Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-05-03
SYNOPSIS
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to a party given by Alderman Durant for
his daughter, Lyla. Rod, unused to So
ciety's ways, treads on the girls foot and
Is insulted for hi clumsness by Reggie, her
fiance. To avert trouble between the two,
she takes Rod into the 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. Lyia
thinks Rod Is coward, but she learns dill
ferently 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 also attack
tho 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 having 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 him they are going to Kill him,
but he is saved by federal agents who are
laying in wait for bootleggers.
As manager of prizefghters, Killing, who
was in the cabaret when Rod iought WITH
the gangsters, offers him contract TO De-
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 to harm him when they
get into the ring, but Rod knocks him out.
That evening Rod goes to see Lyia. fhey
20 for n walk to the beach. He tells her
of his love and takes her into his arms
Intoxicated with her nearness and softness'
he kisses her hungrily, but she averts dis-
aster by begging him not to spoh their
friendship.
They leave the beach, and as they reach
the sidewalk, she discovers that she hasn't
her pocketbook. Rod runs back after II
and when he returns he sees her being
dragged into car. A half block away,
the machine crashes into the sidewalk and
Rod is able to catch IL.
He finds LyIa'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
go away.
A. ths days pass, Rod trains faithfully
and sees no except the other fighters
in the gym. He does not try to see Lyia.
One afternoon his friend. Martin, takes
him TO 'tea party" at n young society
girls home. There is much gaiety at
the party, which Rod soon discovers is
caused by free drinking of liquor.
He meets q seductive Siii
Zelda, 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. Zelda laughs triumphantly and. pulling
Rcd into the ROOM slams the door.
Rod goes to Kings office, where his
manager informs him that, in two weeks,
h. Is to fight Mickey Latzo. chief contend
er for the middleweigh. championship
They go to the Offices of the Arenas man
ager, where the contract is signed, several
newspaper reporters being present.
when they leave the place. two Of the
reporters accompany them. At one OK the
city's busiest corners truck carrying
number Of steers, crashes into another ma
chine. One Of the animals breaks loose
and charges madiy across the street.
Rod, trained on the range FOR just such
On emergency as this. leaps out in front
of the beast as hundreds OF people watch
in fascinated horror. Directly back OF him
are \ number Of small children who VIII
be crushed by the enraged steer unless
Rod is able to halt It's terrible charge.
Rod leaps aside Just In time to avoid the
charging steer, then. after the fashion OF
the West, he succeeds in "bulldogging" the
animal by twisting Its neck so that 1t falls
to the ground.
That night he is awakened from sleep by
kisses. and by soft hands strokins his face
and hair. At first only half-awake. he
dreamo 10 Is Lyla, but Zeda's voice brings
him to the consciousness that she has come
In his room while he slept.
She tells him that when she wants man
she "gets" him. Being normal youth, Rod
gives in to her wiles, and returns her kiss
es and embraces. more serious develop
men. 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 Zeda energies from
the 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.
Zelda has come to Rods room unan-
nounced, but is forced to hide in \ clothes
closet when Rods friend, Martin. arrives.
After Martin leaves she emerges almost un-
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
SEQ him mixed up with the girl, as she has
been involved In several ugly scandals.
Killing comes to get Rod In his car the
next morning. taking him to the symna-
stun where Rod trains before n large audi
ence Of fans. who, having read OF his
heroism In the papers, are anxious to see
him. Killing tells him that their share