Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-05-04

.
You before New Years day, if You
are alive, that it Is charity, or | will
on that day pay you back the money
and per cent month interest; or II
Won die before that day, the money
shall he paid towards your funeral
expenses. Come now, what do you
LAY T.
II don't say nothin' to that But
IN tell you what I'll do"
What asked his reverence.
"Ill put up so against any mans
$50 that can throw any man in the
house, best two falls out of three, and
if loose the money goes in the hat"
"O-a-ah" growled some one, eyer
don't want to challenge q priest, de
yerg
WHIST Wait q moment" said
Father Ryan, interruptlng the speak,
er. Then turning 10 the challenger,
who still sat il his corner: when
and where do you propose to wrestle I"
RI ght now, aud right here, la the
back yard, on the stone floor"
Nv hat hold?'
"Co!lar-aud-elb
"Geutlemen," said Father Ryan,
biandly, as he turned to the crowd,
III one among you will be kind enough
to pat up the money, with the help
OF God I'll do my best to win it"
"Ueles your money" said the
barkoeper, spanking the heavy gold
S2U on the board.
And here's the mate to it," said
n ate, rising from bis place in the cor
uer and striking second $40 on top
Of the fist.
Now all was excitement. The egg
nog was forgotten, while betting
became the order oil the hour.
Twenty dollars even that the padre
wins! bet my last dollar on religion
every pop!
Two to one on Nate Smith-from
$40 to 3IOO.'
The preIiminalies being all settled
tic lmpomptu athletes stepped to
tne center, shook hands, aud then
standing front To front, took each
other by The collar with Que hand,
ana Uy tue elbow of each with each
other Hand, and the muscular bout
uegan.
The cOlar.aud-elbow wrestle be-
tween skilled contestants Is really, 50
10 speak, "a list fight with the ieet. Que
would think Ia viewing the kicks OF
tue mailed foot that shlns would be
broken like pipe stems, but II Is not
often one wrestler Is permitted to get
- square toe kick upon the sbins OF
the other, where there Is science on
Doth sides.
But to really describe tue tripping,
I,lcklug, deieudiDg, ioillug aud mus
cular writing OF Tie CONTESTANTS on
tuIs New Years day III Tie st"ue
ampbiIueater uehiud tue log SALOON, Is
uol IN the power OF this pea, nor
{ IN amy power slower than Mu!-
uidgcs ngntu!pg photographers; Uut
.ue result was That, alter posing Oh
the truh OF alternate SUCCESS ami
defeat, Nate Smith went down solid ;
on tie lat OF his back, taking care,
} however, to suUeu his neck against a
, sounding rap oil MS conscious cabesa
, on The hard door.
Score one Tor the church, shouted
! kn wing fellow IN the crowd.
= "Huuah Tor the padre-he's q
-, ,tlf IA M, .ln
= Ouce again the strugglers came to
the center, and now again the contest
was waged with all tho vigor OF the
human animal, supplemented by that
j ESSENCE OF lulmuraiity known as tue
= Intellect. Inis SECOND bout was even
more warily worked through than the
nrat-edcA man having already tested
u The skill OF lAe Uther-Dut it ended in
r u draw battle, both men coming down
q together with a terrific fall upon tue
y hard door. This time there were
serious enquiries to know if either
man was hurt.
= Hurt, is ito Yis, indads / am
! hut I'm not injured.
a I'm not Injured, either, but I've
y got Us much OF lhis thing as want al
present" said Nate, and then added
well postpone. the other fall till next
. New Years"
mo We won't" shouted the crowd
g "thaL's dead give away"
"All night, boys. Father Ryan
are you ready I" said Nate.
: "Ready, please God,' and he step
4 ped 70 his place. "l'm here among
/, the tigers, like an early martyr in the
a amphitheater."
n Nate extended his hand, which the
martyr grasped good-naturedly, but
. instead ct taking hold of his collar
: Nate, holding the priest still by the
y hand, turned to the crowd and said
Boys" here's man that ha'
+ thrOwed me once and tied me once
I've done my level best to save my
money aud to win his, but it can't be
done. The best | can do is to fsl
n with him. / throw up the sponge
: The money goes in the hat"
At this speech there was cheering
and grnmbling but the cheers pre-
y dominated.
"GeDtlemen," said the father, "my
a Opnonant hoo a.taI th,on0k.nt This