Ellsworth American., 1923-11-07
MABEL WINS
BY MARGARET MORAN
%. 1923. Western Newspaper union.)


me right-the one that knocks them
higher than the top of Mt Etna Is
Jealousy. / know-Tve been there.
What's my case? Oh, l don't mind
telling now. It's like this: Mabel (of
course there was a female in the case
there always is) was certainly the
cats elbow-one Of those girls that
YOU read lot about but hardly ever
see.
l had always pictured Mabel as sit
ting ON the edge of one of those mil
Hon-dollar, sink-or-swim chairs. with
me nesting down to solid comfort
after hard days work of matching
up boxers and wrestlels and the rest.
My idea of home and comfort was
Mabel singing through the house and
bringing me to the mat when I'd flick
some cigar ashes on the rug: "Now
Harry, remember that the rug is not
an ash tray" One of those, you know.
Well, the first time l began to feel
wobbly and have visions of hitting the
canvas for sure was about year ago
An awful hot day. and me sweltering
In the office just after having put
through the deal for the welter cham
pionship fray. Freddie Carr-know
him? | thought so. Rising architect
Nice boy. Interested in boxing. Well
he's with me, kayoed with laughter as
I spill some funny yarns about boxers
and fights l have seen, when in blows
Mabel, cool as an east wind and lots
sweeter
''Well, WE'LL" I cries, talk about
prayers being answered. Here I was
broadcasting heaven for relief from
Mabel"
Mabel smiles and strokes the glis-
tening dome that protects my million
dollar brains. CHANGING up, l am hep
to the fact that there's crowd, for
there's young Carr, making noise
like a goldfish that's been tumbled ont
Of his natural habitat. It's a knock
out, for sure. Well, I make the two
wise as to who's who, and then the
handwriting on the wall starts for me.
They shake-and say, Pm ready to
kayo Carr as | note the time it takes
him to unShackle Mabefs hand. And
Mabel-well. she doesn't commit her
self much, but she doesn't look bit
sad. Looked bad, eh?
Course I says $50 long to Carr as
soon as possible ana bundles Mabel
off to a nice cool place to eat
To which I only grunt
Funny thing how Mabel begins to
develop a sudden interest in that office
of mine. But knowing Mabel could
put guy wise to why Freddie took
to dropping In to see me occasionally,
I USED to watch them, and, belle
me IFS wonder thot the undertaken
WASN'T called in. IealolnS--that's NE
and nothing else bur, Nor that their
actions ever @momted to- much but,
say, you'ti think that l never existed
when the pair of them were together.
Mabel would look at Freddie and
blush and smile, and drop her violet
lamps, and Freddie would act kind OF
nervous and stammer a few silly
things ono,1+ rhe weather This kind
of fling would 90 ON untfl I'd have
tbn nresence of mind in order TO keen
from hurting the boob 10 hustle
Mabel away on YES. Mabel LET me,
Now, losing Mabel was no friendly
idea to me No sirl SO it's only nat
uraI that the Old bean should get on
the Job. I finally arrive at the con
clusion that Keeping Mabel busy might
kayo Fredde's hopes.
Sherman in his marathon to the sea
had nothing on me in those days. First
Of all ] buy sporting elght-one of
those that knock your eye blind the
first time you iamp it, ana make You
dead crazy TO mop aboard for spin.
That's how ii affected Mabel. wen,
we burn up money and gas and see all
the sights from Cape Cod 10 the Maine
coast
We break lobster claws and eat up
iayy ot allI tha monument inns with