Idaho County free press., 1923-06-07
Fed Him on
Raw Meat
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By MORRIS SCHULTZ


Mike, facing his opponent in the
ring, tried to nerve himself to his job,
but he began to see the face of Terry
OrnStein through a wavering mist.
He reeled under his blows. 1t was
the fourth round. And it looked un-
commonly like a knockout for Mike
He heard the cries of derision come
from the throats of the spectators as
he reeled around the ring, evading
Terry's terrible punches. He had been
taken on at the last moment, Terry's
opponent having failed to materialize.
Oh, and he could have licked Terry
to a frazzle. He had not trained
those months for nothing. He knew
that within himself there lay the pow
er to knock out his adversary, to leap
at one bound into affluence and celeb
rity. To knock out Terry meant
fame, and more money than Mike had
ever had in his life. 1t was the OPP
portunity of his life.
AT home his wife lay sick, more
from hunger than fever. That was at
the bottom of it all. She had gone
hungry that Mike might keep in con-
dition, waiting for the chance that
had now come to him.
But that evening Mike had gone
supperless to the ampitheater. The
last bit of food in the house had gone
within an hour he would be facing
Terry Ornstein. The dream of his
life come true! F1ghting-upon a
stomach that had been empty for
seven hours That faintness and
nauseal
Mixes blows landed light as feath-
ers. Through the bloody mist that
swan before his eyes he saw Terry,
grinning and confident, as he landed
one punch after another.
Catcalls of derision arose. "Finish
him, Terry Gee, stand up to him
This amt no dancing SCHOOL,"
And suddenly missiles began to fly.
A rotten orange landed in the ring
and went bouncing along till it came
to rest under the ropes. AS matter
of fact it was that orange that saved
Mike from a knockout. 1t temporarily
diverted Terry's right from his jaw.
Then something struck Mike square
ly under the eye, and he tottered and
fell. At that instant the round ended.
And Mike lay, clutching in his
fingers a burst paper bag, containing
a large piece of raw steak that some
enthusiast had been carrying home for
his evening meal.
His second was tanning him. "You
gotta pull yourself together, Mike"
he said. "You gotta hold him. Whas-
ermarrer with your
His eyes fell upon the steak. He
looked at Mike and swore softly.
Hungry" he asked.
Mike nodded.
swell, for the love of-of Mike !
You didn't have no supper? Say,
think you could get away with that
before the next round? Hurry, lad.
Bolt It'll 1t don't digest in the mouth
mo need to chew steak. Get some
thing in your stomach, and get it
quick"
Somehow Mike managed to get
down the raw meat. Nobody was pay
ing much attention to what he was
doing. The derision Of the audience
had turned upon Terry for failing to
knock his opponent out. "Finish him
next round, boyp they were shout
ing.
When the fifth round began Mike
walked forward like a lion. That bit
of raw meat in his stomach had revo-
lutionized his cosmos. He felt his
old fighting self again. His second
looked at him.
''By the lord, Mike, I think you
can beat himl" he said to him.
"Finish him, Terry! Attaboy" A
terrific punch had sent Mike reeling.
For moment the arena swan around
him. Then. out of the fog, came Pol
ly's face, wistful and patient as she
lay in bed. She had always believed
in him.
And the next moment Terry Orn-
stein was lying fiat on the floor, with
the most amazed expression on his
face The audience suddenly grew
still.
After that a fight was fought which
had never been seen since the palmy
days Of the ring-whenever they were.
It was battle without mercy. with
out finesse, of two giants who stood
No In the middle of the ring and
slugged each other. The silence of
stupefaction had given place to
frenzy of excitement. Everybody was
upon his feet, shouting, shrieking,
bowling.
It could not last for ever. Terry
swung a furious right at Mikes head,
and missed. Mikes left, which he had
been saving, went straight from the
shoulder to Terry's jaw.
The amazed spectators saw the
champion reel, fall, and collapse. AT
the count of ten he was still lying
senseless upon the floor.
But Mike was hardly conscious OF
the frenzied ovation. He only saw
Polly, lying white and patient in the