Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-12-25
BY JACKSON GREGORY

/ no harm; struck terribly with his
| right hand that drove through the
other mans guard and landed with
the little sound of flesh on flesh or
Trevors chest. Trevors' grunt and
his return blow came together; both
men reeled back half-pace from the
impact, both hung an instant upon an
| unsteady balance, both sprang for
ward. And as they met the second
time, they battled furiously, clinging
/ together, striking mercileSsly, giving
/ and taking with only the sound of
scuffing boot-heels and soft thuds and
little coughing grunts breaking the 81
lence. Bayne Trevors gave back a
stubborn step, striking right and left
as ne did so; caught himself, hurled
himself forward so that now it was
Bud Lee who was borne backward by
the sheer weight of his opponent.
There was a cash on Lees temple
from which thin stream of blood
trickled: Trevors mouth was bleed
ing.
"Under his guard, Trevors!' shouted
Melvin, on the table now, his face
red, his eyes shining. Under, I'M
deri'
Remember, Bud! Remember r.
cried Carson.
"That's it, that's it ~ Melvin
clapped his two big hands and came
| perilously near falling from his point
Of vantage as Trevors' fists drove into
Lees body and Lee went Keeling back.
'Give him h-li A hundred dollars
on Trevors! r.
"Take you'll" called Carson without
withdrawing his eyes from the two
forms Keeling up and down, back and
forth across the room.
"Done!' cried Melvin. 'Trevors,
hundred dollars"
He broke off, forgetful Of his own
words. The two men met again. chung
to each other in ludicrous embrace,
broke asunder, and Lee struck so that
his fist, landing fair upon Trevors'
chin, hurled the bigger man back,
stumbling, falling
But not fallen. For his back found
the wall and saved him. AS Lee came
on, rushing at him like man gone
mad. Trevors slipped aside and struck
back, for the critical moment gaining
time to breathe. He spat, wiped his
bloody mouth with the back of his
hand and again eluded rushing at
tack by ducking and stepping to one
side. And ever, when he sought to
save his own body, he struck back,
granting audibly with the effort.
They fought everywhere, up and
down, back and forth, until every foot
Of the floor felt their heavy boots
until each of them was fighting with
all of the force that lay in him, fight
ing with that swelling anger which
grows In leaps and bounds when two
men strive body to body, when the
i hot breath of one mingles with the
hot breath of the other, when red rage
looking out of one pair of eyes sees
it's reflection in the other. Again and
again Melvin muttered: San even
| break! By Cd, an even break y
And over and over did Carson's heart
rise in his breast as he saw Bud Lee
drive Trevors, and over and over did
his heart sink when he saw Lee sway
and reel under the sledge-hammel
blows beating at face and body.
In the beginning there had been in
Bud Lees mind but the one thought
/ This man had laid his hands upon Ju-
dith; this man must be punished and
punished by none other in Gods wide
world than Bud Lee. Now all cool
thought had fled, leaving just the hot
desire to beat at that which beat al
him, to strike down that which strove
to strike him down, to master his
enemy, to see the great, powerful
body prone at his feet. Now he was
fighting for that simplest, most potent
reason in the world, just because he
was fighting. And, though he knew
that he had found man as quick
and hard and strong as himself, still
he told himself that he must fight a
winning ,fght-there was some good
reason why he must fight winning
fight.
His whole body was bruised and
i battered and sore. A glancing blow
shot him through with pain. Trevors
knew how to put his weight behind
his blows, and his weight was well
over two hundred pounds. 1t was
like being hammered with tWo-hun-
dred-pound sledge.
Give and take 1t was from the first
| blow, with none Of the finesse of Q
boxers match, with less thought of
escaping punishment than of infiicting
it. More than once had Bud Lee felt