RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31587, 26 January 1968, Page 21

RANDOM REMINDER

VICTIM

Cupidity can raise its ugly head in the strangest places and at the most unexpected times. The glitter of gold will dazzle a man, and cause him to forsake his friends, and leave behind him a trail of discarded principles. Back from Australia recently came a young man who travelled with a New Zealand Rugby League team there last year—not as a player, for he is slight of physique, and might not have lasted long in those crunching embraces on the field. The party spent some time in Brisbane, and there was a swimming pool. After a few days the players decided that anyone who did not go into the pool before a given date would be persuaded to do so, even if they were unwilling. Our young friend resisted stoutly, and was the last one in the party to survive.

He had several escapes, once having to outsprint a bevy of beauties from the test pack, an accomplishment which underlined the belief that fear gives a man wings although if one had had an opportunity of asking the team coach his views, he might have seen it rather differently. Our young friend showed such adept foot-work that he persuaded one of the centres, when only two days remained before the dead-line, to take a bet. If he failed to avoid arrest and immersion, he had to pay the centre two dollars. If he survived, the centre owed him 30 dollars: handsome odds, but not if you know anything about Rugby League players. The quarry acted quickly. He immediately hired two-body guards, each of whom was to receive $lO of the stake. They did a grand job of

shepherding and obstruction, and the last morning of the hunting season dawned bright and cjear, and cool.

In the early hours, there was a knock on the door: a waitress, with breakfast. Our man flung the door open a quarter of an inch, made a quick survey of the corridor, and admitted the waitress and the tray. From, apparently, nowhere, came four burly players at the run, and the waitress was fortunate that in the speed of the whole operation she was also scooped up and flung into the pool. So our young friend lost his bet, and his faith in human nature; for his paid bodyguards had also been victims of cupidity, had not been able to resist the lavish hospitality showered on them by the opposition the night before, and were therefore fast asleep instead of being at their door posts.