The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-10-13
Spartans
Two
Like Father Like Son"
By JOHN BARTON OXFORD
Copyright by Frank A Munsey Co.

Yer green sweaterH Now, rave me
think minute. dearie. Sure, I've had
me eyes on ut somewheres lately. Take
look in the cellar stairway. I've a
mind yen find ut hangin' on wan aV
the pegs there"
Yep; here it is, covered up be three
aprons and bag av clOtheSpins." said
be, turning back to the spotleSs kitch-
en- while he drew the sweater over his
big shoulders.
Mary Mooney ran an appraising eye
up and down her sons stalwart fig
ure. She did it not without a certain
quiet pride.
I'VE sure do be lookin' very fit, Ed.
die" said she.
And tit | am, NUNS" he returned
lightly Never was | filter in my
life"
Doubling his right fist, he slowly
bent his right arm until the biceps
made a great curving swelling beneath
the sleeve Of the green sweater.
THE things Ill be dom to that Do
heeny guy at the South armory a cOu
pla hours from nowP' he threatened.
laughing.
That's the way to talk" said his
mother approvtngy. "'Tis yer first
real bona fde fight. Yer must make
good. Eddie Don't forget that yer ia,
Their was Cal Mooney, the best fighter
of his weight that ever lived. so the
papers was always tellin' time and
time ag'in."
Again Eddie laughed He stopped
to run his fingers caressingly through
her sparse gray hair, trick ne had
had since childhood.
Here's Flicker Shea now in the
taxi they've sent for me. So it's off
wit me right away. GOodby. NUNS,
Think of how me namell be spread
headed in the mOrnin' papers like the
old mans used to be often"
He kissed her again.
Hello, Flicker!" Young Mooney ad-
dressed the stoop shOudered man wait
ing on the steps outside. THE taxi's
all ready. Then Fave US be off,
They went down the steps to the
waiting taxi and climbed In.
THE South armory," Flicker in,
structed the chauffeur, and the cab
lurched away from the curb
Eddie leaned across the pOrtIy figure
of Flicker Shea to wave hand to his
mother
"Old ladys strong for yer, son, amt
she?" he observed to the younger man
beside him.
"Uh-huh" he grunted shortly with
out turning his eyes to his companion
Fact is Flicker, if she want quite 50
strong
He paused
We'll, what?" Flicker prompted after
q iitt'Itul Iltl lDu VI SlltllCb,
If she want quite 50 strong for me-
if she want quite so set on the dom
this and upholdin' the fame that the
old man brought to the name yer
wouldn't never catch me fooin wit no
crooked game like this"
'WOtT he gmgled in bewilderment
as if he could not credit his ears.
IF it wan tor her wouldn't have
nothin to do wit this game" Eddie
repeated
shame on yerp' Kissed Flicker
dramatically "A man wit yer build
and Yer speed and the blood of Cal
Mooney III yer veins too! Fie!"
lis true, said Eddie doggpdly
I'D ruther work in a foundry or dig in
ditch Or do anything useful But
she thinks its the finest game in the
world She tms always been eggin
me on to it ever since was kid /
can see il now She wants me to folly
IN The old mans footsteps and get ia
mous and wrote about in the papers
aud all that
And SO, because she's look1n for
il and because it would be sorter sing
Ia mud at the old mans memory if
! didn't, Im goin to make goodr'
Mr.. Shea being neither of facile nor
analytical mind, puckered his buShS
brows as he pondered those words
He was still puckering them when
their equipage drew up before the
South armory
AS the taxi came to d suffering stop
ne placed one pudgy hand OH Mooney
shoulder
Say, Eddie" he said thtckly, we're
in wrong. Yer won't never be maxim
no Roadway wit nothin' like thai on
yer mind never yet see felly make
good at anything that his whole hrarJ
want in, and if yer whole heart ain't
In this
Can It," said Eddie very crisrg
Even if me heart amt in this thing
I've got blamed good substitute Cor
It It's what she's lookin for ana 8
pectin' me to do And yer'd better
forget what I've just said to yer
seer"
AN right! ! amt never heard II.
Eddie" Flicker declared magnani
mnuslr ..Cnnnn OF, ut W. ni.,,. -.