A STORY AGAINST TIME 



was a good start, for the stuff was bright and workman- 

 like. The same thing oceurred on Sunday, when we 

 went to see Burke. The following week there were 

 various assignments, special big-letter announcements, 

 and the thanks for his warm welcome he wrote himself. 

 There were two fights to attend, the first of which 

 was the Papke-Burke contest. 



The sporting editor of the New York paper told me 

 that the fight would very likely not be over till nearly 

 eleven, and could I get a column and a half for them 

 by midnight to put on the wires to Chicago so that it 

 would get in the paper the next morning ? I think 

 they were trying me out a bit to see whether the goods 

 could be delivered. All I asked for was a smart typist 

 up at this big club, so that when tke bout was over we 

 could go to work. It finished at eleven o'clock. By 

 five minutes past eleven the hall was cleared, the smart 

 youth with the typewriter got into his chair, and I 

 went ahead. There were two other journalists waiting 

 about and three or four curious lookers-on. There 

 was no hesitancy. It was a fight that one could be 

 lightly bantering about, but still an opinion had to be 

 given, for by the state law no decisions are announced 

 at the ring-side, bets following the dictum of certain 

 newspapers. This had to be incorporated. Before 

 ten minutes to twelve, at full steam, the two thousand 

 words were finished and corrected. I have always 

 been a quick worker, but that evening, just when I 

 wanted to, went the limit. Great praise, however, 

 must be given to the New York typist, who was one of 

 the quickest operators I have ever struck. Not only 

 that, but he did not pose, like some of the others, that 

 he did not catch my English phrases properly. I 

 suppose it is swank to repeat this capable journalistic 

 experience, but it will always be a favourable recollec- 



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