The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-30
RICH BOYS WALLOP'
PROVES THINGS ARE
NOT AS THEY SEEM.
Little Percy Packed a
Punch Beneath His Neat
Norfolk Jacket. :

there lived Q boy about IL or IL
years old. He was what you would
ordinarily call q "willie." That was
not his regular name but the other
boys called him that because he was
always dressed up and looked neat.
We will call him Percy as that was
not his real name.
This Percy boy was never on the
streets much. His folks had plenty
Of money and he seldom went any
where without his nurse or gov
erness. Whenever the other boys
saw him they always hooted him
and called him annoying nicknamss.
He used to get red in the face when
he was leased. but never once did
he try to start a Tight until his
patience was completely gone. That
particular time forms the basis Of
this story. It runs like this.
His Folks Had Money.
As we said before Percy's folks
had money-plenty of IL. Not one
Of the other boys whom he saw oc-
casionally on the street knew that
he had a, private gymnasium and
everything else a boy could wish
for. The only real fault Percy had
that the gang" could really hold
against him was that he was some.
what of q snob. He never asso-
ciated with other boys.
On the day In question Percy
managed to get out OF the house
without his nurse. He strolied
around the block. The weather was
cool. Some of the boys who used
to tease him were playing marbles
In the street. Percy had never been
allowed to play marbles. The game
was . curiosity to him. His spare
moments had always been taken up
with gymnastic training. studying,
drawing and playing with mechan-
ical toys such as engines. ships, etc.
Niece Made . LII Bet.
When he approached the gang at
the corner Percy did not know that
one of the boys, named MCGEE. had
already made a bet with another
boy that the first time he got a
chance he was going to punch
Percy's head so hard that his own
mother would not recognize him.
When MCGEE saw the nicely dressed
boy coming he started for him. but
one of the others held him back.
Finally MCGEE was persuaded to
keep quiet. Percy came forward
and asked permission to get in the
game. He was told he would have
to furnish his own marbles. He
went into a nearby store and
bought quorter's worth and
started.
In less than ten minutes MCGEE
had won all the rich boys marbles
Percy bought another quarters
worth and began again. The rest
OF the boys winked at one another,
feeling sure that the boy was vast
Ing his money. That was true.
Percy was wasting his money be-
cause II was not long before these
marbles were gone too.
Loaned Him Some Marbles.
Percy was about to get up and
go home. He only had fifty cents
when he left home. But one of the
boys volunteered to lend him ten
marbles. This boy admired a good
sport. as Percy never whimpered
when he lost, even though he had
been taught that gambling was not
the proper thing for either men or
boys.
well-the game got started again.
Percy got down to his last three
marbles. Then the unexpected hap
pened. MCGEE used one Of his feet
to shift q marble closer to the
circle. Percy noticed the trick and
without a word took OFF his coat
and challenged the cheater.
The rest of the boys Immediately
sided with MCGEE, who was larger
and looked stronger. They figured
that Percy was their natural enemy
The truce that existed during the
game was broken of short. McGee
accepted the challenge and the
fight started. Two of the boys acted
as "lookouts" to see If any police
men came.
Dreamed Little, Then Much.
MCGEE never dreamed that the
nice looking boy whose clothes
were always clean and whose hair
was always brushed had the scrv-
ices of private boxing Instructor
for nearly a year. The rough boy,
who was regarded as somewhat of
bully. began to suspect something
OF the sort when Percy struck him
under the chin with a lot of force
and sent him sprawling.
Percy let MCGEE get to his feet
again. The rough boy waded in like
mad. Percy directed his blows
where they did the most damage.
He wasted no breath chasing
around like his opponent did. He
sldestepped McGee's hardest ones.
MCGEE was fast losing his wind
when Percy struck him again under
the chin and sent him down.
Percy Let Him UP.
Again Percy let his antagonist
get up. As he got up MCGEE reached
for q stick and made for the rich
boy. The rest Of the boys. becom-
ing disguised with such tricks, took
the stick away from him. Percy hit
him again and again, sending the
rough boy in q heap on the side
walk.
Just then Percy's father came
along In his automobile. The rich
boys clothes were torn. His hair
was all ihussed mp. His face was
bleeding. But he had won the
fight The father got out Of the
automobile.
MY son." he. said, IF You had
got licked here-you would have