The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-02-26

ed UP McGann, who is a lightweight
champion now. a1d offered him $500
to go up against Burke. The mill
comes off tonight at the Macedonian
club, and poor old Hefty thinks he's
up against the Macedonian clubs
trainer. TIN be rare to see his face
when he finds it's Spider McGann.
Spider will lay down in the ninth, and
Hefty will sirlIly swell. He'll conriaue
to swell until the ANIMAL comes our.
This will be in it."
He handed Hall a slip of paper. II
a scrawling hand was written:
This is to certify that 1, Spider Nc
Gam laid down in my fight WITH
Htfty Burke. l could have punched
HIM full of holes as a sieve if I'd had
a mind to, same's as I lone once be-
fore.
SPIDER McGANN,
Lightweight Champion of the Wo:l1.
Now, the point is, Spiders gone
back on u.s."
That's it," said Burns. We've got
to pull 1t off somehow. We've sold
over 1000 tickets at anywhere from
50 up. All the old grads Hefty has
floored will be there ready to back
f,m-you see, no n knows it's fixed
bat Dix and I and the board of editors
or the Annual"
And you're the image of Spider Nc
Gann,' said Dix. Our proposition
is to give you the $500 to meet Hefty
tonight. If we couldn't tell you from
Spider Mccain, he couldn't. You're
Cue to go out anyway. so it won't
make very much difference when you
do, only we'd walt you to stay as
many rounds as you could for the sake
Of appearances
Hall was thilkira deeply. For the
churchl For the church." ran through
his head.
Gentlemen" said he. Spider Nc
Gam pro tenn. is at your service"
You're a brick!" said Dix, wringing
Halls hand. Meet us here at 5, and
we can talk it over at dinner. And
fishing in his pocket-"here's fifty to
clinch it. Well give you the rest after
the MILL"
At 5 Hall was pacing the corrido-,
when Burns and Dix came in. After
dinner, at which Hall was given many
valuable points as to Hefty's style of
boxing. the three entered a cab ana
were driven rapidly to the Macedonian
club.
1t was precisely 5 O'Clock when the
Rev. Charles Aloysius Hall, clad In
green trunks, faced Hefty Burke. That
gentleman's face was a study. Be-
yond a doubt he was suffering from the
shock of recognition.
mot quite so easy as last time"
Burke muttered between clinched
teeth, and Hall could not restrain a
chuckle.
'Time." The referees voice sound
ed in almost absolute stiffness. Then
at it they went. Hefty was nervous
and Hall was cool. He could imagine
himself back at the gym in his univer-
sity days. He side stepped Hefty's
sledge-hammer blows; he lodged and
ducked in a manner that brought the
crowd to it's feet. He would do his
utmost to stay those nine rounds.
In one of the boxes Burns and Dix
were hugging each other.
TITS great" said Dix. "Hefty will
surely think 1t was Spider"
And there was even more cause for
Hefty to think so when the end came
rather suddenly early in. the eighth.
Hall ducked a vicious jab and at the
same time swung with his right. The
blow landed with terrific force on
Hefty's neck, and he went down blow
ing like a grampus. Then the referee
counted off ten seconds. hTe crowd
howled. 1t was some minutes before
Hall realized what had happened, and
when he hid he vaulted the ropes and
broke for his dressing room. while be-
hind him the cheering r~edoubled.
At Cedarville W days later Hall
received the following letter:
Rev. Charles Aloysius Hall:
Dear Sir-You will probably wonder
how we know your name and address.
A card fell from our pocket in your
dressing room, and we have guarded 1t
lalously, Your secret is safe with US.
1t was because we had the card that
we let you depart that night without
aying more about the money after
you had refused 1t because you claimed
you had broken our contract BY floor
ing Hefty. You earned ii; We gods.
you richly earned it. The first thing
lefty said when they got him to his
corner was. well, l amt so much.
am II"
Enclosed please find check on Third
Ma tional for $500.
We have secured from Spider a sworn
statement that he did not fight Hefty
| Dx.,IwA ~, ~ yaafn ~ anil ? Thfa
will appear In the Annual. with a poem
on Hefty's fall before the great un-
known.
Great unknown! You shall remain
such, but permit us to express our
gatitude to you. Sincerely yours,
RORERT nTX