cwilleford.cockfighter-第44部分

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is　only　one　rule　that　you　must　observe　during　the　meet。〃　He　paused。　〃Conduct　yourselves　like　ladies　and　gentlemen。〃
　　（Applause。）
　　〃Before　the　tourney　is　over；〃　he　said　wryly；　licking　his　thin　lips；　〃some　of　you　may　desire　to　place　a　small　wager　or　two…〃
　　（Laughter。）
　　〃If　you　do；　make　certain　you　know　the　man　you're　betting　with…there　may　be　Internal　Revenue　agents　in　the　crowd！〃
　　（Laughter。）
　　The　old　man　turned　the　hand　microphone　over　to　Peach　Owen　and　returned　to　his　chair　beside　the　judge's　box。　For　the　remainder　of　the　tourney　he　would　sit　there　quietly；　watching　everything　that　went　on　with　his　deep…set；　cold　blue　eyes。　With　those　experienced　eyes　watching　me；　I　knew　I　couldn't　make　a　single　mistake　when　I　was　in　the　pit。
　　I　was　elated　when　Peach　Owen　called　over　the　PA　system　for　entry　Number　Two　and　entry　Number　Five　to　report　to　the　judge's　box　to　pick　up　their　weight　slips。　My　tension　disappeared。　Now　I　could　be　busy。
　　The　first　match　was　5：00　cocks。　After　getting　our　weightslip；　Omar　and　I　double…timed　back　to　the　cockhouse　to　heel　our　chicken。　Time　was　going　on　from　the　second　we　received　our　weight　slip；　and　only　fifteen　minutes　were　allowed　to　heel　and　be　ready　for　the　pitting。　If　an　entry　failed　to　make　it　on　time；　he　forfeited　that　fight；　and　the　next　waiting；　heeled　pair　was　called。　The　fifteen…minute　time　limit　kept　the　fights　moving　along　fast。　Where　a　match　was　even；　or　after　ten　minutes　of　fighting　in　the　main　pit；　the　two　cocks　were　sent　to　the　drag　pit　and　a　new　pair　was　started　in　the　center　pit。
　　From　the　first　pitting；　I　knew　that　the　fight　was　going　to　be　a　long…drawn…out　battle。　Pete　Chocolate　matched　a　Spanish　cross　against　my　Mellhorn　Black；　and　both　birds　were　wary　and　overcautious。　They　did　little　damage　to　each　other　by　the　fourth　pitting；　and　just　before　the　fifth；　when　Ed　Middleton　saw　that　Roy　Whipple　and　Baldy　Allen　were　heeled　and　ready；　he　signaled　for　second　referee　Buddy　Waggoner　to　start　the　next　match　and　ordered　us　to　follow　him　into　the　drag　pit。
　　In　the　thirty…first　pitting　we　went　to　breast　after　the　third　count　of　twenty；　one　hand　under　the　bird　only；　at　the　center　score。
　　〃Get　ready；〃　Ed　Middleton　said。
　　Pete　and　I　faced　each　other　across　the　two…foot　score；　both　holding　weary　fighters　with　our　right　hand；　and　one　foot　above　the　ground。　That's　when　the　Indian　made　his　first　mistake。
　　〃Pit！〃
　　I　dropped　on　signal　and　so　did　Pete；　but　Pete　pushed；　causing　his　Spanish　to　peck　first　because　of　the　added　impetus。　I　saw　him　plainly；　but　Ed　missed　it。　Snapping　my　fingers　I　made　a　pushing　gesture　with　my　right　palm　and　pointed　to　the　straight…faced　Seminole。
　　〃I'm　refereeing　this　fight；　Mr。　Mansfield！〃　Ed　snapped　angrily。　〃Handle！〃
　　We　picked　up　the　cocks　for　the　short　rest　period。　I　couldn't　argue；　but　Ed　had　been　alerted　and　he　watched　Pete　closely　during　the　next　actionless　pittings。　There　are　no　draws　at　the　S。C。T。；　and　I　was　beginning　to　think　the　fight　'was　going　to　last　all　day　when　Pete　just　barely　pushed　his　bird　on　the　forty…fifth　pitting。　This　time；　Ed　caught　him　at　it。
　　〃Foul！　The　winner　is　Number　Five！〃
　　〃Foul？〃　Pete　asked　innocently。　〃I　mitted　a　foul　of　some　kind？〃
　　〃Pushing　on　the　breast　score。　Are　you　trying　to　argue；　Mr。　Chocolate？〃
