The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-24
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
 0 ID Pats eyes were brightly | moist with pride and triumph. | Am what will you be think
 in' to happen when some of | the gay an ugly ones tries to rough it { on him ?" he asked
 Hell kill them sure,'' was Stuben- CTS verdict.
 "Ne, he's too cool for that. But he'll just hurt them some for their dirti- i ness"
 Let's draw up the contract" said the manager. ''Wait till you know the whole worth of him." old Pat answered. Iris strong terms I'll be maxim you come to. Go for deer hunt with the boy over the hills am learn the lungs and the legs of him. Then we'll sign up ironcIad and regular Stubener was gone two days on that ] hunt, and he learned all and more than old Pat had promised and came back very weary and very humble man
 The young fellows innocence of the world had been startling to the case hardened manager, but he had found him nobody's fool
 Virgin though his mind was, un- touched by all save narrow noun l tain experience nevertheless he had proved possession ofSa natural keen ness and shrewdness. far beyond the | average
 In way he was 8 mystery to Sam, who could not understand his terrible equanimity of temper Nothing ruff | fed him or worried him. and his pa l Hence was of an enduring primitive l ness. l
 He never swore, not even the futile and ernasculated cuss words of sissy l boys
 s'Td swear all rIght@if I wanted to- he had explained when challenged by his companion ssBut I guess I've never come to needing it. When I do I'll swear, I snppose.''
 Old Pat, resolutely adhering to his decision. said goodby at the cabin.
 1t won't be long, Pat, boy, when I I'll be readin about you in the papers. I'd like to go along, but Pm afeard T it's me for the mountains till the end.,'
 And then, drawing the manager aside, the old man turned loose on him almost sayagely.
 '.Remember what I've ben tellin' yes over am over. The boys clean, an' he's honest. He knows nothing of the rottenness of the game. kept it all
 
 know the meanin' of fake He knows only the bravery am romance an' glory of fghhn', an I've filled him up with tales of the old ring heroes, though little enough, God knows, it's set him afire.
 Man, man. I'm teIlin you that I clipped the fight columns from the
 newspapers to keep it way from him < him a-thinkin' was wantfn' them for
 me scrapBook- He don't know man ever lay down or threw fight. So
 don't you get him in anything that , aint straight. Don't turn the boys l stomach.
 } That's why. put in the null an void clause. The first rottenness an the contracts broke of itself; no snide division of stake money: no secret ar l engagements with the movin' pitcher
 men for guaranteed distance. There's slathers O money for the both of you. But play 1t square or you lose. Un : derstand?5 | "And whatever you'u be doin, watch out for the women" was old Pat's : parting admonishment, young Pat
 astr1de his horse and refining in duti
 fully to hear women is death an damnation, remember that But wheI you do find the one the only one l hang on to her. She'll be worth more Ithan glory an money. But first be I sure, am when you're sure don't lei
 her slip through your fingers. .tGrab her with the two hands od ] you and hang on. Hang on If all ths
 world goes to smash an' smfthereens Pat, boy, a good woman is-a gooi woman 'Tis the first word and tn. Iast.''
 I Once in San Francisco, Sam stube ner's troubles began Not that youni Pat had nasty temper or was grouch. trary, he was phenomenally sweet ant mild. But he was homesick for his below ed mountains; also he was secretl. appalled, by the city, though he tro' it's roaring streets fmperturbabIe as | red Indian.
 "I came down here to fight" he an nounced at the end of the first week where's Jim Hanford ?'' Stubener whistled. "A big champion like him wouldn'
 look at you,' was his answer. :. e
 and get a reputation is what he'
 say.'
 "I can lick him."
 ''But the public doesn't know thal g If you licked him you'd be champio y of the world. and no champion eve t- became so with his first fight
 '1 can.''
 Q *sBut the public doesn't know it, Pa 'e It wouldn't come to see you fight. An Y it,s the crowd that brings the none 2. and the big purses. That's why JiI . Hanford wouldn't consider you for . second. There'd be nothing in 1t fe rs him.
 Besides. he's getting s3,oO0 wee d right now in vaudeville, with col . tract for twenty-five weeks. Do ye