Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-06-12
NOT THE RIG HI MA.
BY MAX ADELER.

Over IN Wilmington one OF the
churches recently called a Clergyman
named Rev. Joseph Striker. In that
city, by a most unfortunate coincidence.
there also resides a prominent prize
fighter named Joseph Striker. and ru-
morE were afioat q few weeks ago that
the latter Joseph Striker was about
to engage In a contest with a Jersey
pugilist for the Championship. Our
sheriff considered it his duty to warn
Joseph against the proposed infraction
of the laws, and so he determined to
call upon the professor of the art OF
self-defense. Unhappily, in inQuirIng
the way to the pugilist's house, some
body misunderstood the sheriff, and
sent him to the residence of Rev. Mr..
Striker, of whom he had never heard.
When Mr.. Striker entered the room in
answer to the summons, the sheriff said
to him, familiarity:
"liello, joel How are your"
MIR. Striker was amazed at this adj
dress, but he politely said:
Good morning"
"Joe," said the sheriff, throwing his
leg lazily over the arm of the chair,
Il came round here to see you about
that mill with Patsey Dingus. that
they re all talking about. | want you
TO understand that it can't come of any
where's around here. You know well
enough it's against the law, and | amt
going to have it,"
Mill! Mill, sir? What on earth do
you mean % asked Mr.. Striker, in aston
ishment. Il do not own any mill. sir.
against the law! do not understand
you, STR"
Now, see here, Joe," said the
sheriff, biting off a piece of tobacco, and
looking very wise, that won't go
Town with me. It's pretty thin, you
know. know we'll enough that you've
put up 81, 500 on that little affair, and
that you've got the whole thing fixed
with Bill Martin for referee. know
you're going down to Pea Patch island.
o have it out, and I'm not going to
allow 1t. I'll arrest you as sure as a
gun II you try it on, now, mind you"
Really, sir" said Mr.. Striker,
there must be some mistake about
"Oh, no, there isn't; your names Joe
Striker, isn't it?' asked the sheriff.
my lame is Joseph Striker, GER
taibly."
Il knew it," said the sheriff, splitting
on the carpet, "and. you see. I've got
this thing dead to rights. 1t shant come
off; and I'm doing you a favor In block
ing the game, because Patsey'd curl you
all up and sicken you, anyway, II 4
let you meet him.
II don't know what you are referring
to-" said Mr.. Striker. Your remarks
are incomprehensible to me, but your
tone Is very offensive. and II o have
any business with me, I'd thank you to
state it at once"
'Joe." said the sheriff, looking at him
with a benign smile, you play 1t mighty
well. Anybody'd think you were inno-
cent as a lamb. But 1t won't work,
J~oseph--it won't work, | tell yofi. I've
got a duty to perform, and I'm going
to do 1t, and | pledge you my word. IL
you and Dingtis don't knock off now, I'll
grab you and send you up for ten years.
as sure as death. I'm in earnest about
It,"
What do you mean, sir?" said Mr..
Striker, fiercely.
"Oh, don't go to putting On airs about
It. Don't you try any strutting before
me- said the sheriff, "or I'll put you
under bail this very afternoon. Let's
see, how long we're you in jail last
time? Two years, wasn't it? Well.
you 20 fighting with Dingus, and you'll
get ten years, sure"
"You are certainly crazy" exclaimed
Mr.. Striker.
Il don't see what you want to. stay at
that business for, anyway" said the
sheriff. Here you are in a snug home.
where you might live in peace and keep
/ respectable. But no, you must asso-
| ciate with low characters. and go to
stripping yourself naked and jumping
/ into a ring to get your nose bloodied,
and your head swelled, and your body
hammered to a jelly, and all for what?
Why, for a championship! Its ridicu-
lous. What goodll it do you,i If you are
champion? Why don't you try to be
honest and decent. and let prize fighting
%alone?"
"This is the most extraordinary con
versation | ever listened to- said Mr..
Striker. you evidently take me for
a."
Il take you for Joe Striker. and If you
I keep on, I'll take you to jaili" said the
sheriff. with emphasis. Now. you tell
/ me who's got those stakes, and who's
/ your trainer, and I'll put IN end to the
whole thing"
! "You seem to imagine that | am a pu-
/ gilist," said Mr.. Striker. Let me in
4 form you, sir, that | am a Clergyman /"
\ Joe" said the sheriff" shaking his
head, its too bad for you to lie that
! way-too bad, indeed"
4 But | am a clergyman, sir-pastor Of
4 the church of st. Sepulcher. Look
here is a letter in my pocket addressed
| to me-"
"You don't really mean to say that