　　〃I'm　afraid　I　must；　Mr。　Middleton；〃　Pete　said　with　feigned　bewilderment。　Spreading　his　arms　widely；　Pete　turned　to　the　crowd　of　a　dozen　or　so　spectators　who　had　followed　the　first　fight　into　the　drag　pit。　〃Did　any　of　you　gentlemen　see　me　pushing？〃
　　〃That's　a　fifty…dollar　fine　for　arguing。　Anything　else　to　say；　Pete？〃
　　Pete　glowered　at　Ed　for　about　ten　seconds；　and　then　shook　his　head。　We　carried　our　birds　out；　returning　to　our　respective　cockhouses。　The　door　was　open　and　my　partner　was　attempting　frantically　to　heel　a　5：02　Roundhead　by　himself　when　I　entered。
　　〃Take　over；　Frank！〃　Omar　said　excitedly。　〃Your　drag　lasted　almost　an　hour；　and　we'vet　got　less　than　five　minutes　to　meet　Roy　Whipple　with　a　5：02！〃
　　I　put　the　battered　Meilhorn　away；　and　while　Omar　held；　I　finished　heeling　the　Roundhead。　We　made　it　to　the　weighing　scales　with　two　minutes　to　spare。　During　the　long　drag　battle　with　Pete；　three　fights　had　been　held　in　the　main　pit。
　　From　the　word　〃Pit！〃　my　Allen　Roundhead　lasted　exactly　twenty…five　seconds　with　the　Whipple　cock　before　it　was　cut　down　in　midair　and　killed。
　　The　fighting　was　just　as　fast　for　the　rest　of　the　morning。　If　I　didn't　lose　during　the　first　three　or　four　pittings　I　usually　won　the　battle。　My　tough；　relentless　conditioning　methods　paid　off　with　stamina。　In　a　long　go；　my　rock…hard　gamecocks　invariably　outlasted　their　opponents。　Every　fight　at　Milledgeville　was　a　battle　between　two　Aces；　however；　and　during　the　first　three　to　five　pittings；　when　both　cocks　were　daisy　fresh；　it　was　anybody's　fight。　At　one　p。m。；　when　a　one…hour　break　for　lunch　was　called；　I　had　lost　two　and　won　three。
　　Omar　and　I　left　the　pit　together；　planning　to　eat　at　the　senator's　house　rather　than　wait　for　service　in　the　crowded　restaurant。　As　we　left　by　the　side　entrance；　a　parking　attendant　came　running　over　and　caught　up　with　us。
　　〃Mr。　Mansfield；　there's　a　lady　down　in　the　lot　who　asked　me　to　find　you。〃
　　〃Shall　I　go　with　you；　Frank？〃　Omar　said。
　　I　nodded；　and　we　followed　the　attendant　into　the　parking　lot。
　　It　was　Bernice　Hungerford。　As　we　approached　her　car；　she　got　out；　slammed　the　door　and　waited。　Bernice　looked　much　prettier　than　I　remembered。　Either　she　wore　a　tight　girdle；　or　she　had　lost　fifteen　pounds。　A　perky；　wheatstraw；　off…the…face　hat　was　perched　atop　a　brand　new　permanent；　and　her　dark　hair　gleamed　with　some　kind　of　spray。　She　wore　a　mustard…colored　tweed　suit；　softened　at　the　throat　by　a　lemon…yellow　silk　scarf。　The　air　was　chilly；　but　it　wasn't　cold　enough　for　the　full…length　sheared　beaver　coat　she　held　draped　over　her　left　arm。
　　When　I　accepted　her　white…gloved　extended　right　hand；　I　noticed　that　it　was　trembling。
　　〃I　had　to　send　for　you；　Frank；〃　she　apologized；　lifting　her　face　to　be　kissed。　I　brushed　her　lips　with　mine；　and　she　stepped　back　a　pace；　blushing　like　a　girl。　〃I've　been　here　for　more　than　an　hour；〃　she　said　with　a　shy　laugh。　〃But　when　I　went　up　to　the　entrance　and　saw　all　those　men　standing　around…and　no　women…I　was　afraid　to　go　inside！〃
　　〃You'll　find　a　lot　of　ladies　here；　once　you　get　inside；　Miss…？〃
　　〃Mrs。　Hungerford；〃　Bernice　said　self…consciously。
　　〃Mrs。　Hungerford；〃　Omar　said；　〃I'm　Frank's　partner；　Omar　Baradinsky。　And　I'm　glad　the　boy　caught　us　in　time。　We　were　just　leaving　for　lunch；　and　now　you　can　join　us。〃
　　〃I　feel　better　already。〃　Bernice　smiled。　〃I　started　not　to　e；　Frank。〃　She　took　my　arm；　and　Omar　relieved　her　of　her　heavy　coat。　〃Tommy　couldn't　get　away；　and　I　dreaded　ing　by　myself；　but　now　。　。　。　Mr。　Baradinsky；〃　she　turned　impulsively　to　Omar　on　her　left。　〃Is　there　such　a　thing　as　a　powder　room　around　here？〃
