Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

Cronan's knees turned to tallow He lurched
forward on his face.
'Humh!" calculated JEFF, well pleased "A
body can get a wee peckle Of fun out Of these
pillows, after all, If he handles them right.
Wont there be any more boxing till he comes
to? Most generally, though they don't come
to for quite a spell when I swat them like
that"
Denning and the other hapdler were work
ing skillfully over the senseTess Cronan. Con
Reardon from his seat on a packing box,
looked with new interest at the novice.
Reardon. for two years, had held the middle
weight championship of the West. He was a
terrific hitter, and was unusually fast. As this
newcomer was a mere welterweight, his
proves reused no jealousy in the champions
heart Yet Marshan's frank exultation in
what he had just done irked Reardon enough
to make him yearn to destroy some Of that
cockineSS
"It will do the hick a lot of good to get
beating up before he grows a swelled head"
RearGon confided to the manager, Cronan
was helped to bench by his fellow handler.
Let me put on the gloves with him for a
couple OF rounds. If we don't give him the
lesson right of, he'll think he can lay out
any one with single punch. How about it?"
Denning thought for a moment. Then he
nodded.
"You,re on" he asseated "Onlv don't cut
him to pieces bad that it'll scare him for
keeps. Just enough to show him up. I want
to see If he can stand punishment. He didn't
get any from poor Cronan."
In the impromptu ring few minutes there
after JEFF Marshall and the champion came
together. Reardon was the taller by inches
and the heavier by Is pounds. Blithely had
JEFF accepted the chance to box again.
Smugly confident from his ridiculously easy
victory over Cronan, the mountaineer opened
proceedings by darting forward and hitting
with the same wildcat swiftness for Reardons
jaw. But Reardon was not there However,
the champion was everywhere else. His left
banged sickeningly into Jeff's face Instantly
thereafter his left and right were beating q
murderous tattoo against Marshall's body
Jeff took advantage Of his adversarys near
~ ness to slash fercely at his seemingly un-
guarded face. Again Reardon was not there
Again, before JEFF knew what 1t was all about,
Reardon's right and left had smashed bruis-
ingly against Marshall's jaw.
The double punch would have foored the
average professional. For Reardon had no in
tention at all Of obeying Denning's commands
as 20 gentleness.
Right and left crashed Reardons fists to
the jaw. Back jumped Marshall, partly Of his
those two punches. But he kept his feet; nor
did he seem so mucn as dazed. Instantly he
braced himself to charge in.
But Reardon would not have It so. He was
after his novice opponent with all the strength
and skill and hitting power he possessed. His
lists tattooed on Jeff's iI-guarded ribs and
heart and wind. He hammered and pounded
Marshall's jaw and nose and mouth Easily
the champion avoided Jeff'S wild efforts at
stemming and returning the murderous assault
1t was not a bout. It was q massacre
At first Denning had stepped forward to stop
the slaughter. Then he halted and backed
over to his bench again. On his fat features