Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-10-16
TIE BARRIERS MISTAKE.
He Ran Into q Cyclone when Expect
inE TO Meet Only = Gentle
Zephyr.

There Is a barber in the north CEN
trail part Of the city who used TO be
full Of gossip about prize fighters. He
could tell you VINO anyone fought in
ISIS. their weights. the number OF
rounds. and how the Knockout blow
was landed. In fact. he was some
thing OF 4 handy man with the mitts
himself. he admitted under pressure.
says the Detroit Free Press. He had
q back room that was kept clear, so
that he could retire with a few friends
once In awhile to give an exhibition
Of the manly art His chief stock in
trade. when II came to an encounter.
was his reputation and his ability to
initiate = windmill in motion. How he
got his fame. unless. like many other
fighters. by his ability as 4 talker. vas
a hard thing for the boys 10 under
stand. after II was all over. because.
like all fighters. Mr.. Barber one day
met more than his match.
a minister was in the habit OF call
ing at the shop for = shave. and. al
though the boys usually let up on the
fight talk when the clergyman was
present. they were sometimes so inter-
ested and the barber so talkative that
the conversation went along and the
minister got in on the grand w!nd-up
OF some OF the gossip. He even dipped
in occasionally. while the barber was
putting on the talcum powder. II he
expressed an interest in the art. from
the Eoint OF view OF self-defense. that
made the crowd think n little more Of
him.
One day. during the dull afternoon.
just after the clergyman had been
given his scrape and was reaching for
| his hat. the barber winked to the
other men and casually asked the min
lister IL he would like to put on the
gloves for a fev minutes and get some
idea Of how the thing went
He hesitated n little. saying that he
feared he would not be able to make
IL even interesting for them. but the
crowd. scentinG fun. Joined in the per-
suasion. and the barber was soon joy
fully putting on the mitts and the
crowd took good seats. where they
would not miss any details.
The barber vas evidently as fit as
4 cello. lie danced around the ring
TO warm up a bit. and when the man
with the watch called: "Ready-go."
the barber was ready with n swing
that would almost take the roof of a
church. But the church vas not there.
and the minister was untouched. for
he had ducked. This was n surprise
for Mr.. Barber. He felt thai To sus-
tain his reputation he would have to
put the minister out with one blow. SO
he got ready again for n singer.
II was n singer. all right. and II
landed right on the tip OF the BARRIERS
nose. The minister saw what he was
up against, and he determined TO get
there first. The clergyman took ad-
vantage OF the moment. and while the
barber was yet wondering whether Il
was an accident. there came another
blow that closed the shop for nearly
a week. His strong right landed or
the BARRIERS jaw. and for once the
TALKING machine refused to work. The
barber lay in a heap in one corner
Tho minister took off his gloves calm.
ly. with the remark that II was warm
work. and that the manly art OF self.
defense Is n that pay well for ali
the lit;lc trouble II occasions.
In an hour or two they got the bar.
Der on his feet and he looked anxious.
~ about him. The minister had gone
Did o see me hit him." he asked
You meant WE'LL vas the reply
bat he got there first"
Since then the barber has GU, of
his supply OF weekly sporting papers
and now he talks about p~ing-pong anC
croquet. The minister. he learned
later. was II OF the best amateurs ir
the city. and could make n good liv,
Ing In the ring. II he ever left thu
pulpit.
THE CHEAPEST KILOGRAMS.