　　Omar　laughed。　〃If　you　can　hold　out　for　about　five　hundred　more　yards；　Mrs。　Hungerford；　you'll　be　made　fortable　at　the　house。〃
　　〃Thank　you。　How　do　I　look；　Frank？　How　does　a　lady　dress　for　a　cockfight？〃
　　〃A　woman　as　beautiful　as　you；〃　Omar　said；　〃could　wear　sackcloth　and　still　look　like　a　queen。〃
　　〃Now　I　do　feel　better！〃　Bernice　laughed　gaily。　〃What　does　one　do　at　a　cockfight？〃
　　〃At　first；　I'd　advise　you　to　merely　watch。　But　if　you　decide　to　place　a　wager；　let　me　know。　Frank　and　I　will　be　busy；　but　one　of　us　wifi　look　after　you　when　we're　free。〃
　　
　　
　　Thanks　to　my　partner；　the　luncheon　was　a　success。　He　was　gracious　and　paternal　toward　Bernice；　without　being　patronizing；　and　before　we　returned　to　the　pit；　she　was　no　longer　ill　at　ease　or　prattling　with　nervousness。　When　the　fighting　began；　I　rarely　sat　with　her。　Most　of　Omar's　time　was　taken　up　with　the　placing　of　bets；　payoffs　and　collections；　but　he　joined　her　as　often　as　he　could。
　　There　was　another　one…hour　break　at　seven；　and　then　the　fights　were　to　continue　until　midnight。　According　to　the　schedule…if　everything　went　according　to　plan…the　tourney　would　be　pleted　by　three　p。m。　the　following　afternoon。　After　the　prizes　and　purses　were　awarded；　the　senator　always　held　a　free　barbecue　for　everybody　on　the　parklike　lawn　between　his　house　and　the　cockpit。
　　We　ate　dinner；　all　three　of　us；　in　the　restaurant。　After　dinner；　Bernice　begged　off　as　a　spectator　from　the　evening　fights。　She　was　tired　and　bored　from　watching　them。　Without　a　basic　understanding　or　knowledge　of　what　to　look　for；　Bernice's　boredom　was　not　unreasonable。　Women　rarely　find　cockfighting　as　exciting　as　men　do。
　　Although　I　missed　her　friendly　white…gloved　wave　and　cheery　cry　of　〃Good　luck〃　each　time　I　entered　the　pit；　I　wasn't　sorry　to　send　her　to　the　hotel　in　town。　She　promised　to　meet　us　at　noon　the　following　day；　and　I　was　relieved　that　I　didn't　have　to　entertain　her　until　then。
　　The　night　fighting　got　bungled　up。
　　There　were　two　forfeits　in　the　5：12　weights；　when　Dirty　Jacques　Bonin　and　Jack　Burke　weren't　heeled　and　ready　on　time；　plus　long　technical　arguments　on　both　sides。　To　return　to　the　cockpit　after　heeling；　it　was　necessary　to　cross　through　the　parking　lot。　Jack　Burke　claimed…and　I　think　he　had　a　reasonable　point…that　automobiles　leaving　the　area　after　the　ten…thirty　fight　had　held　him　up。　He　failed　to　see　why　he　should　be　penalized　for　a　parking　attendant's　failure　to　control　the　traffic　properly。　Peach　Owen　brought　out　the　rules　and　read　them　aloud。　The　rules　stated　clearly　that　the　handler　was　to　be　ready　for　pitting　within　fifteen　minutes　after　receiving　his　weight　slip。　No　provisions　had　been　written　concerning　interference；　so　Jack　forfeited　the　fight　after　being　promised　by　Peach　Owen　that　this　provision　would　be　discussed　by　the　S。C。T。　mittee　before　the　next　season。
　　Due　to　these　delays；　it　was　after　one　o'clock　before　Omar　and　I　got　back　to　our　room　in　the　mansion。　I　had　lost　four　fights　out　of　twelve；　but　my　partner；　who　had　placed　shrewd　bets　on　every　match　held　during　the　day；　had　added　two　thousand；　eight　hundred　dollars　to　our　bankroll。
　　〃Are　we　going　to　win　the　tourney；　Frank？〃　Omar　said；　as　we　undressed　for　bed。
　　Down　to　my　underwear；　I　sat　on　the　edge　of　my　bed　and