Evening star., 1923-10-14

that the contender was all that was
said Of him. There were others.
grown gray in the game. who opined
that Peters was merely an artificial
card" who owed all his success to
the shrewd manipulation of Jake
Sheppler. and they did not believe
the match would ever be held.
But finally the articles actually
were signed, and not lond afterward
Rudy Metzker. promoter of the
match, dropped in for a quiet talk
with John McArdle.
4" * X X
ssVy;ELL, John" said Metzker when
w they had sunk into easy
chairs in the privacy Of McArdle's
little office, we're deadlocked over
the referee question, and they've left
1t up TO me to pick any one of three
men. You and 1 have been pretty
good friends, John"
YES" acknowledged McArdle,
we've been pretty good friends, and
I'd like to referee the match
Metzker nodded and chose his
words carefully. This is likely to
be the last big match in America,
John"
Yes"
This will be the last chance that
any of US will have to make a penny
out of the fight game. Have you
thought of that"
Yes. I've thought of il. I've been
wondering how you figured to make
any money when you had to guar
antee a s250,0oo purse and hold the
fight here"
That's just the point" said
Metzker. Il can't hope to do better
than break even. When it comes to
earning any money, I must look else
where than the gate receipts-the
betting. for instance. Only one of
two men can win, and I might know
enough about both to come very
close to picking the right one"
oh" said McArdle.
Now. John" pursued the promoter.
hitching his chair a trifie closer,
take the champion, for instance;
he's inclined to hit pretty close to
the belt with that left hook when
he's tearing in--you've probably no
ticed that"
Yes" said McArdle.
Suppose, John-only suppose, mind
you-that the champion. say. in the
seventh round should see he was
getting the worst of it, and should
deliberately foul his man. II you
we're the referee. John, what would
you do?''
Why, disqualify him, Of course.
What else could 1 do?"
Some men," suggested Metzker.
might take into consideration a
good many things. They might think
of the moving pictures and the thou
sands who had paid good money to
see the full show, or they might re-
member that the champion was a
one-to-two shot in the betting, and
they might figure that the title was
worth protecting. If the challenger
kept his feet some referees might
rule that it was only n technical foul
and dismiss the matter with a warn
ing. Or If he actually went down,
there is always the chance that II
might he called knockout"
You know me. Rudy" reminded Me-
Ardle; what do you think I'd do?''
The promoter regarded his friend
thoughtfully. 'T think" he answered,
that you'd referee the match on the
square and call foul when you see one.
In fact, you couldn't do otherwise and
be Honest John McArdle."
NO" said McArdle slowly, "I guess
that's true"
"Wel, that much is settled, then"
dismissed Metzker. THE fee will be
$1,000, in any event. We will hope that
there's no foul; but in case such an un-
fortunate thing happens. and you have
TO do your duty in the face Of the bet
ting and everything-why, II would
seem no more than fair, John, that the
referee should receive more-say, TWEEN
ty-fiye thousand"
''Ah," said McArdle.
Metzker pressed the point home.
''You see, John, 1t would hardly do for
the referee to lose his nerve at the last
moment, or not be in a position TO see
foul blow If one was deHvered-say,
In the seventh round. Take a man like
Big Steve Roberts-he might have the
bank roll bet that way, and Steve isn't
likely to forgive the referee who made q
mistake like that. In fact, Big Steve
would be just the sort to stage q little
surprise party for the man who double
crossed him."
''Is he in on this, Rudy?"
"In on what?" countered the pro-
moter sharply.
II mean," corrected McArdle, 'is
Roberts going to plunge on this fght?'
big Steve" said Metzker gently, sis
the one who doped it out that a foul
was likely, and he always backs his
hunches-hook, line and sinker.''
The promoter arose and busted the
cigar ashes from his vest.
Don't let anything I have said
bother you, john" he admonished.
after all, the betting is no concern or
yours, and / know you don't care who
wins. The public believes in you, John.
and they know that you'll do your duty
in the ring. That's all in the world any
of US expect of you. I'll tell the papers
you're the man. Kind OF hot day,
amt itf"
YES" said McArdle, "it is warming
up
4 II 4
AT the supper table that evening
"A McArdle told his mother that he
had been selected to serve as the third
man in the ring for the big match. She
missed the enthusiasm with which he
had been wont hitherto to discuss such
appointments. As the days passed he
became more taciturn and depressed
Mrs. McArdle attributed this to some
thing else.
"Is it the lass. John? What way do
you no go out wi jamie of a Soonday?
Hae ye been fechtin'?'
mo. mother, we're stin good friends