Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-05-24
SYNOPSIS
BEGIN READING HERE

sity. II Is spring and he intends to earn
enough money to enter school by fall His
lawyer friend, Martin Thompson, takes him
to q party given by Alderman Durant for
his daughter, Lyla. Rod, unused 70 SO,
is insulted for his ciumsiness 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. Lyla
thinks Rod is coward but she learns dill
ferent 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
she youth but are routed just as police
raid the place. Rod is able to get the girl
safely out Of the place.
after having spent the evening with her,
ho Is kidnapped by Wolf and his gang,
who take him out Of the city in their car.
They tell him they arc going to kill him,
but he is saved by federal agents who are
LAYING in wait for bootleggers.
As manager Of prizefghters, Killing, VINO
was in the cabaret when Rod fought with
the gangsters, offers him y contract to be-
come boxer, and Rod accepts in order 70
make enough money to enter school, Al
the gymnasium King orders Kelly, another
oil 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 MIN out.
That evening Rod goes to see Lyia- They
10 for 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 hungriy but she averts dis
aster by begging him not to spoil their
friendship.
They leave the beach, and as they reach
her pocketbook. Rod runs back after 1t
and when he returns he sees her being
dragged into car. half block away,
tho machine crashes into the sidewalk and
Rod is able to catch 1t.
He finds Lyla's abductor is Reggie, who
has been drinking heavily. However, Reg
GIGS identity is not known to him until
after he has beaten him severely. Lyla,
for some reason which he does not under
stand, becomes angry at him and AFTER
they take Reggie to n doctor, tells him to
70 away.
As the days pass, Rod trains faithfully
and sees no one except the other fighters
in the gym. He does not try to see Lyla.
Ono afternoon, his friend, Martin, takes
him to "tea party" at young society
girls nome. Inere Is MUM Sdicky -
the party, which Rod soon discovers Is
caused by free drinking of liquor.
He meets r seductive looking girl named
Zelda, who makes him take drink-the
FIRST one in his life. Under the influence
of the liquor, he looks up to see Lyla enter
Ing. Zelda laughs triumphantiy' and puihhs
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 Latzo. chief contend
or for the middleweight championship.
They go to the office 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 of the
eity's busiest corners, 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
are a number Of small children who will
be 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 "buildogging" the
animal by twisting its neck so that it falls
to tho ground.
That night he is awakened from sleep by
kisses and by soft hands stroking his face
and hair. At first. only half-awake, he
dreams it is Lyla, but Zcda's 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 \ normal youth, Rod
gives in to her wiles. and returns her kiss
Is and embraces. more serious develop
ment 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 rs she
throws or the robe, disclosing her lovely
form in sheer silk garments. She holds
cut her arms to him, and he walks slowly
toward her.
Zeda has come to Rods room unan-
ro1nced. but is forced to hide in clothes
closet when Rods friend. Martin, arrives
After Martin leaves she energies almost
unciothed, 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.
King comes to get Rod in his car the
next morning, taking him to the gymna-
sium where Rod trains before large audi
ence Of fans who. having read Of hfs
heroism in the papers, are anxious to see
him. Killing tells linn that their share OF
tho money from the fight may amount to