The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1949-03-17
Guaranty of Faith
Bv CHARLES W. PURVIS
Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Features.
AGO YOU think it can't be done?

"Fifty bucks" Hunk Dawson dug
into his trousers picket and pro-
duced a roll of bills. Fifty smack
ers say your boy don't stay Il
rounds with Mike"
60 K, I'll take it, agreed Grant
Logan. Joe Steck can hold it.
In the gym Logan watched
George Hill dig his gloved fists into
the canvas surface Of the heavy
bag. "Got a fight for you Friday
night with Red Mike Croseau, he
announced in a matter-of-fact way
"What do we get out Of it?'
peanuts" blandly said Logan,
examining his nails.
'Then what're we takin' it for?
We been through enough prellms
and semi-fnals to land something
decent now. Maybe l need new
managerl"
"Hold it," snapped Logan. 'Red
may be eight years older than you,
but he's in good shape and he can
pin your ears any day. And the
smart money lads know it, espe-
cially since you lost that last one
to Kennedy"
Il wasn't feelin right for that
one, but I'm in top shape now"
top shape, huh? Do you think
two hours a day in the gym and
the whole night in joints keeps you
in shape?" Hill sucked in his
breath as he took a long step toward
his manager.
"Skip it and listen to me. We can
beat this game if we use our heads.
I've Just bet so bucks on you to
win, even money, with Reds man.
ager."
Its a cinch," assured Hill.
That's what I want them to think
that I'm sure you can win. But
we're going to bet our shirts on
Red. We know you're going to lose!"
I'm going to what?" yelled Hill,
closing the distance between them.
Look, George" placated his
manager. ''Mary's nice girl and
real locker, too. She won't wait for
ever. And, besides, there's that old
shell wound in your shoulder. I'm
really not sure that you can win.
But l know that you can lose! l can
raise about five grand and we should
get better than even odds on it if
we shop around a bit - on Red, I
mean"
Hill searched Logan's face. Fl
nally he nodded.
At the ringside Mary Warner
watched the last preliminary bout.
Blue-black curls looping from
under a small hat contrasted oddly
with the blue eyes.
At the opening bell for the main
event both men came slowly from
their corners. Croseau's chin was
well hidden behind his upraised left
shoulder. Hill circled his half
crouched opponent, blocked a left
jab and countered lightly Sudden
ly there was a sound like a wet
dish rag slapping the fiat surface Of
a wall The blow had been short
and vicious. Croseau teetered and
fell. AS the referees arm came
down for the 10th time he was still
making awkward efforts to rise to
his knees.
Logan stared in slack jawed dis
belief. As his right hand was being
raised, Hill waved the other eX-
citedly at Mary.
Logan thrust people savagely
aside and entered the dressing
room. He glared at the grinning
boxer stretched on the rubbing ia
BILE. "Hil,' he ground out, you're
through - finished - washed up.
Do you hear me? thought that girl
of yours would talk some sense into
you! She crossed me-" he fumed,
his voice rising THAT simon-pure
objection of hers about not want
ing you to lay down, and then final
ly giving me the o. K. because she
didn't want Red to fatten that pan
of yours! I should have known bet
ter But there is one thing I do
know-yOu are through"
Hill leaped off the dressing room
table and seized both lapels Ct Lo-
gan's coat in his left hand 'Im
through, all right, Logan, because
I'm quitting. I didn't know you
propositioned Mary about your rot
ten deal or I'd have Dashed you long
ago. Fifty bucks guaranty of faith!
That was a laugh. Since when have
you cared what the fans think of
your little deals so long as nobody
can pin anything on you? You knew
that 1 could whip Red. And after
that spiel of yours I knew that you
knew it. bet on myself to win
and at better than three to one
odds. And I'm goin' out like a man,
not like a washed-out punk. Beat
it while I'm feelin' good" His
shove sent his eX-manager thump-
ing into the closed door
AS they walked in the direction
of Mary's home, Hill frowned.
"Mary, Logan tells me that he
spoke to you about some dirty bust
ness that he wanted me to do"
''He did, darling, but I wanted
you to decide for yourself. You may
not have known it. but our future
together was at stake
81 did know it," came the equal
ly sober reply. "One other thing.
can't see Logan tossing so dollars
away to Dawson even to Whitewash
his crooked business"
Remember where l work, dar
ling? The county clerks office. A
month ago I filed an agreement
about the management contract of
a boxer-one Red Mike Croseau. II
was signed by Logan and Dawson