San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-11

tons forehead, just above the eye
brows. Its impact sent him to tn,
floor. 1t would have felled q
heavyweight.
Instantly, Merle Renton gather.
ed his feet under him. Before the
referee had reachd the count OF
two, he was on his feet and ready
for the fray.
But, even as he scrambled up
Merle was aware that the fuses
in the buildings electric light ap-
paratus had burned out. The arena
was in pitch darkness.
Merle frowned, veXedly. 1t was
very annoying. He half-turned, to
grope his way to his own corner.
Why didn't one of his seconds
light a match to guide him?
The crowd was still yelling and
cheering and shouting encourage
ment; just as though the place was
not in pitch darkness.
Then, in sick horror, Merle I'M
derstood. 1t was not the light,
but his sight was gone!
To the spectators at large, the
only thing apparent was that
Merle Renton had gotten to his
feet and that he was apparently
dizzy or confused by the force of
the Touchdown.
Spike Kennedy, with his remain
ing strength and speed, flashed in.
Then, as he bored in at his stumb-
lingly cropping antagonist, he
caught a distinct view of the star
ing and sightless eyes.
AS lad, back in New Zealand,
Spike had spent year as handy
man in an asylum for the blind.
Nobody with such experience could
misread that awesome blank look.
And, Immediately, Spike knew
what had befallen his foe.
The championship was his! But
he must act before the referee
should discover the nature of Rem
tons mishap and stop the bout.
Scarce a second had passed since
Kenelly had seen and recognized
that sightless glare. Scarce three
seconds had passed since Merle had
risen so waveringly to his feet.
There was no time to waste.
Setting himself, deliberately,
Spike Kennedy struck with all his
trained skill and with every atom
of his force and weight.
Down went Merle Renton, face
forward.
Slowly, from billion miles
away, Merle Renton crawled back
to consciousness. His head was
racked ard rent with intolerable
torment. His mind was as blank
as were his shut and quivering
eyes. His first semi-clear impress
sion was the sound of Constantine
voice chanting: TEMP
In rush, memory came back to
Merle. For the first time in his
clean ring career, he slammed. He
continued to lie, in seeming uncon-
seriousness, while his seconds lifted
him and carried him to his corner
and wrought over him.
The arena was rocking with the
plaudits of the crowd. 1t had been
good fight, with a charmingly
unexpected twist at the end and
sensational knockout.
Presently, Merle heard Brace,
his manager, tell the seconds to
carry him to his dressing-room.
AS he was laid on the table, Merle
whispered his managers name. In
stantly Brace was leaning over
him.
you're all right, now, old
MANI Brace said cheerfuliy.
Don't try to get up yet. Well"
"Send all the others Quit"
painted Merle.
Wondering, Brace obeyed.
They're all gone," he reported,
coming back to the table. "What
did you want to say to me?"
For answer, Merle Renton OPEN
ed his sightless eyes. They looked
unseeingly past Brace. For a mo-
ment, the managed started bewild-
cred, into the black orbs. Then he
cried out, as in physical pain.
mo" he yelled. "Now Good
Heaven, man! 1t can't be
you're"
I'm blind" Renton made sim
pie reply. "I'ms blind. He heeled
me in the instep, in that last
clinch. / was too sick to block his
swing, as we came out of it. He