t :‘n- Iit't'flll. be had
present... ! ~ -.i . than . ,;,\|lill.‘t5illlll and
”immune! t|i~ \'.t.i‘t|_ltt‘~ ii. ii.» .tugllt that
would it... . i-l . llll a rend
souabin i-illii| 1 iii ,1. K |"l ' m.
If clinu» i ‘in. lilml. »\‘. the m0"
promising lJIiApuI l‘I it ti. l‘tmlnv's string of
fighters, \w.» .,, ll“|fi u. .i \pamiig pnrtnen
and [tic l.i'~|\j. liilit' Scandinavian was
promptly cli:.';tgcv|. lie at once demon-
strated a M'l't'llf‘ indifference to any punllh'
meat that the rcdoubtabie Biinky could in-
flict. and soon developed an uncanny ability
to deliver blows 0f pulverizlng quality with
either hand from almost any position.
First securing Bergstrom's signature to a
contract that bound the fighter firmly and
his manger not at all, the astute Able Chone
cautiously introduced him into the four-
round pr'elimlnary_ bouts. Through these
the Norseman went like a whirlwind, losing
not a single decision and winning by the
knockout route whenever an opponent could
be induced to stand up and trade punches.
Passing on to the main-event class, he won
his first battle with consummate ease and
established himself high in the ah'ections of
a large precentage of th Co
fraternity. 0 ast sporting
NOW he was matched with "Terribld
Terry" Dugan. who had one 1 I,
theehnm[H.011 to a ten 0 oug t
. . -round draw. Though
Dugnn a championship aspirations had b
drowned i '~ een
n. a shallow cup. he was still a
great drflwms card and accounted one of
“)9 toughest customers in the Nil-pound
division. Many of the newspaper expert.
gm expre'sseduhcir conviction that “The
beairrilizslryscmzii‘iuénphal advance was due to
Inclined to doubt ggd‘fibie (bone was much
, isdom in making the
:fllfh. The little Norseman, however, was
“101:5; from doubts and fears as a game
thobserring that his manager had entered
“2:031: 1:11)“ cut loose with a mighty blow
. 6 bag from its moorings and
hurled it against the opposite wall.
morfo shall Ay' do to deer; Dugan faller to-
0V mill”. he promised With a tooth
“Lyn" “Ay shall bust him vlde open."
It gets younothing to bust up the fur--‘
:lture. ' observed Able Chone reprovlngiy.
Come here, I got a story to tell you."
He led the way into the back room.
furnished with a bottom] roil»t0p desk
and a few chairs, which did duty as an
office. Bergstrom leaped from the plat-
form and padded after his manager with the
:nhesltafing obedience of a well-trained
0g. '
“Vail, Meester Chose?" he questioned.
standing respectfully beside the desk be-1
fore which the what had seated himself.
“Nils," said the little man with the
shrewd black eyes and the shoebrush
mustache. “I’ve just been talking to Dave
Triner, Dugan's manager."
“Yeas. Meeeter Chone."
“We've fixed up a little business deal for
tomorrow night. You don't lick Dugan. He
licks you."
He whom an enthusiastic reporter had
referred to as "The Hammer of Thor"
stared at his manager in wounded surprise.
“He ent able." he protested. “Maybe he
bane a party tough fallcr. but Ay tenk—"
"Thinking ain‘t good enough," inter-
hpted Chone, leaning forward and shaking
h. tubby forefinger under the other's nose.
1' tvant to know. and so does Triner. I!
Dugan was an odds-on favorite in the bet-1
ting, like he ought to be. we‘d fix ii: the
other way. But he ain't. You‘ve won
any a fight here, Nils, and the local boys
flye turned loose a flood of money. I
want some of that dough, and I’m looking
[you to bring it home. Get me?"
lls Bergstrom nodded sagely. “You You!
5y shall carry home for you the money
y trip when Ay lick dees Dugan." he laid
p cidly, “Ay shall bring a satchel,"
Able threw up his hands in '4 NM of
[main - 9
sum ins front explaining smiling OI
I 0!" he complained to the flea eat.
, tell you, Nils, you don't lie Dug“.
0 don't try to lick him. TN dot! 1| ll)
tip. Now listen: , '
. i the first two rounds 0!! tea]
fl ‘ in like you was Iolnt eat in!
gave—jun like you anvm am no an
9 ans will expect you to. 119 s
‘9‘ stall as if he was tire andi gged
' gainst the ropes. When if hes in
”VG“ him, Nils,‘ you are 6 fun b
lde open—and Dug will the
ere'u an pus tundra to (0&9! too.
do you set me?"
