Evening star., 1923-10-14
Gerald Beaumont's
Mixture of Cold Business
and Loyalty to Right.

, man in the ring whispered his wara
! inr
, The titleholder felg that he was
perfectly safe. He knew there would
be any one Of dozen eaur=.s 70 xall
| back upon arterward, and he was
/ being guaranteed fortune. He
| twisted his lips at the pleaded ref
cree.
wan he advised.
McArdle dropped back For tn,
| first time. while a round was III
progress that afternoon, the referee
| stood still. Back of him the spec
tators began to protest that he was
obstructing their view, but he con
! tinued motionless until he saw Can
ada Dick Peters feint out his on
ponent and then swing a right hand
that was deliberately three inches
short OF the opening.
John McArdle turned his back on
both men, and leaning over the ropes.
addressed the timekeeper.
Ring the bell" he directed.
| Pete Glidden, who had held watch
on every championship contest for :.
| quarter OF century, looked up with
| startled eyes.
There's minute 10 go yet, John
he protested.
Ring the bell" McArdIe reiterated
DULY, "and keep on ringing it; I'm
going to throw 'em OUT"
-
EoR one astonished second the
il tin1ekeeper hesitated: then his
hand went obediently TO the gong
The champion and the challenger
lowered their gloves and looked al
McArdIe. Every sound in the vast
arena was hushed.
The referee raised both hands IL
the air. In the stern, disapproving
shake OF the head, the multitude
sensed the official verdict and rose
electrified.
mo contest" roared John AIcArdle
Now get out of the ring, both OF
you
OF what followed. John McArdIt
had but a vague memory. He knew
that the Philadelphia Phantom had
charged across the ring and swunE
right hand. He remembered that
he had ducked and dropped Ihc
champion with hook TO the chin.
He recalled dark forms climbing
through the ropes in every direction.
and he had an impression that beforo
he had been carried to the floor un-
der the weight of dozen men, h.
| had singled out Big Steve Roberts
and knocked the gambler off the
platform.
When he was again in possession
Of his senses, he had pulled his world
down about his ears, and was being es-
corted home under police protection
When John McArdle and hi
mother had cleared away the suppe-
| dishes, and had talked the whol.
thing over, Mrs. McArdIe said:
Thee be ever my ain guild lad.
Thee has shamed Auld Hornie and
nae ither thing matters"
Aye" said John, but 'tis no over
yet. mither'
The door-ber srang. Dusk had
fallen. They looked at each other.
"Gie to bed, mither. I'll answer u
He closed the dining-room door
hesitated, and then going to his own
room. slipped q revolver into his
pocket before proceeding TO the front
door.
On the doorstep stood Big Stay"
Roberts. y limousine purred at III.
curbing.
i've got something to say to you.
John" said the gambler; come down
to the car a moment"
McArdIe's lip curIed. "Ain't you
game enough to say it to me here g.
he queried.
Roberts merely smiled. "rIl con-
| inside If you don't mind" he sug-
gested; 'ft'li only take minute"
McArdle led the way TO the sitting
room, and closed the door. They sat
down with the table between them.
We'll, John" said Big Steve. you
played the deuce this Afternoon
didn't you?"
Yes, Steve. ! guess l did"
The gambler pursed his lips
thoughtfully. i've just come from
the district attorneys office, John.
| Peters squealed and gave the whole
thing away. The gate receipts will
go to charity. I suppose you know
what every paper in the country Is
! going to say tomorrow"
II can imagine" McArdle answered
| they'll say that we've seen our las
big fight in this country. I thought
of that just before / stopped it"
They'll say" contradicted Rob
erts, that the third man in the rinSt
this afternoon saved the fight gaTJl
for America; they'll say that h
proved the sport was bigger than
the crooks who are in it; they'll say
| that you showed beyond any possible
doubt that when John McArdIe is the
referee the public can count on u
boxing match being on the square
and that's all America asks of any
sport: Why, John-don't you see
that what you did this afternoon will
stiffen up the back OF every referee
and sporting writer in the country q.
McArdle produced q pipe and filled
| 1T slowly.
why should you come down here
to tell me this?" he asked.
Big Steve Roberts studied the to-
of one shoe. What is one man :
loss" he answered, "is another's gain
You made me drop pretty big bet
this afternoon-"
IT called all bets off," said Nc
Ardle. 1.-THE newspaper boys record
ed it,
Big Steve shook his head. Fifty
thousand dollars 1 lost today-and
my daughter. too. JAMIE and I had
it out last night. John, and l put all
my cards on the table to prove to her