The San Francisco call., 1908-07-05

where realizing that they must drop
their burden, they let the great little
gladiator down. and again he was sur
rounded by the crowd
CROWD CHEERS VICTOR
The vast crowd in the arena cheered
as one man when the Battler finally
jumped lightly from the ring and began
to fight his way through the multi
tude down the main aisle. At every
step men rushed out to shake the hand
or touch the person of the gamest lit
tie lighter they ever laid their eyes on
He was the king of the hour-the
greatest man in the city.
Nelson and his seconds had to fight
another battle ere they could get
started on their road to the dressing
room. 1t took them 10 minutes to
walk the few hundred yards. and they
all heaved mighty sigh OF relief when
they drew up alongside the door and
began to knock for admission.
The new champion acted like one OF
the proverbial year Olds once he
found himself alone with his seconds.
Quickly grabbing hold OF his fighting
trunks, he tore them of and started
at his shoes. when Britt and Grace
caught hold OF him and started to dis
robe him.
Well. am I there. kid? yelled the
Bat. playfully pOking Willis in the
ribs till the latter WINGED and coughed
UP a good two bit cigar. I'm the real
champ now. and none Of them can take
il away from me. Yes. you are due
for some OF the credit. too, Willis
You're the greatest manager Of them
all. And old chief Jack Grace here is
the candy too. He can always have a
job in my camp when I am getting
ready to fight"
FATHER AND SON MEET
few slight cuts on the face and
some OF Cans and his own clotted
blood were the sole telltales on the
countenance Of the Dane. After Grace.
had got busy with the sponge and Nell
son had climbed into his street clothes.
he looked ht to promenade any street
in the town Anybody who pointed him
out as being the main actor in ring
mill OF seventeen gruelling rounds
would have been declared insane BY
the casual observer.
One of the first TO greet Bat in his
dressing room was his father With
a contented smile on his face. the car
penter again shook the hand OF his
nghting son and looked him over with
pride. For moment, the pair stood
gazing into each others eyes and then
the old man broke the silence.
Well you did a good job of II. boy.
You're the champion Cow and you won
1t on the square. Nc wonder I'm proud
OF you"
Wei. daddy. you know me-" re-
piled Bat. grabbing for another shoe
and giving Willis Britt the wink.
You know how told you that would
beat this fellow Cans. I knew it all
along and / tried TO tell EN- all. but
they would not believe me. but it's
different now.
The elder Nelson fell back with the
rest OF the crowd and looked on sol-
emily while his son finished dressing
himself. In the meantime. Willis Britt
was tossing a line of talk that nearly
caused sufoeation within the small
room. but nevertheless. they all had
TO stand for IT,
Once the Durable Dane had finished
dressing. Willis tore out and found
their waiting automobile. big red
touring car. into which the entire party
climbed and were chugged back to
Bats training quarters at Joe Mil
/ let's. a couple of miles down the road.
but not. however. before several thou
sand people in front OF the arena re-
peated the demonstration that marked
the triumphant way OF the new cham
pion from the ring