_he Hammer’s” roan lilo Q I:
achful. "You—you 3:“ a
lick me?" he question b er ' .
' at's the idea. You to of ”6. Nil“
ou'll he a rich ma one 6 m
a? will give us another fight latex?“
{can flatten him then if yo , a tom
But this time you lose tho
'Pd' Understand?”
RE was much grief but no; 'eughi
d" rebellion in the fighter' [191311
‘Ay understand," he said heivfly—"il
' ird round.” ‘ ' i
an. a' sore-hearted pugillse .‘Vh‘h elf
hour later, left the gymnasium and I e
odily down the street. The moral con-
derations involved in a “fixed" aghl
troubled him little: but to one who has
begun to cherish vague dreams of a lightd
height championship, the prospect D! II
“deserved “k. 0.” on his record is not 5
pleasant one.
Iii this crisis, “The Bammer'g" fancy
htly turned to thoughtl of food. Blessed
I) nature with a body whose normal weight
was pounds below the lightweight limit. he
has accustomed to eat what and when he
! F BUSINESS one... -
ax . . “A
in
p.
' “The Hammer’s” right, in an uppercut that tore through Dugan's ineffectual guard, landed flash on the point of his jaw
pleased, which was much and often. A
culture meal brought to Nils the same sur-
cease of sorrow that Mr. Poe sought vainly
in his books. 4
Into McCann's restaurant he turned with
a vicious swing that jarred to hunting ac-
tivity the swarm of flies that clung to the
screen door. He took his accustomed place
at one of the tables presided over by pretty
Nellie I’arsons. for whom he had long
nursed a hopeless passion that expressed
itself in sldelong glances and stammering
comments on the weather.
At sight of him. that popular young per-
son's naturally high color took on an even
brighter tint. and she surreptitiously studied
her reflection in the long mirror which lined
the wall. Reassurcd as to the, arrangement
of her coiffure and the inipeccability of her
neat uniform. she placed before. Nils a clean
menu-card and bent over him with a hint
of more than professional solicitude.
“How's tricks, Mr. Bergstrom?” she
questioned portly. “You look sorta down
in the mouth."
“The Haiiiiner's” gloomy expression dis~
appeared in a wide and, tender smile. iTo-
morrow's troubles were forgotten in the
joys of today. Never before had his
divinity seemed so approachable.
"Mees Nellie," be said with laborious gal-
lantry. “you are the purtiest leetle trick
in dees town."
“Listen to the man !" laughed Nellie.
"Why. blister Bergstrom, I actually believe
you're trying to flirt with me. You men
are all alike. You lead us poor girls on
and then make fools of us."
“Ay cnt fooling." said Nils seriously.
"Ay bane loving you dees long time—ever
since first, Ay see you. Ay eat no trider,
Mees Nellie."
“My. you are a speedy man when you get
started!" ejaculated the pretty little walt-
teas. Then her black eyes grew languorous.
“Do you really mean all that—Nils?"
she asked softly. "This is about the first
time you ever spoke to me straight out.
you know."
“Mees Nellie." said Nils earnestly, "Ay
eat dared. Ay bane loving you, but Ay eat
.dared tell you. But Ay am wanting to
marry you. lileea Nellie. Ay make money
fast. now. Some day Ay will be chain-i
plon. so soon as Ay lick dees taller.
Dugsn, Ay shali—"
A wave of shameful memory swept over
"The Bammer's" brain, and he stopped
short. his fair skin brick-red.
Nellie Parsons leaned forward, her eyes
hllgbt with enthusiasm.
"I believe you, Nils." she breathed In
hm ear. “and if you want: to know how
strong you are with me. just listen to this.
Yesterday I drew out every cent I had in
the savings-bank—three hundred perfectly
good dollars, all I've saved in four years of
hard work—and Dad took it down to the
pool room last night and bet it all on you
at even money. So when you go up against
Dngan tomorrow night. you can feel that
you are fighting for me, too."
Nils Bergstrom's flushed face turn I
ghastly gray. Be stared at the in
wild-eyed horror.
"Ion—bet—your—money—on—mel" hi
flsped.
“Sure I did. Why. Nils. you‘ll lick the.
old ‘hss-been' easy. You ought to get hill
by the third-round."
“The third round!" he echoed bitterly.
“Of course." she said with calm con-
fidence. “And now give me your order.
