Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-11-13
Just Man to
Man
BY ARTHUR B. HERBERT
% by Western Newspaper UniOn.)

MANY time had they walked
1V4 these familiar blocks together,
taking the short cut home through the
silent factory district, but this would
probably be the last. True, a wedding
need not end their friendship, need not
break up the old companlonship, but
Big Tim Fallon somehow felt that this
would be the last time for him and Joe
Carroll; tomorrow Joe was to marry
Kitty Donlon.
Suddenly from Il darkened lumber
yard gateway a revolver muZZle con-
fronted them, behind it a masked face.
Before Tom had time to comply with
the demand, Joe's fist shot out and
knocked the gun from the fellows
hand. nstantaneOusly a huge fist
whipped up and Joe fell to the pave
ment. With a leap Tom was upon the
fellow, crowding him against the brick
wall.
When Tom Fallon opened his eyes
1t was to find himself In a drug store,
his injuries being dressed by an am
bulance surgeon. 1t was to learn that
Joe Carroll was past medical help, his
life crushed out by the great paws that
had closed about his throat.
Bitterly Fallon reproached himself
for that fatal weakening. condemned
himself for the months of physical
neglect that had softened him and
caused him to fail his friend at the
critical moment. Bitterly he accused
himself Of being responsible for Joe's
death; and in the supplemented 10y
atty that was an inherent part Of him
took 1t upon himself as a duty to see
that his pal was avenged.
AS first step he must. condition
himself, must train so that he would
never again find himself helpless be-
fore the strength and skill of another.
That is how Tim O'Connell, trainer
and fight manager, discovered the best
welterwelght he had ever managed.
And, being Irish, O'Connell wagged
his head over the quiet little miss who
sat near Fallon's corner at each of his
tights. But even wise old Tim O'Con-
nell did not know how Fallon's loyal
determination to avenge his friend
how their mutual love for the smiling
Joe had turned the deep affection
Kitty had always felt for Tom Fallon
into a love deeper even than that she
had held for his successful rival.
Tim 0'COnnell pondered some OF
these things as he led his man down
the crowded aisle to the ring where he
was to meet "One-Two" Romano in the
semi-final of feature bill The
toughest they had tackled so far was
Romano, powerful rushing bull.
As Tom FallOn's eyes sought and
found the little figure near the ring
side, a happy smile momentarily
lighted his eyes. Then once more he
was the emotionless fighting machine,
bent only on the business of the eve,
ning-winning his fight and improving
himself by the winning.
EmotiOnless he remained through
the introductions, the referees instruc-
tons, and as the bell sounded to open
the first round. Cool and prepared he
met the bull rush, guarding, feintlng,
guarding, and giving away before his
opponents great strength. Through
the first round and the second Fallon
played for time.
With the third and fourth Fallon
changed tactics and let the onrushlng
shaggy head have all he could put be-
hind his punches. But Romano only
shook his huge head, glared and bored
in afresh. AS the fifth opened Fallon
knew that he was weakening; for the
first time in his fighting career he fell
the chill of impending defeat-the chill
Of helplessness that had swept ovel
him that night now more than a veal
ago.
With rush Romano was upon him
his right fist lifting Fallon from his
feet, against the ropes and then to
the canvas.
| ree-four-f1ve-six
seven-elght," counted the referee
With nine Fallon pulled himself up. t.
clinch and then back out of the way
Again the great black bull rushed.
$3.50" it was almost a hiss, anC
his right fist crashed through tn,
guard and landed on Fallon's jaw.
"And $3.50" The black eyes wer,
alight with triumph, but those terrify
Ing syllables shot with rejuvenatlnI
force into Fallon's dazed brain. In
stinctively he threw himself back
ward, landing in the ropes.
In that second recognition leape,
into his eyes; in Romano he saw tn
masked killer. And in the same sec
ond a sixth sense warned Romano an,
completed the recognition. His darl
eyes narrowed, the eyes of a kille
now as he charged in furlously to de
liver blow, fair or foul, that woul,
not only beat down but that would kill
Swinging back on the ropes, h
bounded into the ring, meeting rusl
with rush and blow with blow. Will
the fans hOwled and cheered, the
stood face to face, hammering away
all science forgotten, self-preservatio
uppermOst, just man TO man wit
mans first weapons. The light in tn
narrowed eyes Of the killer fiickeret
turned from hate to fear
Viciously he swung low for the fou
blow that would paralyze and prot
ably kill-but at the same time hi
guard lowered. Crack and Crack
again; Fallon hit through the openin,
Before the fans could howl their dlsaI
proval or the referee interfere One
Two Romano fell to the canvas.
Stepping to the ropes. Fallon mad
himself heard above the pandemoniun
and what he said brought the police t
the ring in rush. Then he smile
toward seat near the ringslde-an
Kitty Donlon smiled back happily, fO