The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-25


 lucky you may get to the top in couple of years and be the champion with a mint of money 'sS
 Pat sighed at the prospect, then frightened up.
 And after that I can retire and 20 back home to the old man. he said
 Stubener was about to reply, but checked himself. Strange as was this championship material, he fe1s con fdent that when the top was reached it woi1ld prov very similar tc4fhat Of all the others who had gone before
 Besides, two years was long way of, and there was much to be done in the meantime
 When Pat fell to moping around his quarters, reading endless poetry books and novels drawn from the public H- brary, Stubener sent him off to live on Contra Costa ranch across the bay, under the watchful eye of Spider Walsh
 At the end of a week Spider whisper ed that the job was a cfnch- His. charge was away and over the hills from dawn till dark, whipping the streams for trout, shooting quail and rabbits and pursuing the one lone and crafty buck famous for having sur Wyed decade of hunters It was the Spiders<wIo waxed lazy and fat, while his charge kept himself in condition
 As Stubener expected, his unknown was laughed at by the fight club man agers. We're not the woods full of unknowns who were always breaking out with championship rashes?
 A preliminary, say of four rounds yes, they would grant him that. But the main event never. Stubener was resolved that young Pat should make his debut in nothing less than a main event, and, by the prestige of his own name he at last managed it
 With much n1isgiving the Mission club agreed that Pat GIentIon could go fifteen rounds with Rough House Kelly for a purse of $1OO. It was the custom of young fighters to assume the names of old ring heroes, so no one suspected that he was the son of the ggeat Pat GIendon, while Stubener held his peace. It was a good press surprise package to spring later
 Came the night of the fight after month of waiting. st1bener's anxiety was keen. His professional reputa- ton was staked that his man would make showing, and he was asteund- ed to see Pat seated in his corner a bare i've minutes lose the healthy col pr from his cheeks; which turned sick1y yellow.
 sCheer up, boy,r Stubener said, slap ping him on the shoulder. .sThe first time in the ring is always strange, and Kelly has way of letting his oppo- nent wait for him on the chance of getting stage fright 7
 .It isn't that" Pat answered. aIt's the tobacco smoke I'm not used to 1t, and it's making me fair sick"
 His manager experienced the quick =Fr -f- <SA xa<.f7 sick from mental causes, even if he were Samson, could never win to place in the prize ring. As for tobac- co smoke, the youngster would have to get used to it, that was all.
 Young Pats entrance into the ring had been met with silence, but when Rough House Kelly crawled through the ropes his greeting was uproarious.
 He did not belle his name He was a ferociods looking man, black and hairy, with huge, knotty muscles, weighing full 200 pounds.
 Faf looked across at him curiously ana received a savage scowl. After both had been introduced to the audi snce they shook hands.
 And even as their gloves gripped Kelly ground his teeth, convulsed his face with an expression of rage and muttered-
 You've got yer nerve wid yen" He eung Pats hand roughly from his and hissed. .sI'll eat yeh up, ye pup! The audience laughed at the action, and it guessed hilariously aswhat Kel- ly must have said
 Back in his corner and waiting the gong. Pat turned to Stubener.
 Why is he angry with me?" he i
 ssHe ain't Stubener answered 'sThat's his way. trying to scare you. It's just mouth lighting.
 .sIt isn't boxing. was Pats com ment And stubener, with a quick glance. noted that his eyes were as nasldlH hlna avar.