Evening star., 1922-02-26

the first row of ring-side seats. 1t
seemed familiar. He recognized Mr..
Bivatt. 1t was a transformed Mr..
Bivatt, happier-looking. excited. alto
gether more human. Their eyes met,
millionaire's.
Freddie's attention was diverted
from audience to ring by the arrival
OF the Tennessee Bear Cat. There
was a subdued murmur of applause.
The Bear Cat was an extraordinarily
muscled young man. His face wore
a look Of placid content and he had
general air of happy repletion.
fate-cannot-touch-m nell have dined =
day expression. He was chewing
gum.
A t-sleeved gentleman climbed
into the ring. putting slightly.
"Gents! Main event. Have an
apology offer-behalf Of the manage
ment. Was to have been ten-round
bout Sam Proctor, better known as
the Tennessee Bear Cat. and One
Round Smith, at one thirty-three ring
side. But-seems to have been g.
naccident One-Round havin' sus-
tanned severe injury to foot. Rendd'rin
it-impossible-appe t'night before
you. Deeply regret unavoid'ible dis
'pointment."
The vocal mans breath was going
fast, but he still had sufficient for q
brilliant fight Of fancy.
"Have honor, however. present
tyou Jimmy Smith, brother Of One
Round-stranger to this city-but
well known on Pacific coast-where-
winner Of forty-seven battles. Claim
ant to welterweight belt. Gents. JIM
wind!'
Freddie bowed. Tho mere thought
of those forty-seven victories gave
him heart After all, who was this
Tennessee Bear Cat? A mere walking
repository Of noodle soup. weakdsh.
fried chicken, eggs. corn. apple dump.
lings, lager beer, and cup custards. A
perambulating bill of fare.
The introducer, however, presented
him in another aspect. He had got
his second wind now. and used 1t.
"Gents! The Tennessee Bear Cat!
You all know Sam. The toughest,
huskiest, wickedest little old slugger
that ever came down the pike. The
boy who's cleaned up all the light
weights around these parts. and is in
a dead straight line-for the cham
peenship of the world"
He waved his hand dramatically.
The Bear Cat. overwhelmed by these
tributes, shifted the chewing gum to
the other cheek, and simpered coyly.
as who should say: "Stop your non
sense, Archibald" And> the gong
changed.
FREDDIE started the fight with the
L advantage that his plan of cam.
paign was perfectly clear In his mind.
Rapid attack was his policy. When
perspiring gentleman in shirt sleeves
has been exhausting his scanty stock
Of breath calling you whirlwind, de-
ceney forbids that you should behave
like a zephyr. He shook hands. and,
on the principle of beginning as you
mean to go on, proceeded without de-
lay to poke his left earnestly into the
middle of the Bear Cats face. He then
brought his right round with q thud
on to what the latter probably still
called his ear. strange, shapeless
growth rather like a leather cau1i-
flower, and sprang back. The Bear
Cat shifted his gum and smiled grate-
fully.
A heavy swing on the part Of the
Bear Cat was the next event Of note.
Freddie avoided it with ease. and
slipped in a crisp left. AS he had ex.
pected, his opponent was too slow to
be dangerous. Dangerous! He went
to his corner at the end Of the round
glowing with satisfaction. This was
easy.
But toward the middle Of the second
round he received a shock. Till then
the curious ease with which he had
reached his opponents head had
caused him to concentrate on 1t. It
now occurred to him that by olnitttng,
to attack the body he was. ~ It Meres