The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-10
MR- PuLlIAM.s CELLAR.


both Of them to 90 to work. Travers
| senior. being well and widely known
among the big iron and steel factors had
no trouble in getting Dexter Il place with
| the PUlliam Sheet Iron and Metal Com
Hany, and therefore, in the shipping
room of thar grimy institution. Dexter
| began his career as a business man. his
duties were neither picturesque nor inter
estiag 10 him. but as he was. 10 use as
own words strong with OLD man Pul-
liam. and as the other clerks and en-
plOyes liked him, he managed 20 exc out
fairly comfortable existence on ~ per
week.
X soon became evident about the Pull
liam establishment that Dexter was "a
bug on athletics. he rugged up cell
.ng ana d punching bag III the cellar, ana
there during the noon hour and at sundry
| intervals when business was duh ne was
wont 10 exhibit his proves before admir-
! ing teamsters, porters and junior clerks.
He brought down a set of four boxing
gloves, and within six months after his
arrival the athletic microbe had attacked
| half OF the men and boys in the house
Dexter came TO be recognized as an au-
thority on all sports, and all hands agreed
/ that as d boxer he was cracker
| jack
I Being as democratic as any sport
I could desire, Dexter made no distinction
Of race, color or social standing when II
I came to a test OF physical excellence, ana
/ pretty soon the teansters and portefs'
white and black, began to appear IN the
I froat Office with black eyes and swollen
noses Old man Pulliam, happening 70
/ visit the cellar one afternoon, came bump
+ against Travers and 'PossUm," gigantic
/ negro teamster, who were at that mo-
ment so absorbed in a bout at fisticuIfs
+ that neither of them noticed the presence
of the boss.
+ That worthy employer stood in the
shadow of u stack of sheet iron long
/ enough to see the round end, but he
eidn't say a word nor disclose his pres
/ ence and a moment later, when he re-
| appeared in the front Office, there was 2
broad smile of amusement on his Ied
/ face.
/ When young Travers heard that the
! old man" had seen him fighting, or box
+ ing in the cellar he decided TO maintain
( a posture of mastery inactivity till Pull
liam either reprimanded him or forgot
the incident.
/ Discipline in the store went to the
! dogs. and Dexter himself became more
/ of a hindrance than a help to his en-
/ ployers.
I he began to get recruits from the front
office Bookkeepers, cashiers ana steno-
/ eraphers. who had heard whispers of the
! sdojngs" in the rear cellar. began TO
wander thither during the midday recess,
\ first as spectators and later as partic-
/ ipants in the everlasting game of boxing
! with big soft gloves.
/ one day as he sauntered past the long
row of desks in his office Mr. Pulliam
! was astonished to notice that his mead
/ cashiers left eye was overhung by that
blue and dubious protrusion known as
"a shanty" Two desks away a DOCK
| }leepers' nose showed unmistakable signs
/ of having undergone fierce impact Win
! some moving. solid substance
! ..Whewr' whistled the old gentleman
| 10 himself as he pushed the electric but
! ton that summoned the head shipping
| clerk.
Tom. began Mr. Punlam, when that
sadate and pallid clerk appeared, how IS
young Travers getting on
/ DO YOU mean in business or in boxing
! sir?" asked Tom.
"Iust how is he getting along; is he any
! good? Any better or worse than Wheh ne
started here?'
1 .sIvau sir. they amt no doubt he's easy
! the best boxer in the house. Hes licked
everybody that's put on tn gloves with
/ him an / understand he's issued chal-
lenge TO fight any man in the tOllndfy
acrost the alley. He's awful punisher'
DOESN'T he do anything but box
Tom 49,.
ers don't have none too much time Tor
work. A man can't fight all Corners an
/ he ready all the time if he's got t make
( out bflle-lading and dray tickets IN be-
tween. O. course we can get along with
/ out Travers. You know, Mr.. Pulliam. in
/ fact. we never did need him
/ Mr.. Pulliam drummed on his desk.
/ TON, here's d secret between You ana
I
/ Travers to quit this boxing craze. II
! got to stop, and
If you stop him, sir, he'll just quit ms
! ION Hes plum crazy on baking w ny
/ 7 heard him telling the night Waterman
that he's goiu' challenge Terry NC
/ Govern for finish fight
well, isn't there anyone about the shop
that can lick Travers2' asked MI ful-
J liam. lowering his voice TO whisper
Listen here. Tom, I'll give 500 10 any
man or boy in the shop that will lick
-oung. Travers out of his boots Just once.
] / want TO teach the cub a lesson. and
make a business man out of him
But they can't lick him. l tell you, Mt
/ PulIam. Hes offul good with IN mitts
Look at tn cashiers lamps. LOOK al
/ Crosby s nose"
Pulliam dismissed him with a caution
to say nothing Of their conference.
Clarence Morgan. stenographer, began
( work in the Pulliam office week after
that conversation between the head OF
/ the house and the chief shipping clerk.
! He had the manners of girl and the
wags about the place called him Clara.
( He hadn't anything particular 10 do al
first, and Ike all the others he began
10 drift toward the cellar. where Dexter
( Travcrs' School OF Physical Culture was
usually 80 fuu blast. Clarence, being a
: very modest as well as a very new en-
ploye seemed 10 lie fascinated with the
/ boxing game, but he never said a word To
any body till one day. soon after noon
when Dexter was beating six different
kinds Of tattOOs out OF the punching bag.
he sided up 10 the champion and touch
ed his arm.
would you mind boxing a round or
two with me?" coyly suggested the
stranger.
can you box at aH?" asked Dexter.
( surveying Clarence. while the dozen on
/ lockers nudged ore another and Won
{ cered az the new boys ingenious nerve
Just a little said Clarence. slipping
on his coat and vest. shit and susRen-
ders. think / could 90 about three
rounds
As many as YOU ike" grinned Trav-
ers- winkine az his admirers
lt was evident in inmate that Clara
vas '-- e--E .ie-t-ti-Asti- A-Attf oiill istlid
on him az all but he vas so anxious to
f make monkey Of the stenoEranheI
. THAI ne fairly rushed him round tho ring
" hen De discovered that the boz was
I clever enough and fast enough 30 al least
Keep out Of the Nag he lost las tempe
ana began % swing violently. Iie made
up his mind that Clarence was q ghost
DANCER and couldn't hit a -stiI Egnch
& Dc had an opening. The round ended
without blow landing. FraFers was bot
sHo mad ana Clarence was cool and bash-
~.
-iH do him So one punch." Whispered
Dexter 80 .Possuus- the teamster. IS he
began lao second round. Clarence r.
Sr--~aF ti- -.t-a..,-ar- +eht and kent - AZ