Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-09-20
Observation-Disclosures:
In the Third
Round

BY MORRIS SCHULTZ
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


Copyright, 1929. Western Newspaper Union.
I'm the third round, don't fergit,
kid," Barney had whispered. "..Io In
Ter all you're worth, and he'll 20 easy
with you. Then In the third you git
it\on the jaw and goes down-see7"
Abe nodded. The principals faced
each other in the ring. Lofsky, the
champion. grinned at Abe and tapped
him lightly on the cheek. They SPARED
and broke away.
Abe was dimly conscious Of the vast
concourse Of spectators. 1t was the
great event toward which he had been
working for five years pnst-his ambi-
tion, the wclterweight championship.
It had been difficult to find big man
willing to meet him. He had fought
his way up from the bottom, and he
had had tough luck.
And now, ut the last, the thing that
he had looked forward to so long had
become his infamy. Abe had always
fought straight. lie was the logical
man to meet LotslIy. But Lofsky had
refused to meet him. And Abe's young
wife and the baby were pining in an
East Side tenement.
Then temptation had come in the
form Of Barney. Lofsly would meet
him for the purse Of nine thousand
dollars If he would take two thousand
and knockout.
Abe had refused scornfully. He
knew that he was Il fair match against
Lofsky. But things ut home were
going worse and Minnie was threat
ened with tuberculosis. In the end
Abe yielded.
1T ain't as If 1t was your finish,
KID" Barney had said to him. mo
body expects you to beat Lofsky, and
no one will know. You'll git your
chance again some day"
That was the understanding under
which they met.
Abe rushed In. pummelllng Lofsky
ferccly about the body. Lofsky par.
ried and guarded, returning an occa-
sional blow which lacked all Of Lof-
skys steam. At first Abe thought
LOfsky was mindful Of the compact {,
but then he realized that the big man
had not trained for the fight. He was
OSSiSJ laihSb VAIN loO lnuSl blollltlCu
over his belt.
And then Abe saw that his chance
had come. LOfsky had not trained,
and he was trained to tho ounce. Vic
tory was within his reach, with seven
thousand instead Of two as his share
Of the proceeds.
He could redeem himself and fight
fair, as he had always done, In conf.
dence OF victory, and SO avoid tho
worst otfensc known to tile prize ring.
On the other hand, If he triclked
Lofsky and his manager, would he not
be guilty Of an offensc equally bad?
The dilemma was Il hideous one and
there seemed no way to escape dis.
honor.
And suddenly ho Saw red. He would
beat Lofsky Mt any rate, If lie could.
He sprang III and dealt him blow
upon the jaw that staggered him.
After that he fought furiously, stand.
ing up under rain Of punches. He
heard Lofsky grunt, he saw the look
Of surprise come into his face.
The round ended amid tumultuous
applause. Abe hardly heard the whis.
pered advice OF his seconds. When
tho next round began he rushed at
Lofsky and began driving him all
around the ring. a fearful stomach
blow momentarily crippled him; then
he had sent out his left, and Lofsl5y
had reelGd and fallGn.
The spectators were growing frantic
Was this another David7 There was
an ugly look on Lofsky's face rs he
rose and met Abes showering blows.
There was clinch. Then Lofsky got
home on Abes stomach and cheek, two
staggering punches that evened things.
Abe grew cool. He had been rushing
1t too hard. He guarded for the re.
mainder Of the second round,