The Daily Missoulian., 1914-03-19
Even Without Baseball We Are Better Off Than Nphyzed Chicago
THE FOX
BY r. w, Lardner il, the
Chicago Tribune
CHARACTERS.

CHARACTERS.
H.. Oswald Tight, major league
magnate.
John Dough, a Federal league man
ager.
Aleck Smart, ball player.
Time-Winter.
Scene 1.
6Tight's office. Tight is seated at
desk Enter Aleck.) 8
Tight-How are you, Smart? Been
taking care of yourself this winter?
Aleck-I've always took good care
O. myself, Mr.. Tight.
Tight-Well, asked you to come in
because l thought It was about time
for you to sign UP. How about it?
Ready to sign?
Aleck-I don't know about that.
Tight-Whats the matter? Didn't
we treat you right last year?
Aleck-I amt got no kick comm.
Tight-Well?
! Aleck-1 think I'm worth more
money.
| Tight-How much more money?
| Aleck-Well, / don't know.
Tight-Well. suppose we make it
$500 month. That's 5000 a year bet
ter than you were getting
Aleck-Well, 1 don't know about
that. think I'm worth more.
! Tight-Well. what's your figure?
Aleck-I don't know. But think
ought to get more'n $4,000.
Tight-Well, that's all we can afford
to give you. You think it over, and
when you make up your mind. let me
hear from you.
Aleck-Wel all right. So long.
Tght--Good- by, Smart.
Scene 2.
CA dark alley. Enter John Dough
and Aleck Smart)
John-If you've signed with them
we can't do nothin'.. But if you ain't
I'll make va an offer.
| Aleck-I amt signed.
John-Well, what was va gettin'
| there?
Aleck-I was getting $500, but
they offered me $4,000 for this year
joint Uh-huh. Your leg all right?
Aleck-Yeh. Amt had bit O.
trouble with it all winter. Never felt
better in m'life.
John-Well, Aleck, we'd like to have
va with us and you're worth lot
more'n $4,000. How about $4,000?
Aleck--Gosh, that'd suit me fine.
John-We'll make it $4,000 and give
va a three year contract.
Aleck-That's o. K. with me.
John-Well, I'll have the contract
fixed up and you can drop in tomor-
row mornin and sign.
Aleck-Cant l get none O. the dough-
in advance? A
John-Sure Need some money?
, Aleck-Well, I don't need none, brA
va know / amt sure you fellahs i
goin to make good.
{ John--O, is that it? Well, I'll tel
| va what I'll do witcha. You come III
to the office wit me and I'll handjf
T check for $4,000. That's morer
, half your three years pay.
Aleck--That'd be fine.
Scene 4.
(Tight's office. Aleck is waiting fol
Tightly
Aleck docking at check)-Ter
thousand bucks. An it's mine jus
soon as sign with 'em. But II
wouldn't be the square thing for me
to sign without givin' old Tight q
chancet to bid.
(Enter Tight)
Tight Hello. Smart. Ready to talk
business?
; Aleck-I come up to tell you some
thin, Mr.. Tight. got some offer from
the Federals and I just wanted to give
va chancet to meet it.
Tight-Whats the offer?
Aleck-They're goin' to give me-
$4,000 per and a three year contrac'.
, Tight--That's what they tell you,
But how do you know they can make
! good?
Aleck-They've already give me a
: check for $4,000. more'n half my sal
ry for three years.
Tignt-Haye you cashed the check
Aleck-No, but can do it soons !
sign with 'em.
: Tight-Now. look here. Smart
You've got check for $4,000, but
.. that's probably all you'll get. The Fed
: : eral league hasn't chance to make
: good. and that $4,000 won't last you
forever.
Aleck-But even if l don't get nc
moren the $4,000 I'll have more'r
you're givin me for three years
/ Tight-That's so, Smart. But I'm
S going to make yor a better offer.
I'm going to give you three yea
J. contract at $1,000 year. and you're
2 sure of getting it all