Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-01-23
By JACKSON GREGORY

mao, 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 a rushing at
tack by ducking and stepping to one
side. And ever, when he sought to
save his own body, he struck back,
grunting 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
hot breath Of one mingles with the
hot breath Of the other, when red rage
looking out of one pair Of eyes sees
its reflection in the other. Again and
again Melvin muttered: "An even
break By Cd, an even break 7"
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-hammer
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 at
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 a man as quick
and hard and strong as himself, still
he told himself that he must fight
winning fght-there was some good
reason why he must fight winning
fight.
His whole body was bruised and
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 a two-hun-
dredpound sledge.
Give and take it was from the first
blow, with none Of the finesse of a
boxers match, with less thought of
escaping punishment than of infiicting
lm More than once had Bud Lee felt
that he was falling only to catch his
balance and come back at Trevors
more than once had Trevors gone reel
ing backward, smashing into the wall.
Many a time did Melvin count his
money won and lost. And Carson,
crouching now, tense, eager, a little
fearful, muttersd constantly to him
self.
They've both got the sand"
grunted Melvin. (Which one draws
the luck"
But luck stood by and did not enter
into the battle that grew ever hotter,
as Bud Lees and Trevors' gorge rose
higher at every blow. It was to be
simply the best man wins, and none
of the six men who watched knew
from the beginning until the end who
the best man was. What tricks Trev-
ors knew, he used and they were met
by what cunning. lay in Bud Lee;
what strength, what resistance, what
power to endure was in each painting
serve.
Already the spring had gone out Of
their steps. They came at each other
for the most part more slowly, more
cautiously, but more determined not
to give over. Faces glistening with
sweat, grimy with the dust their
pounding feet beat up from the floor,
the roots of Lees hair red where with
bloody hand he had pushed it back.
Trevors' lips swollen and ugly, they
fought on until the men who looked at
them wondered just where lay the
limits upon which each depended
Lees tough" Carson whispered to
himself. Riding every day an work
ing Trevors has been setting in
chair -. Bud'll wear him out
My Cd! Bud, look out Foot
work. :"
Yes, foot work, but not as Carson
expected it, not the thing Bud Lee
looked for when he sensed rather than
read in Trevors' eyes that fresh
trick was coming. He was ready for
lifted boot, and, instead, Trevors,
rushing down upon him, threw grap-
pling arms about him, needless Of
the fist smashing again into his cut
lips. Trevors doubled and twisted
and got a grip about Lees middle,
seeking to throw him.
Down they went together with no
particular advantage to either man.
But as they rolled apart and Lee
threw out an arm to lift himself Trev-
ors saw the chance he sought and
nightly, brutally, cursing as he
jumped up for it, he drove the heel
Of his boot down upon Lees hand on
the floor.
From Lees white lips burst an in
voluntary groan as it seemed to him