The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1913-11-03

sick of the way YOU fellows are act
ing. You're all fighting among your
selves; you've busted up this bal
club. and made it a joke from on,
end of the league to the other ant
instead of be ng up there in the frs
division. where We belong. we've
got to fight TO keep our of seventh
place. And all because you're toe
busy Grabbing among yourselves tC
play ball. Am right?"
Nobody answered him. There was
MT anything to say. He hit the mail
square on the head
Now. there's two ways ont Of a
, mess like this" says Ben. I've had
a talk with the Old Man. and he
says | can go as far as like. | may
have to begin trading off the trouble
makers to other clubs. and f do
that | promise you the fin st seat.
tering league ever saw. I'm 90
ing to have an end TO this ssrapp nc
and jawing if it doesn't leave II
single old-timer on the pay roll. I'm
going to have ball club that II
play to win games ii have to start
out with rubber and bat how
and build it up IRON the ground. |
want men thatll fig the other
clubs and be friends among them ..p.
selves. Yesterday ONshman there
deliberately crossed Brooks on a
! play
You bet he did" growls 30. look
/ ing at Cushman.
Then was when | made up my
mind" says Ben. THAT sort Of
thing can never happen twice when
I'm running team. DO You want
to be traded. Cushman?"
Cant say that | do says Fr d.
getting red n the face. I've just
got done furnishing a house, and"
Brooks, do you want 10 h"
traded?"
30 shook his head
All right says Ben. There's
another way out. There's nothing
half so good for bad blood as to
spill some of it, IA reached into
his pocket and toq out Il sheet
Of paper. The firsF event o. tn
program. gentlemen ha saws -
fight to finish between Cusn-
man and Brooks, catch weights. I've
ounce gloves. Marquis of Queens
bury rules to govern. To a finish.
| said. and that's what mean.
Fight it out and have ii over With.
Is that agreeable >"
Well, he sprung it on us so sudden
that it sort of took cur breath ava.
For a few seconds there wasn'' a
word said.
of course" says Ben. IF yeu fel.
lows can only fight with your mouths
that's different"
I'm ready" says Cushman, pulling
at his tie.
Me, too" says Brooks. He's got
ten pounds the best of the weight.
but if | can't lick that big stiff you
can trade me to a tail-end club, and
won't say a word,'
That's the proper spirit says
Ben. There's dressing room over
in that corner, and Abe has brought
along some trunks and shoes and
things. Might as we'll strip and do
it right. Mcpherson. you act as
timekeeper and ring the gong. Char
lie Kits, you second Cushman.
Hardy, you take care OF Brooks. I'll
referee"
| began to wonder whether my
name was down on that sheet of
papsr, and | caught Red Mcpherson
looking at me kind of queer | guess
he was thinking Of the same thing.
Well, the boys came out in a few
minutes, peeled down to the buff
and ready for action. Ben call, d EN-
to the center, and gave them their
Instructions.
This amt going to be any rough
and tumble, says he NO banoom
stuff goes here. You're to break
when tell you to. and you can hit
as long as one arm is free. Ring
the bell, Red"
Say, it would have done your heart
good to see 'em mix it up. Fred
had the reach and the beef. but 30
was there with the Wallop. Fred
stabbed his left into Bo's smeller
few times, and the bad blood be
gan to come out-plenty of it. Thea
along toward the end of the round
Brooks landed haymaker on Fred $
chin, and he was down for nine sec
onds. The bell saved HIN.
Pretty nifty with that left hand,
amt he?" says 30 to me while |
was swabbing at his nose and let
ting him smell of green bottle.
Il can't seem to block it,
Complimenting Fred already, you
see.
Well, that fight ended in the sec
ond. Fred made chopping block
out of Bo for the first two minutes,
but toward the end Brooks got home