Evening star., 1924-11-23


"Find Haley, Tommy Haley" said
Midge. Tell him to come up to my
room"
"Yes, sir, Mr.. Kelly" said the boy,
and proceeded to break all his former
records for diligence.
Midge was looking out of his sew
nth-story window when Tommy an
swered the summons.
"What'll it be?" inquired his man.
ager.
There was a pause before Midge re-
piled.
Haley" he said, "25 per cents
whole lot O. money"
II guess I got it comm, amt II"
said Tommy.
II don't see how you figger it. I
don't see where you're worth it to
me-"
We'll" said Tommy. IT didn't ex-
pect nothin' like this. I thought you
was satisfied with the bargain. I
don't want to beat nobody out O.
nothin', but I don't see where you
could have got anybody else that
would Of did all 1 done for you"
Sure. that's all right" said the
champion. "You done a lot for me in
Philly. And you got good money for
1t, didn't you?"
81 amt maxim no holler. Still and
all. the big moneys still ahead OF US
as yet And If it hadn't of been for
me. you wouldn't of never got within
grabbin' distance"
"Oh, guess I could of went along
all right" said Midge. who was 1t
that hung that left on the Dutch
mans jaw, me or you?"
"Yes, but you wouldn't been in the
ring with the Dutchman If it wasn't
for how / handled you"
Well, this won't get US nowheres.
The idear is that you amt worth no
% per cent now, and 1t don't make no
difference what come off a year or two
ago"
Don't it?" said Tommy. 'Td say
it made a whole lot OF difference"
We'll, I say 1t don't. and I guess
that settles It,"
Look here, Midge," Tommy said, IT
thought I was fair with you, but IL
you don't think SO, I'm willin' to hear
what you think Is fair. I don't want
nobody callin' me Sherlock. Let's
go down to business and sign UP
contrac' What's your flgger?
IT amt namin' no figger," Midge re-
Piled I'm sayin' that twenty-fve's too
much Now. what are you willin' to
take?"
How about twenty?'
"Twenty's too much" said Kelly.
What amt too much?' asked Tommy.
We'll, Haley, might as well give
it to you straight. They amt nothin'
that amt too much"
You mean you don't want me at no
fgger?"
That's the idear''
There was a minutes silence. Then
Tommy Haley walked toward the door.
"Midge," he said, in choking voice,
Nyou'ra Fin hip mistake how. YOll
can't throw down your best friends and
get away with it. That damn woman
will ruin you."
Midge sprang from his seat.
You shut your MOUTH he stormed.
Get out O. here before they have to
carry you out. You been spongin' off o
me long enough. Say one more word
about the girl or about anything else
apd you'll get what the Dutchman got
Now get out,''
And Tommy Haley, having very
vivid memory of the Dutchman's face
as he fell, got out.
GRACE came in later. dropped her
~ numerous bundles on the lounge,
and perched herself on the arm Of
Midge's chair.
"Well?'' she said.
We'll" said Midge, "I got rid OF
him.
Good boy" said Grace "And now
I think you might give me that 25 per
cent"
Besides the 20 you're already get
tin'?" said Mdge.
Don't be no crouch, hon. You don't
look pretty when you're grouchy."
1T amt my business to look pretty"
Midge replied.
wait till you see how look with
the stuff bought this mornin'.''
Midge glanched at the bundles on the
lounge.
There's HaIey's 25 per cent" he
said, land then some
The champion did not remain long
without a manager. Haley's successor
was none other than Jerome Harris,
who saw in Midge better meal ticket
than his popular-priced musical show
had been.
The contract, giving Mr.. Harris 25
per cent of Midge's earnings, was signed
in Detroit the week after Tommy Haley
had heard his dismissal read. 1t had
taken Midge just six days to learn that
popular actor cannot get on without
the ministrations of a man who thinks,
talks and means business. At first
Grace objected to the new member of
the firm, but when Mr.. Harris had de-
manded and secured from the vaude-
vile people a one-hundred-dollar in
| crease in Midge's weekly stipend she
was convinced that the champion had
acted for the best.
You and my missus will have some
great old times" Harris had told Grace.
'Td Of wired her to join US here, only
I seen the Kids bookin' takes US to
Milwaukee next week, and that's where
she is
But when they were introduced in the
Milwaukee hotel Grace admitted to her.
self that her feeling for Mrs. Harris
could hardly be called love at first
sight Midge, on the contrary, gave his
| new managers wife the many times
over and seemed loath to end the feast
Of his eyes.
Some DOLL" he said to Grace, when
they were alone.
I. Doll is right" the lady replied
7 to be-"
I'm li'ble to steal that baby" said
Midge, and he smiled as he noted the
effect of his words on his audience
face.
On Tuesday of the Milwaukee week
the champion successfully defended
his title in. q bout that the news
papers never reported. Midge was
alone in his room that morning when
SNtcIcu WltHOut
The visitor was Lou Hersch.
Midge turned white at sight of him.
What do you want?" he demanded
Il guess you KNOW" said Lou
Hersch. your wife's starvin' to
death and your baby's starvin' to
death, and I'm starvin' to death, and
you're dirty with money
Listen" said Midge, "if it wasn't
for you, I wouldn't never saw your
sister. And, IL you amt man enough
to hold a job, what's that to me? The
best thing you can dc is keep away
from me-"
You give me q piece O. money and
I'll CO."