Obie reveres and resents Archie, fearing the intellect, cunning, and cruelty of his "superior" while often disliking these same aspects of Archie's character. 

Obie feels that Archie is unnecessarily cruel in his assignments (and sometimes mean on a personal level too). Obie also feels that Archie is unfairly lucky. Obie looks forward to a time when Archie's luck will run out. This hope to see the lucky, cruel and often brilliant Archie fall is expressed at various moments in the novel. 

Toward the end of the story Obie thinks that Archie's luck may have run out when he has to draw two marbles out of the black box - one for each boxer. Archie, however, gets lucky again and demands a Hershey bar from Obie. Obie's response is a continuation of his hopes and his resentment. 

"Maybe the black box will work the next time, Archie," [Obie] says.