Evening star., 1935-11-19


around nervously as they
pulled off their sweaters. A
~ fight on the campus very
likely meant expulsion for the partici-
pants II they were discovered. Blake
was still smiling, confidently, irritat-
tngly, self -assuredly. Chuck's lips
were closed tightly in determination
as he walked to the center OF the clear
ing. He knew he could box, but not
having done so in months. he wasn't
sure Of himself. And then. Blake was
q big boy. And he was smiling.
They squared of. Chuck projected
his left arm at full length and tapped
Blake on the cheek several times in
quick succession, as though getting
the range for heavier blow that would
come later. Blake left his face unpro-
tected. He kept smiling. at the same
time warding off Arnold's punches.
They exchanged few fairly solid
blows about the head and ribs. Chuck
was gaining confidence. In another
minute he was convinced that he
could outlook Blake, and if he could
stay away from his "haymaker" he
might easily get the better OF the ar
gument. They danced about nimbly.
For q big man. Chuck concluded. Blake
was exceptionally fast. He moved
about easily and with lightning-like
speed.
Blake suddenly hooked Chuck on
The law bone with blow that scat
tered his brains for fully two seconds.
But he still was confident that he
could stay with Blake Crack! and
the big Southwesterner landed another
beautiful blow on the bridge OF Chucks s
nose. Fortunately, he had side
stepped just in time to avoid taking
the full measure of strength and
weight packed behind that punch.
Even so, it made him feel conscious
of the growing weight of his feet.
They weren't moving fast enough for
him now. They were slow to respond.
and apparently growing larger by the
second.
Listen, Arnold, I don't like to say
it." said Blake, stepping around nimbly
and avoiding Chuck's wild blows, I'm
afraid you're Just about to take one
unmerciful licking. If you all want to
say quits you can. On the other
hand, if you don't speak up right soon,
Use afraid you're not goin' to be able
to talk at ALL" At that very moment
he let go terrific shower of jabs and
hooks that swept Arnold off his feet.
His big pile drivers pounded Chuck S
head and face with piSton-Ike ra-
pidity, until the latter felt as though
every man on the campus was taking
o crack at him with a base ball bat.
Chuck's defense was completely
shattered by the avalanche OF power
full and telling blows and he suddenly
saw things 60 black. He dropped to
the ground. Gamely he struggled to
his feet but he could see only blurred
images in front of his eyes. Smack!
And Blakes big bare fist planted itself
souarely on Chuck's unguarded nose.
AS he dropped to the ground, he
thought he heard the fire siren blow.
The weird, shrill, penetrating signal
went through his beaten brains like
some fantastic chord waiting him to
sleep.
Blake, still fresh, leaped behind him
and caught him under the arms to
hold him up. Arnold was dead to the
world. Blake lifted him up in his
arms and carried him over to the
empty oil barrel. With well-aimed
kick he knocked the barrel on its side.
Then he set Chuck up in a sitting po-
sition with his back against the bar
rel. Quickly he crossed the clearing
and picked up his sweater. Rolling 1t
up into an improvised pillow. he
placed it gently behind Chuck's weary
and bloody head.
The fire siren was still blowing. Not
only in Chuck's foggy brain, but In
reality. Blake hastened up to the
woodpile and grabbed hold OF an old
rubber hose. He turned it on, and
water flowed reluctantly from its
rusted nozzle. He wet his handker-
chief and ran back to Arnold. Chuck's
eyes were still closed. Blake wiped
Chuck's begrimed face tenderly, and
tried his best to bring him to. Slowly
Chuck's bloodshot eyes opened.
Where who? Blake?" he
Hammered, and then as it dawned
upon him that he was on the ground