The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-12-27
THE:MAN'HIGHER'UP
lie cMw 9azAr Amenw
HENRY RUSSELL MILLER

Bob's only answer was to take
the bottle from the bartender's I'M
certain hand, pour himself a lib
.eral portion, and swallow it at a
'gulp. Then he seized a glass of
water and tossed it's contents full
into Haggin's face.
The crowd breathed painfully.
Haggin dashed the water from
his eyes and shook his great fist
before Bob's face. Dye know
what that means, Bob McAdoo?"
he roared. cit means you got to
fight"
"All right" Bob responded
cheerfully. That's what I'm here
for"
Then began Bob's last fist fight,
a battle which still lives unparal-
leled in Irishtown annals.
Man for man, in point of size,
weight and courage, the two were
equally matched. On Higgins side
there was the advantage of supe-
rior science and the cool general
ship of the trained boxer. But Bob
was the born fighter, and his
muscles were hard and elastic as
the steel whose forging had devel-
oped them, whereas his antagonist
had been years out of training.
Amid a tense silence, broken only
by the shuffling of their feet, they
faced each other and began the
combat. Coolly, warily, savagely
they fought, two splendid brutes,
beasts of prey thirsting for each
others blood. After a few feints
and passes Haggin dropped into
his famous "crouch" and assumed
the offensive, the favorite tactics
that had won him many a hard
fought battle. His great hands
and arms shot out and back with
the speed and force of a piston rod,
landing on Bob's face and body
blows that would have felled a
lighter or less hardened man. Bob
met him squarely, receiving the
punishment without flinching and
watching narrowly for an opening.
Against the skilful guard of the
-prizefighter his own lunges,
powerful though they were, could
make. little impression. Suddenly
Haggin Tented, then brought his
right crashing to Bob's temple. For
an instant Bob was numbed and
blinded with pain. Then all feel
ing of hurt left him. He saw as
though a red film had been low
cred before his eyes. His thin
lips drew back cruelty and he
pressed forward to meet the on
slaught of Haggin, who had
thought to finish him with one
more blow. There was a short,
fierce interchange, then-no one
knew just how it happened-it
was all over. Haggin the mighty
lay on the floor, helpless and
groaning, his head rolling from
side to side in the futile effort to
raise himself.
Bring some water" Bob or
dered sharply.
The bartender brought bucket
full, with which Bob carelessly
deluged his PROSTATE antagonist.
Then he turned to the bar.
1.-The boys'll take another
round of the same they ordered be-
fore" he said in dry sarcasm.
The spell was broken. The
crowd of men who had in awed
silence watched the combat, fas-
cinated by the display of primitive
brutality, now awoke to a savage
shout of triumph, as though the
victory were theirs. McAdoo fol-
lowers and Haggin adherents alike,
they cheered the victor, each try
ing to shake his ihand-a famili-
arity which he coldly denied them
and for the refusal of which they
strangely admired him the more.
Haggin, staggering to his feet.
looked on dumbly, uncomprehend-
ingly.
"What-what's the matter?" he
muttered thickly.
"Ye're licked, Tom Haggin!
Bob McAdoo licked YET" they
yelled derisively.
Eye didn't lick me. Ye never
licked me, Bob McAdoo = My
God!" His voice rose to a loud
shrek, the agonized cry of a
who sees his kingdom for
ever departed from him.
Eyes, l did," Bob said sternIy.
And II you want more of the