The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-03
ILLUSTRATED SUNDAY MAGAZINE

"There the old WOMAN Larry wouio
not admit disability
"Know anybody in this town."
IL dropped off freight tonight" said Larry,
cycling him closely. Thompson had pushed away
from the table and sat occupied with tooth
pick and his thoughts.
.You seem a nice sort of feller," he con-
cluded aloud wish l knew you better. There's
lots of things might go into.'
Larry believed he understood the situation
He broueh soed leather wallet. from
which he extracted an equally stained scrap OF
newspaper. He pushed this across the board
YOU'RE freed with the bets an your man
has WEIGHED" he declared with sober cOn'ic-
ton. "That's me-" stabbing thick finger
down on the clipping. you'll find from it that
l was game all through an I'd fight the cham
pion hisself tomorrow night for real money
Also, friend, I'm the most unknown lad in these
parts. Do we go into things together, me fur
nishin' the mill?'
Thompson studied the scrap of old news,
and then said grimly:
"You're on: but no drinkin an blowing the
game. understand? You'll stick close to me. I've
a place out of town ways. an tomorrow III
see you work out. An mind you. Larry Doyle,
I've a huge bunch of coin this fight. an if
you throw it. I'll kill you
The grim note of his threat could not be
misunderstood
Larry turned aside with a laugh.
"~Tis a whirl between u.s." he said, "For in
that case | old do more than ha'nt yeh."
He went home with Thompson and turned
into bed for the first time in weeks
GOLDEN was one of those towns having the
~ abroad on its front street and the lava hills
at it's doors. 1t was mushroom growth,
and reSembed nothing much in character as
a stevedore who has found fortune. DlscoV-
ery of mineral wealth had brought Adventures
Monopoly had garnered perhaps the richest held.
but prospectOrs there were IN plenty and
acOming: and these lured traders ana
supply mpanies. and horde of life's game
STEERS, tapmen. jugglers and gladiators like the
Conemara Md
In such u community gossip often divides
the town. 1t may concern a new strike or the
hope of one, local scandal the lack OF 1t;
but whatever the question, supporters and dis
senters will he found. and there will be broken
heads and noses and the splitting of much liquor
before the viriIity of one discussion weahehs
and a fresh subject appears. In Golden the
scheduled fight was the topic, and several I'M
scheduled had occurred.
The fact that Thompson had refused to
cover Fosters good money caused torrent of
talk The real sports and the would-be sports
and the men compelled to be sports that they
might not die of ennui. gathered in serious con-
suItation. II plain that something had az
fected the betting mans nerve. Perhaps his 'un-
known" had moulted white feather. or had
broken a leg permitted himself to be nabbed
by a sheriff done some other equally InhHman
and cowarGy thing. More than one despalred OF
ever seeing a fight: and they grew morbid, and
then ma utIlin. and Ut into their midnight cups
because lit just their luck. anyhow"
The odds increased and men who had shown
no whimperng sign of bet before. now -four
ished their wealth beneath ThOmpson's very nose
and clamored to the color of his money.
Thompson remained bluffed. until he had
seen Larry Doyle stripped of his shirt and work.
ing out. The sight of few brisk rounds be-
tween the find and husky second-rater, who
appeared for training" service. raised Ihomp-
sons to its normal condition. The odds
we're five when he awoke from the SEEM
ing Ieihargy TO suddenly accept a bet. This Won
drrfuI recovery discouraged the sporting COM
munty II iegan to wonder If the astute Mr..