Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-05-10
Rod with everything depending upon his first bout
SYNOPSIS

enough money to enter school oy ran. his
lawyer friend, Martin Thompson, takes him
to n party given by Alderman Durant for
his daughter, Lyla. Rod, unused to So
ciety's ways, treads on the girls foot and
is insuIted for his clumsiness by Reggie, her
fance To avert trouble between the two,
she takes Rod into tn. garden where he
tells her of his life in the West. warm
friendship springs up between them.
Later, Lyla, Reggie Rod, and several
Others go to the Swamp Hut, cabaret
where Reggie drinks too much. He strikes
Rod who fails to return his blow. Lyla
thinks Rod is 4 coward, out she learns Diff
ferentiy when he takes her from Wolf,
notorious gangster who had snatched her
from Reggie's arms while they were dan
cling.
Wolf attacks Rod and is knocked out.
Several OF VOLTS henchmen alsc attack
the youth but are routed just as police
raid the place. Rod is able to get the girl
safely out OF the place.
The next night. as he leaves her home
after havin spent the evening with her,
he Is kidnapped by Wolf and his gang,
who take him out of the city in their car.
They tell ilim they are going to kill him.
but he is saved by federal agents who arc
laying in "ait for bootleggers.
As manager Of prizefghters. Killing, who
was in the cabaret when Rod fought with
the gangsters offers him contract to be-
come a boxer, and Rod accepts in order to
make enough money to enter school, AT
the gymnasium King orders Kelly, another
OF his boxers, to put on the gloves with
Rod, in order to see how skilled his new
fighter is. Kelly, afraid that Rod may re-
place him. tries 60 harm him when they
get into the ring but Rod knocks him out.
That evening Rod goes to see Lyia. They
20 for walk to the beach. He tells her
OF his love and takes her into his arms.
N,so NoJ ,.,stI har
he kisses her hungrily. but she averts dis
aster by begging him not to spoil their
friendship.
They leave the beach, and as they reach
the sidewalk, she discovers that she hasn't
her pocketbook. Rod runs back after it
and when he returns he sees her being
dragged into 4 car. half block away,
the machine crashes into the sidewalk and
Rod is able to catch it.
He finds Lyla's abductor is Reggie, who
has been drinking heavily. However, Reg
gie's identity is not known to him until
after he has beaten him severely. Lyia,
for some reason which he does not under
stand becomes angry at him and AFTER
they take Reggie to doctor, tells him TO
20 away.
and sees no one except the other fighters
In the gym. He does not try to see Lyia.
Ono afternoon his friend, Martin, takes
him to ''tea party at a young society
nome. II bSiSsy
the party. which Rod soon discovers Is
caused by free drinking Of liquor.
He meet a seductive looking girl named
Zeda, who makes him take drink - the
first one in his life. Under the influence
of the liquor, he kisses Zeda in the hallway
Of the place and looks up to see Lyla enter
Ing. Zeda laughs triumphanty and, pulling
Rod into the room. slams the door.
Rod goes to Kings Office, where his
manager informs him that. in two weeks.
he Is to fight Mickey Lstzo, chief contend
or for the middleweight championship.
They 20 to the office o the Arenas man
nger where the contract Is signed, several
newspaper reporters being present.
When they leave the place, two Of the
reporters accompany them. AT one OF the
city's busiest corners. n truck carrying
number Of steers. crashes into another ma
chine. One Of the animals breaks loose
and charges madly across the street.
Rod, trained on the range for just such
an emergency as this. leaps out In front
Of the beast rs hundreds Of people watch
In fascinated horror. Directly back Of him
arc q number Of small children who will
DO crushed by the enraged steer unless
Rod Is able to halt Its terrible charge.
Rod leaps aside just In time to avoid the
charging steer. then after the fashion OF
the West, he succeeds in "butidogging" the
animal by twisting its neck SO that IL falls
50 the ground.
That night he Is awakened from sleep by
kisses. nd by soft hands stroking his face
and hair. At first only half-awake, he
dreams il is Lyla, but Zedas voice brings
him to the consciousness that she has come
into his room while he slept.
She tells him that when she wants = man
she gets" him. Being n normal youth, Rod
gives in to her wiies, and returns her kiss
es and embraces. more serious develop
mept is avoided when Martin. Rods lawyer
friend, arrives. Zeda hides In Rods closet.
Martin brings the evening papers which
contain Rods picture and the story OF his
exploit.
Finally he goes. and Zelda emerges from
tho closet dressed in Rods bathrobe. her
dress in her hand. Rod stares as she
throws of the robe. disclosing her lovely
form in sheer silk garments. She holds
out her arms to him, and he walks slowly
toward her.
zeda has come to Rods room unan-
nounced, but is forced to hide In clothes
closet when Rods friend. Martin. arrives.
After Martin leaves she energies almost I'M |
clothed, but Martin, suspecting her pres
ence. returns unexpectedly. She is furious. !
and slaps his face. then leaves. Martin
explains to Rod that he doesn't want to
see him mixed up with the girl. as she has
been involved in several ugly scandals.
King comes to get Rod in his car the
next morning. taking him to the gymna-
slum wher, Rod trains before n large audi
ence OF fans, who, having read OF his
herolsm in the papers, are anxious to see
him. Killing tells him that their share Of