Evening star., 1923-09-02
Sam Hellman's
Tale of the Prize Ring and
the Vaudeville Stage

through the audiences toward ths
| boxes.
'one of your stunts:" asks
Goldie
She just smiles, and l amt got time
to ask no more questions A guy
jumps from the box out on the stage.
and blamed if it amt Bill Dixon!
He don't say nothing, but takes 4
swipe at Meehan. Dukes so fiabber-
gasted he amt even got sense enough
to raise his mits and he catches a
wallop on the jaw that sends him
rocking to the back of the stage. He!
comes back quick though and mixes
it.
| Curtain, curtain" yells.
| Save your breath" cuts in Goldic.
you amt gonna get nothing done
around here. This is my home burg :.
II amt, hey" I comes back and
starts from the wings to bust in be-
tween Meehan and Dixon. All OF a
sudden 1 feels something pressing
against my back. I turns and there is
| that Lark gal with a rife that she
| grabbed from one of them Swiss
sharpshooters that come on in the act
after ours.
Butt out" she Kisses. LET 'enI
| fight"
Which I done. Duke is dressed in
regular fighting toEs while the other
guy Is got a sweater and pants and
| shoes on. but they dca't stop him
none. The lads stand toe to toe trad
| lii .
the way my boy is delivering.
| Most of the crowd is figuring this
row as a part of the show, but when
| Dukes bare fist lands over Dixon's
eye and cuts a cash about a yara|
! long they begins to get wise.
L turns around to Goldie. "Youl
done this, you-7"
Sure" she says with grin.
why" I asks.
Look" says she.
| Duke catches ono in the stomach and
says to the floor, but he amt through
| by darn sight. He hops up In no
time and bores into Dixon with both
| fists Before that bozo can beat or
Meehan he's taken enough punches in
| the body to make him sick.
"Cut it out, cut 1T out" yelps, but
they is both fighting like a coupIa
| wild men.
Get him, BILL" shouts Goldie. Get
| him. And Bill does. Though he is
| nearly all in himself he manages a
| short right jolt that sends Duke TO
the floor. The kids game, though.
| He staggers to his feet and tries to
fall into a clinch, but Bill steps 10
the. side, aims a shot and blam out
go the lights for Duke.
Curtain, curtain" 1 yells again
Goldie drops the rife and walks
back
"All right, now. joe" she says and
down comes the asbestos.
y x
IyITHILE a coupla stage hands sd
w dragging Meehan back TO the
| dressing room ] grabs Goldie.
Now" says I. What does all this
| mean?"
"Ain't you wise?" she comes back.
What do you think 1 quit two hum
dred week with Broadway show to
take a hundred for a tour of the
tanks?"
"Why?" I asks.
Because" she comes back, you
give my kid brother a dirty deal. You
| bounced him off when he was sic,
and wouldn't give him chance to
come back in a square row."
Your brother" I gasps. Your
name is Lark, amt it,"
Just as much as his is Dixon" she
| answers. THE real monicker is Lut-
| witz. if you got to know, and this is
where we live. l started with the'j
show figuring I'd make it flop and get
you back into the fight game quick,
but I seen they was no chance and
was getting ready to give up whea
that hiss at Columbus put an idea in
my head"
And I" I groans,r like sucker fell
for it. You're a clever gal and maybe
amt so sorry-"
But 1 am she interrupts kinda
soft. Dukes a game boy and IL
like him." And she walks away like
she was gonna cry.
/ walks back to the dressing room.
Duke has come to. but everything
amt quite clear to him. After while
he gets the straight of 1t.
Don't worry" says I. The fighE
won't be recognized"
Meehan stands up and takes a LOOK
at hisself in the mirror.
'It won't have nothing on me-" hs
answers. just as Goldie comes into
the room. Her eyes is red.
Copyright. 1921