San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-13

ntSStu SeNtIdl DOulS
ing the past month. And he was
letter-perfect.
His opponent this second time was
a redoubtably scowling and thick-set
negro of burnt-coffee hue and mighty
muscles. The two came together at
the gong before a thronged auditorium.
Kent had peered furtively about him
as he awaited the entrance of Mayo
into the ring, and by a miracle he had
been able to recognize Mary and her
sister, sitting with Coal-Mine Crump.
toward the rear of the 50 seats. The
seats, by the way. had been compli-
tary from the management. or so
Crump had thought, when they came
to nm, anonymously, by mail.
Following Justin's precepts, and
subtonsciously aware that Mary was
watci ing him. Kent began the fight
with a whirlwind attack.
Alabaster Mayo had looked for swift
victory from this youngster who had
been described to him as a Glowing
novice. At the formidable and I'M
ceasing and scientific assault of the
despised beginner, gradually, super
stitious fear possessed him.
Surely this was no novice, this ever
attacking fighting machine whom his
own best efforts could not block or
weaken. This was ringer-some
European or eastern champion out for
an easy victory. The negro was non
plussed, then scared.
Terror and bad training and much
high living combined TO soften Ala
baster to the furious battery of the
younger man.
Twice in the third round Kent floor
ed the negro, while the house screamed
itself hoarse. Unknowingly Kent was
taking chances, now and then, from
which a more seasoned fighter would
have shrunk.
In the fourth round. for example,
Alabaster let drop his arms after re-
ceiving light blow on the side of the
head. He reeled back as if dazed or
weakened past defense. Now this trick
is so old that none but an amateur is
taken in by it. Instead of covering
up or dancing back, Roddy bored in.
And he landed stomach punch frac-
tion of a second earlier than Mayo's
artfully prepared haymaker could be
| delivered.
Down crashed Alabaster, the breath
hammered out OF him by the terrific
smash in the stomach. He writhed in
anguish. And then there cropped forth
the well-hidden yellow streak which
Justin had suspected.
Motioning Roddy back, the refereC
began to count Mayo out. As he die
so, he surveyed the fallen man; and
he was led to believe that terror rather
than inability TO rise kept the negro
glued to the floor. Wherefore, after
counting IN to five, the referee adj
dressed Mayo in a quick undertone
then went on counting. Thus:
Observation-Disclosures" he in
toned, adding, fiercely AREN'T you
going TO fight any more?"
"Yassah :" replied the stricken Ala
baster, as the count proceeded. "Ias-
sab but not tonight"
1t was a shining-eyed Mary Bon
nell who greeted Roddy at the corner
of her home street next afternoon. She
had even been guilty of waiting there
for him. Sheepishly he received her
congratulations And, as they fell into
step, as usual, neither noticed that
they were stplling away from the
Crump bungalow instead of toward it.
They were actually taking a walk to-
gether: their first.
As. finally, they turned back. a lit
tie of the light died in Mary's dark
eyes.
"Harry is ever so happy" she con.
fided TO Kent. "He says last night will
mean a jammed house when you and
he fight. That's all he seems to think
about. And the newspapers have got.
ten hold of that funny thing Mayo said
when he wouldn't get up. And Harry
says that'll add TO your reputation
too. by making people laugh again
| But-but suppose you knock Harry
out ~
That's what I'm going to try to
do" Roddy assured her; then he gulp-
ed as he realized belatedly that he
had said the wrong thing again.
"But don't you see," she explained,
worriedly, don't you see how horrible
thatll be for Sis-looking on and see,
ing her husband beaten? And-and
for me, too.
"For you, too?" he asked DULY.
"Y-yes," she hesitated.
you'd rather see him lick me
than to see me lick him?" be per
sisted. ridicuIOusly like grieved child.
Perhaps it, was his tone or his fac,
perhaps it was her inherent honesty
that made her silent.
Mary" he begged, "would you ra-
Their see him lick me than see me lick
him? Would you honest?"
"Don't ask such silly questions -
she reproved, taking refuge in vexa.
ton. Besides, it isn't question OF
what I'd rather or wouldn't rather.
1t means more than that. Mr.. Justin
made Harry agree that the winner Is
TO get IS per cent. Harry wouldn
/ have agreed to such terms with al
his reputation and everything. and you
| a novice, if we hadn't needed money
so badly. And il he loses, the 20 pei
cent will only help third as much
/ rs il he'd won. Sis found out yes
4 terday that he's been borrowing all
the money he could get hold of. Ht
saws he's been betting it all on him
self. If he loses. it'll take more than
his share of the purse to pay his debts
and we'll be worse off than we are.
Her voice shook. A note of griei
and anxiety ripped its way TO Rodd,
Kent's soul. The pang of it started
his wontcdly dormant brain to work
ing. When a stupid mans brain be
gins to work there u as much peri
as when a plow horse runs away OF
when staid milk cow turns vicious
IL wouldn't get too much he
IN over it," Kent said slowly, aftel
long pause. Maybe it'll-mayb'
it'll be all right" :,
Coal Mine Crump was waxing OLE
for the prize ring, and he was goin;
back steadily. No one knew ii BETTE
than did he. And from the punch h
had received from the novice as wei
as from the reports he had gleane'
of the lads training he realized tn