The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-05-04

the time business cares had been put aside and
they alive to sport and fighting men.
The several prelimnaries were without interest;
the big set-to eagerly awaited. Now the gloves
were adjusted the coureses OF the ring had been
exchanged, the seconds retred-there was that long
moment of waiting for the bell
Clang.-and the main bout was on, in silence save
for the skittering of soft shoes on the canvascov-
cred floor. The We're intensely alert, felnt-
ing covering active as cats Now there sharp
er sounding step and duller blow. followed by a
great sigh and restless movement on the seats then
the unsrring stiffness settled down again.
1t sometimes happens that because OF accident,
lack of condition, common cowardice, principal
will brave jeers to it fight rather than suffer
actual defeat, which is what COnnorS dld. IN the
second round he complained of an injured thumb
and suddenly withdrew. A murmur OF disapproval
came from the crowd the disappointed brokers' trad
ers bank and office men who had expected swift,
clean go between well-matched athletes. Connors,
foreseeng the decisive beating in store for him, mad
quit He was roasted by the referee in the most
cutting terms of sporting slang; his seconds We're
ashamed and left their places silently; and the
crowd laughed without humor.
sit spoils the evenings sport" said the promot-
of the club.
"Theres only one thing do replied the ref
cree Get somebody to go on for an exhibition
bout"
other.
"Hasnt Gipson sparring partner" asked the
"Sure-there's Doulin-hell do
FEW words of arrangement and the referee an
nounced that "a sparrng partner would go on for
ten rounds" There came applause. long and hearty,
to welcome him Doulin stepped into the ring
He despised man like Connors and IN all good
feeling had agreed. GIBSON. from his corner eyed
his sparring partner vndictvely, and in the first
round it seemed to Doulin that he had been handed
several rather tough jos for an exhibition affair
When the bell tapped, his ribs were aching. puz-
zled expression his face AS he rested, his arms
stretched along the ropes of the ring he was close
enough to the first line OF spectators to hear their
remarks.
him beat up Connors this training mate of his.
There sounded derisve laugh.
ooh! that's the proper thing, was the reply "A
sparring partner doesn't count He's morse. Ihat S
what he's paid for
This the last barb Doulin could feel those
body blows that Gpson had given him. He was
paid for them, though-to be horse, chopplng
block for ceyerer man. He recalled now that the
referee had not thought it necessary to announce
his He was sparrng partner Mike wells
had labelled him. Kitty had said it in milder way.
the whole world knew it. He was a mark! The
bell changed for the second round.
Douln sprang out from his corner, grim look on
his face. He forgot that it was merely an exhibit
ton fight Gipson met him in much the same spirit.
Angered by the Connors iasco, he was bent on sat
isfaction and Doulin offered it. Gipson made VIC
ious swing for the head.
Careful" cautioned Doulin. 1.-TWO can play at
that"
"Yeh want to fight, do yeh' snarled GIBSON. "Well,
I'll hand you little dressing to pay for your tattn
to friend Mike"
Doulin blocked his lead and danced away All
the while he was thinking. What did GIBSON mean
by that remark-what could he mean? Had Kitty
upbraided the old man. and had he, favoring Clip
sons suit, cared the STORY. so! IL was lecAl6 VI
common injury! Well let him take of himself
And Jim Doulin prepared to deliver the fight of his
life with both hands, aided by all the science he
had learned in training this migrate.
Why should he not fight equally we'll? No rea
son in the world against it, Defeat, should Gipsor
land him, would nothing to sparrlng part
ner; defeat for Gipson under such circumstances
would set the whole world topping Clean, decisive
defeat it must be-and he had been given leave t.
do his best At any rate, Doun decided that NJ
would not be easily whipped. Just before the bel
tapped he caught Gipson mapping and sent a shor
swing to the head. 1t not heavy blow, bu
GIBSON haG been his toes and he slipped down
ripple of applause started up, and the rage OF tn
principal increased
"I'll beat you to death for that" he growled mean
ingly
Doulin stretched back in his taking advar
tage of every second to better Command OF nj