ds of game fowl。 This single rule had been the biggest advance in U。S。 cockfighting since the late Sol P。 McCall had originated the modern tournament。 Many of the fans and gamblers who attended the two…day event traveled thousands of miles to see it； but they knew they would get their money's worth。 The fighting would be fast； and every cock shown had proven himself to be dead game。
After pleting the weighing…in； which took about an hour； our thirty…one gamecocks were transferred to their stalls inside the cockhouse。 We gave each bird a half dip of water； and I scattered a very small portion of grain on the moss…packed floor of each coop to give them some exercise after the long trip。 We dropped the canvas covers over the coops to keep the birds quiet； locked the door； and drove the short distance to the senator's home to sign the guest register。
I believe that Omar was impressed by the senator's home。 I had been the first time I stayed there； and it still gave me a warm feeling to see the big house as we topped the rise and parked in front of the wide veranda。 The mansion was one of the better southern examples of modified English Georgian。 There are many great homes like it in the southern states； but not many of them are as well tended as they should be。 It takes a lot of money。 Good craftsmanship had been insisted upon when the house had been constructed。 All the doors； and even the windows； had ornate； carved designs。 The great balustrade that led from the downstairs hall to the upstairs bedrooms had been formed and curved for the purpose from a single tree。 There was enough room to sleep thirty guests； but except for the official entries； their wives； and pit officials； spectators attending the meet had to find acmodations in a hotel or motel in Milledgeville。
As we climbed the steps to the veranda； the front door opened and Ed Middleton came out and grabbed my hand。 He laughed at my expression and said fondly in his deep； booming voice： 〃You didn't expect to see me here； did you？ How's my pretty blue chicken getting along？〃
In a lightweight gray linen suit； with a pink…and…gray striped tie； Ed didn't look like a sick man to me； but the brown circles under his eyes were a little darker on his pale face。 He looked happy； however； and he hadn't been happy when I last saw him in Orlando。 Despite his appearance of well…being； he was still liable to have a heart attack at any moment。
Still gripping Ed's hand； I jerked my head for Omar to e forward and introduce himself。
〃How do you do？〃 Omar said。 〃I've seen you referee； Mr。 Middleton； but I've never had the pleasure of meeting you。〃
〃Glad to meet you at last then； Mr。 Baradinsky。 Evidently you've been a settling influence on my boy here。 When I heard about the holdup in Chattanooga； I checked right away； and don't think I wasn't surprised when I learned that you two had pulled out before the meet！ The old Frank Mansfield I knew would've been right in there； reaching for the ceiling with the rest of 'em。〃
Omar laughed。 〃If there's any influencing going on； Mr。 Middleton； it's Frank working on me； not the other way around。〃
〃Well； e on in；〃 Ed entered the hail ahead of us。 〃I'm not the official greeter here； Mr。 Baradinsky。 I'm only filling in for Mrs。 Pierce。 She had to go downtown for something or other。〃 Ed snapped his fingers at a grinning Negro boy of fourteen or fifteen in a white short jacket。 〃Take the bags out of the station wagon to Number Five upstairs。〃
〃Yes； sir！〃 the boy said quickly。 He had been eager enough to get our luggage； but the three of us had blocked his way。
While Omar and I signed the guest register； Ed Middleton surprised me again。
〃I'm not here as a spectator； Frank；〃 he explained。 〃I'm the referee； and don't think I won't be watching every move you make in the pits。〃 He turned to my partner。 〃I retired a while back from active cockfighting； Mr。 Baradinsky； but I decided later that I was too young to quit。〃
Ed laughed； and then he looked at me； staring directly into my eyes。 〃I promised Martha I'd quit； as you know； Frank〃…he shrugged…〃but now the promise doesn't mean anything…now that she's passed away。 And I know damned well she wouldn't want me sitting around all by myself。〃
I nodded sympathetically and smiled。 Two full and active days on his feet could very well kill Ed Middleton。 And yet； I was still glad to see him and delighted to learn that he was the Number One pit official。 Suppose he did keel over dead？ That was a much better way to go than eating his guts out with boredom while he stared at a grove of orange trees。
〃Say； Frank；〃 Ed snapped his fingers as we started to go upstairs； 〃did your partner ever see the senator's flock of fancy chickens？〃
〃No； I haven't； Mr。 Middleton；〃 Omar said； 〃although I've heard enough about them。〃
〃Good！ Mrs。 Pierce'll be back soon； and I'll take you on the ten…cent guided tour。〃
We climbed the stairs to the second floor to where the Negro boy held the door open。 I gave him a five…dollar bill； which was plenty； but Omar gave him a five as well。 The boy was so astonished by the size of the two gratuities； he returned to our room in less than three minutes with four additional bath towels； a bowlful of ice cubes and a pitcher of orange juice。
Omar glanced critically around the。 room and eyed the cut…glass chandelier in the high ceiling。 〃I'll say this much； Frank；〃 Omar said； 〃the rag rug on the floor isn't made of rags； the furniture wasn't made in Grand Rapids； and that calendar on the wall above my bed wasn't placed there by any Baptist。〃
I opened my suitcase on my bed and urpacked； putting my extra black button…down shirts and white socks into the high walnut dresser between our beds。 Omar pushed open the double French windows and looked out； his hands clasped behind his back。
〃There's a good view of the cockpit from here； Frank；〃 he said。 〃The dome has turned rose in the afternoon sun。 Take a look at it。〃
I joined him at the window。 A half mile away； the dome was pink on one side； and on the other side； away from the sun； the shadows were a dark purple。 The twenty separated concrete cockhouses formed a U on the southern side of the circular pit。 The Atlanta architect who had built the cockpit had settled for concrete blocks； but had incorporated many of the features of the Royal Cockpit at Whitehall Palace into the structure。 The long narrow windows； recessed deeply into the walls； were traditional； but they didn't let in enough light。 The five strong electric lights over the pit had to be turned on for both day and night fighting。
The square squat ugly restaurant； with a white asbestos tile roof； had been added ten years after the cockpit had been finished and was connected to the pit by a screened…in breezeway。 The restaurant was entirely out of keeping with the general design； and I had always thought it a pity that it hadn't been built in the first place by the original architect。
The interior of the two…story pit held circular tiers rising steeply to the rim of the dome； and seated four hundred people。 The judge's box was to the right of the connecting hall to the drag pit； and the press box was directly above this exit。 Including the new doorway that had been cut through the wall leading to the restaurant； there were five arched doorways to the pit。
I finished my unpacking； and slipped on my jacket again in preparation to go out。 Omar turned away from the windows； and poured a glass of orange juice。
〃I want to tell you something； Frank。〃 The husky tone of his voice stopped me before I reached the door。 〃Whether we win the tourney or not； I want you to know that I'll always be grateful to you for getting me this far。 This is truly the greatest experience of my life。〃
He said this so warmly that I hit him fondly on the arm with my fist。 I was tempted to tell my partner about my vow of silence； but this wasn't the time to tell him。 If he knew that my voice was riding on the prospect of being awarded the Cockfighter of the Year award； he would have gotten more nervous about the oute than he was already。
〃Well；〃 he said cheerfully； clearing his throat； 〃isn't it about time