'canse the boss is watching us pretty hard.
What are you going to have?"
“The Hammer" pushed back his chair and
got unsteadily to his feet.
“Excuse. Mees Nellie," he faltered
brokenly. “Ay guess—Ay guess Ay eat
hungry." And before she could recover
from her surprise. he had seized his
hat and hurried out of the restaurant.
Be sped straight back to the gymnasium,
whence. by a lucky chance. Ablar Chons had
not yet departed. Nils burst into his man-
ager's olice like a. Scandinavian whirlwind.
"hfeester Chane." he shrilled excitedly.
"it out right. Fallers in dose town bet on
me, and Ay ought to fight yust so gude as
Ay can. They lose their money if Dugan
licks me. It cut right. Ay tell you!"
"Now listcn to me, Nils," said Able
Chonc with infinite calm. “and I‘ll tell you
something you can paste in your hat and
remember as long as you live. la the fight-
ing game, like everything else. you've got
to be a business man. The right thing to
do is the thing that gets you the most
moucymalways. all the time. These guys
ain't betting on you because they love you.
They've got a fool notion that because you
haven't been licked yet, you ain't never
going to lie. That's all. 'l‘liey're follow-
ing their 'iiinteriiil interest.’ as the I. W.
W. oriitors say. Well, it's to my material
interest for you to bc licked this time. And
licked you're certainly going to be."
ILS‘ sighed.
“limv mooch money do I get for being
licked?" lic nsk'cd lilibmisaivcly.
"You get two hundred—win. lose or
draw; and a hundred more out of what I
clean up in the betting. ’l‘hat's three hun-
dred iron lllt‘il for spurring seven minutes
and taking a puiicli in the jaw in the third
round. l'rctty soft money, if you ask me."
“Vail. just its you say. hleester Chone."
agreed Nils humbly. Yet a close observer
might lime identified tinI glint. in his round
blue eyes as the light of a dawning idea.
The same mythical observer. bad he fol-
lowed tbe pugilist to his modest sleeping
quarters on the floor above the gymnasium,
would have seen him bring forth from an
ancient steamer trutik a writing tablet and
a stubby pencil and proceed to wrinkle his
smooth brow over a mighty problem in
mathcmatica.
At ltlo'ciovk of the following night. Nils
Bergstroui crawled through the ropes in
Mickiehnuni's l’aviiion. grinning at the
crowd like a Nurse. cherub. Almost im-
mediately. on the other side of the ring. ap-
peared tin- formidable figure of Dunn.
closely followed by his manager who, even
in the terrible one's decline. still found
him an invaluable meal-ticket.
The announcer led Nils about the ring.
"Nils Bergstrom." lie yelled, “the bat-
tling Swede, better known as ‘The Hans-
mer.‘ The undefeated pride of Chone's
athletic club. The boy who wins his fight.
in a punch."
The crowd shouted its approval and “The
Hammer's" grin widened. ~
Dugan was led forward.
“This handsome young man. continued
the man with the bull-like voice. "is Term
renco O'Brien Dugan; known to all the
world as ‘Terrible Terry.’ Winner of fifty
fierce fights and as game as they make 'em.
He will now attempt to hammer 'Ttie Ham-
mer.‘ "
"It's perfectly safe," leered Dugan. "The
Ids all say so."
“Look out for de explosion." came a voice
from the dollar seats.
Nils smiled on as one who dreams
pleasant dreams. He was still smiling when
vv
the hell rang. It was with that same bliss-
ful expression that he drove his right glove
into llngnn's mid-section with such spirit as
to cause that dnugbty person to emit a
pained grunt and hang on desperately. Nils
turn himself free with ripping body blown,
measured his distance. ,nlltl cut loose a
mighty swing for the jaw—which missed by
a fraction of an inch. “Terrible Terry"
met him with a whirlwind return. and the
round ended with the. two slugging merrily
away in the middle of the ring. Ind the
crowd on its feet yelling like inadmen.
“l"ine. Nils. tine!" whispered Able Chone.
as he leaned over “The llaintuer‘s" chair
and profl’crcii the water bottle. “You're a
regular Join: Drew. I didn't think you
had it in you. Just keep that up for one
more round. and then "
"Ay keep him nop," grunted Nile dab-
hing delicately at. an eye on which Dugan's
glorc had landed.
in the other corner, 'l‘crrence Dugan
favored Dare. 'l‘riner with a reproacl‘ful
glare. "What's this Swede tryin' to do?"
he demanded earnestly. tbougli furtively. "I
thought you had him fixed to drop to me."
