Nogales international., 1932-09-14

AS he burrowcd and grubbed and
collected and stored the kernels of fact,
he visioned a greater, vaster thing than
all of the establishments Of the sur-
rounding city.
Hubert Malcolm, his teacher, met
John one Saturday afternoon, quite by
accident. They were in Union Square.
1John, I live over this way; come in
and have tea. Mrs. Malcolm will be
happy to see YOU. I've been telling her
cf your progress.
Il was fiat, so clean and fresh, so
simple and pure. John dropped spoons,
blusl,cd. stammered Enid Malcolm
seemed like an angel in her gingham
dress. and the baby, tucked in a crib,
ct.rled its pink hands about his fingers.
1t had never occurred to John that a
baby could be so clean, and could seem
50 happy.
Malcolm smoked pipe, and John,
IL :: Wild thing, sat tongue-ticd.
'Are there many places like this ?"
he finally asked, his tones harsh. Mrs.
Male I'm overheard the question.
"ldillions Of them" she smiled, "only
much nicer than this"
Join knew the quiet-voiced woman
" liar. For the rest of the visit he
sat mute and III at ease, and then his
friend took him to the Square and
walked with him as far as Fourteenth
Street. John Breen, headed back to the
Bowery more bewiidered than ever.
john Breen had lost his interest in
fighting, in the greater thrill of the
fight for that unknown prize, the as
tonishments always lying just ahead.
He was spurred on by curiosity, and
not by ambition. He was the primitive
climbing to the top of mountain, not
for food or treasure, but for a better
view. Honor and prizes, and pros
Gritty, as Pug Malone kept pointing out
to John, lay behind the direction he
attempted. In several clandestine bouts,
John Breen only held his own, in one,
with the Philadelphia scrapper Jerry
Wilke, he almost lost, until, at the very
ragged edge of his downfall, Pug
pleaded with him, cried to him, i'm
plored him, literally throwing the
handlers from the ring, talking and
arguing with John who sat sullen and
preoccupied. .
The bell sounded and John Breen,
a sudden light in his eyes, his face
battered, stepped into the center of the
ring and knocked Wilke cold with a
single perfect blow to the jaw. A tre-
mendous howl of approval greeted
him; admirers tried to carry him from
the ring.
Leave him alone" Pug cautioned.
"That kid was thinkin' of sornethin'
when he hit Jerry, or he never would
OF pulled that punch"
"What was you dreamin' about,
John, when you soaked that Quaker ?"
Malone asked as they prepared for
bed.
II was knocking the whole prize
fight game in the eye. I'm through,
Pug" John smiled sadly.
II guess you're right" Malone
agreed. THAT crack was too good to
be true. He'll, wish knew what to
do with you'll"
"Ill leave" John stood looking out
of the window
mot if l know it'll" Pug jumped up
and grasped Johns hand. "You stick
around an finish that school. / won't
fight you any more, can't risk it. The
next time some low-brow scrapper will
trim you good. An then where will l
be?"
So John Breen continued to tend bar
during the day, to work in the Samson
Club gym, to live with Malone. An
other year drew its veil of changes
over the face of the growing city.
Judge Kelly says they'll stand for
anythin' an they'll pay-pay we'll The
McManus looked yellow and flabby in
contrast with the trainer. IF you work
them guys rough they'll fall for
you," and then, looking up at Pug with
veined bloodshot eyes, he spoke vehem-
emily. "Kick 'em, beat 'em up, sweat
tina liver cut of 'em. Judge Kelly's
watched you, Pug, knows what you kin
do, an he's lined up guys who'll pay.
But, mind, Pug. you got to turn tha