The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-09
CHAPTER ONE

DHi OaAith AAAC IL ~
counter in the speakeasy bar
and eyed the cheese, crackers,
salami and liverwurst with a
professional air.
He hooked his cane over
the counter, laid down a pair
of shabby gloves and made
himself a sandwich of liver
wurst and crackers. He ate
it hungrily and was putting
out his hand for more crack
ers when the bar-tender's
warning voice arrested him.
Hi there, Professor"
There was no welcome in the
glance that met the Professors eyes
and the gentleman of the old school
picked up his gloves and cane and
walked slowly back of the men lined
up at the bar, examining faces
keenly, looking for one friendly
enough to stand him drink. He
stopped back of a slightly intoxi-
Gated man who was saying to his
companion:
They got some pretty good
heavies coming along. was over at
the Garden the other night and
there was a fella in the semi
windup-"
The professor pushed his way in
between the two convivial men.
"Ah, gentlemen, we meet againl'
He gave an order to the barkeep
without glance at him: Scotch
and very little soda, please" and
continued to the men upon whom
he had fastened himself:
Il heard you speaking Of heavy
wei hts, gentlemen. 1 tell you this
mole generation of prizefighters is
an army of adagio dancers!
Where are the Sullivans, the
Fitzsimmonses, the Terry MCCOY
ems, the Young Gaffneys? Writh-
ing in their graves, gentlemen
Hammering their glorious fists on
their tombstones! Aching to get out
and show these club-foOted whiffle-
brains what real fighters are!'
Come on, Professor" interrupted
the barkeep. -Four bits, pay up"
Don't interrupt me. young man!
The professor slipped his drink,
THAT mOOn-faced pimple couldn't
have contaminated the Hoffman
house bar for five minutes! Shall
we sit down, gentlemen?"
They found a table near where
two pickpockets were arguing over a
"moll.'
"TERRIBLE how the riff-raff
i creeps into these places,
sighed the professor. THE days OF
old. sitting quietly over a bottle
You managed Young Gaffney in
the old days, didn't your inter-
rupted one if his annexed hosts.
Did I manage Young Gaffney?"
The professors face lighted up. He
was my boy! His knees never
touched canvas! A left like a
snakes tongue! A right like a fall
ing safe! A heart like Gibraltar
and game as pit BULL"
Big guy, wasn't hep"
"A week before the Great Promo
ter told him to lay aside his gloves
May q, 1906-and I've been drunk
ever since. conference.-the was 1874
pounds of man, and with the speed
of a futurity FLY"
The argument of the two pick
pockets was becoming heated ano
annoying. A barkeeper tapped on
the glass he was polishing. At its
tinkle a young man passing beer
kegs down a cellar, holding keg in
midair. glanced at the barkeep, fol-
lowed his nod in the direction OF
the pickpockets. He put down this
key, advanced to the quarelers and
said quietly:
Hey, boys, this isn't a broad
casting station. Turn off the loud
speakers"
"Gawanl Scram!" said one of the
men, while his fellow started to-
ward the bouncer.
who asked you to put your big
frying pan into"
TINE bouncers fist landed on the
i Jaw of the first monkey" floor
ing him. He came back with an
uppercut which laid the second
quarreler out cold. He picked ur
one of the men by the shirt front
the other by the coat collar and
dragged them off into the lobby.
Here. Joe, throw 'em the rest OF
the way. Wait a second!"
There's a prospect, Professor,
said one of his listeners, but the
sponger abruptly left the table with
out reply. He took up a position
near the bouncer who had resumed
tossing kegs into the cellar, anc
watched the ease with which he
handled them.
Whats the matter, Uncle?'
grinned the bouncer.
You're new here, aren't youi
How long have you been in New
York;"
ABOUT tIlI6e weeks.
where were you before that?"
"Australia-then Singapore"
''Oh. a sailor, Ell? What did yoI
do in Singapore?"
sat in the parlor Of q joint
Threw out the DRINKS and KEEP
danes from knitting each other"
Been in lots of brawls, stree
fights" unused the professor. "anc
not marked up. Do you like tt
fght?'
sure" grinned the bouncer
That's why I'm here-not that i
gets me any place"
That's for me to judge. Come
with me"
THE Professor went to an alcove
Il where there was a pay-tele-
phone booth. With an amused
questioning glance, the bouncer fol-