"So be is~~iu the third round." breathed
the guardian of his fortunes.
“That's a long way off." said Dugan.
“lie dam ncar broke me in two with that
right of his. 1‘“ murder him for that."
"Aw. he‘s just making it look good."
whispered 'l‘riner.
“It don't look good to me, nor feel good
neither." complained Dugan bitterly. "I'm
going to slow him up a bit. Ila gets
his, this round."
T THE tap 0f the bell, Dugan was half-
way across the ring before the more
phlegniatlc Norseman had left his chair.
They met almost in "The llammer's" cor-
ner. with a mighty crash of thudding gloves
and heaving bodies. “Terrible Terry" was
giving Nils the full benefit of the annihilat-
ing attack whichhad carried him for on the
road toward the lightweight crown. and
which probably would have sufficed for the
whole journey bad it been backed by rigor-
ous training and the stamina which is the
reward of good clean living.
Blocking what he could and philosophi-
cally absorbing the remainder, Nils lived
through a cyclonic minute. Then it be-
came apparent to all that the Swede had
weathered the storm and was in turn the
aggressor.
Half a minute later, Terry reeled back
from a terrific smash over the heart and
dived desperately into a clinch, his knees
bending under him, his body sagging weakly,
while "The ammer" continued to belabor
him with overhand wallops to the kidneys.
"Eat him up. Bergstroml” yelled his
backers in the crowd.
“Careful. you fool!" yelled Able Chane
hoarsely. forgetting caution in his despera-
tion.
"Stay away from him, Terry!" implored
- Iriner. "Box him cleverl"
Terrence Dugan made a noble effort to
obey the voice of authority. He slipped
from the clinch to the accompaniment of
a swarm of rights and lofts, and backed
away on unsteady legs. his gloves waving
before his face. his elbows drawn in to pros
tect his battered body.
The Norseman was after him like I flash.
“Stop it, Nils!_ Stop it!" walled Able
t‘hone. dancing up and down in a vain elort
to ‘ttract his protege's attention.
it would have been as easy to stop a
famislicd porker on his way to a par-
ticularly well-filled trough. Out darted
“The llnmmer's" left glove in a discon-
certing felnt. and up from the neighbor-
hood 0f the floor came his right. in an
nppercut that tore through Dugan‘a ineflec-
tual guard and landed Bush on the point*
of his jaw.
Then the referee began to count. He
stopped at “ten." but he might have con-
tinued up to ten thousand without in the
least disturbing Mr. llugan.
With such grace as he could muster.
Able Chone accepted the congratula-
tions of the reporters and friends who
crowded into the dressing room. To the
blissfully smiling Nils Bergstrom, he said
nothing until he had him locked in the ofice
INTO every dishonest,
tricky deal there enters
an element wb icli. no
amount of precaution can
guard against—the little
god with the bow smiles,
and over goes the care-
fully built house of cards.
Managers of prize fighters
sometimes forget all about
the wee bowman ahd their
plans go awry.
of the gymnasium in company with the
- Dave Triner.
"firgdwfdyou dirty. ungrateful pup," be
roared. "what‘s the idea? Xho‘s been pay-
doubie-crnsa me.
in"‘I‘flfblfi‘iooverdo it. Cliche." sneerrd Trlner.
"You might as well can'the Fa’v'ershans
etuH. \on're in on this thing, too.
"in it?" shrieketl Able. thrusting a‘buach
of pink slips into the doubter's hands. Look
at my tickets. I got two thousand bet on
Dugaii to lick this boob—and then you say
I'm in on the double-cross! lot 1 in all
ln—that'a what I am. lfliergstrom. what
an' for yourse .
Nairobi dribble-cross nobodyd' said Nils
in a surprised tone, turning. his one un-
damaged optic first on .hll irate manager
and then on the upopiectie Tuner. . '
“l)iiiii’t~" choked Trliier. Didn t you
understand that the fight was fixed 1|for
Dugan—that youdw’as to lay down to im
' roun . .
i0"'lllseutbmrliieester Triner." protested ‘lila
innocently. "there out. no thirdnround.
“Aw. the Swede’a a fool! snorted
Triner in disgust. "Let liim go. Chone. Be
' . an hetter.’ .
do?‘i‘e:nt}‘hst ay plain fool," agreed Able
sorrowfully, as be unlocked the door. He
does all his thinking with his hands: 00
on up to bed. Nils. You. simply aint got
sense enough to be a business man.
UT their opinion of “The Hammer'a'
B acumen might have been altered had
they seen the sheet of paper at which lie
glanced complacently before seeking his
well-earned rest. It bore the result of his
calculations of the night before; it read
thus:
For Wininl
Mi bit .................. $200.00
in. My.” mony ......... 300.00
Wat she win on bet ...... 300.00
$800.00
For Loosing
. Mi hit ................... $200.00
Wat Mr. Chone pay me. . . . 100.00
$300.00
Wining better as loosing $500.00
“Ay teak," murmured Nils tlreainily,
"Ay tenk—Ay—bane—purty—gude—becsl-
nesa man!"
Copyright by Public Ledger Company
Sparks From ‘the Jokesmitb’s Anvil
Didn’t Hit It Right
HE husband arrived home much later
than usual "from the office." He took
03' his boots and stole into the bedroom.
His wife began to stir. Quickly the panic-
stricken man went to the cradle of his
first-born and began to rock vigorously.
"What are you doing there. Robert?"
“l‘ve been sitting here for nearly two
hours trying to get this baby to sleep," he
growled.
“Why, Robert, I've got him here in bed
with me," replied his wife.
Wang the Wonder
AN AMBITIOUS Chinaman sent the fol-
lowing letter of application in answer
to an ad for a stenographer:
“Sir—A am Wang ‘ ‘ ' I can
drive a typewriter with good noise and my
English it great. My last job had left itself '
from me for the good reason that the large
man has dead. It was on account of no
fault of mine. So. honorable sir, what
about it? If I can be of big use to you.
I will arrive on some date that you should
guess.”
as
Slight Error
(f AITER. there's something queer
about this coffee—it tastes like
cocoa."
"0h, beg pardon. air. I've given you an-
other customer's tea by mistake."
'23.:
May Was Home
4‘ 8 MAY at home?” George asked the
maid
“May w€07—" he had her guessing.
“Why. Mayonnaise.” And then she said:
"Oh. Mayonnaise is dressing."
' a:
The Truth
N OLD Negro went to the ofice of the
Commissioner of Registration in a
Missouri town and applied for registration~
papers.
"What is your name?" asked the allele].
"George Washington," was the reply.
“Well. George, are you the man who cut
down the cherry tree?" -
“No. sub. I ain't de man. I ain't done
no work for nigh onto a year."
a
Ad’noids
ICKEY came home from school snif-
flag. "You've been licked," said his
mother. "I ain't," said Mickey. “There
was a doctor at school this mornln' exam-
ined us. and he said I had ad'nolds."
"Phwst's thim?” asked mother. “They're
\
things in your head as has to be taken out,"
answered Mickey. “it's a dam lie.” angrily
exploded mother. "I've fine-combed yure
head ivry Saturday night, ind niver an
ad'noid did I find!"
A Careful Horse
ONES was being driven from the station
to the. farm where he had made reserva-
tions to spend liis vacation. The horse was
behaving peculiarly; he won” stop. then
amble along slowly, stop rgain, looking
around expectantly.
“la your horse sick?" asked Jones.
"Not as I knows t'." responded the
firmer.
"Is he balky?”
“No. He 'pears to be so afraid I'll say
‘Wlioa‘ and he won't hear1 me that he stops
every once in a while to listen."
Short Hours
a HY did Fisher's busineSs go to the
dogs?"
“He thought too much of his personal
appearance."
“Dressed too extravagantly?"
“No. He neglected his business while
waiting his turn in the barber shops.”
That’s Different
I'I‘TLE Boy (on train)——“hlotber, what
was that last station?"
Mother—"I don't know."
Little Boy—"You don‘t know the name?"
Mothe “No. and what's more. I want
you to stop bothering me. Be quiet for
fifteen minutes."
Little Boy—(after iaterval)—~"hiother
ask the porter. I dropped your pans. out
the window at that last stop."
Alleviation
OSS—Whatl Another raise? Not six
months ago 1 gave you a raise to get
married on.
Employe—Yes. air. but I want this one
for I divorce.
Worse
u HAT could be more sad.” said the
ichoolmistress, "than a man with-
out a country i"
"A country without r. man." answered
the pretty girl.
952‘!-
Pcoling Belles
Two maids by the river u-ere kneeling,
To diavobs [or the swim they were stealing
Said the owl in the tree.
"How‘d you like to be was
When the belles ol the village are posting,”
§ 4
Norwalk Chronicler