The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-09

get" Eddie said to Mike Kelly, But that was mild compared to what I'm taking aboard this mud scow."
 But he grinned as he said it. Val Douglas liked that grin. It was sincere and boyish and she won- dered why she'd never noticed 1t before.
 The sky was overcast and there was a slight mist in the air when they had finished eating and went up on deck.
 Pretty raw night" Captain Hansen observed. T don't like the looks of this" he said thought fully.
 And I've read every piece of printed matter aboard ship" Ed die grumbled. Including the sea- mans manual and the calendar, from January to December"
 Val laughed. And then before she hardly knew what she was saying: i've got some checkers UOHlA III AAAJ SoOAAA'
 Swell" he said delightedly. What are we waiting for?"
 They left Steve Hansen stand ing there. well, I'll be -" Steve said softly, and reached for his pipe. T wonder :"
 Val curled her legs under her on the esmall divan and shook the little wooden discs from a box.
 I'll take the black she said.
 Perfect match for your heart" he observed. And that's con- cession. I don't think you had any at all"
 She beat him the first game and then he beat her three straight.
 You can't even make it inter- esting," he lamented. Even when I pull my punches"
 "Oh, you weren't trying?"
 Practically playing blindfolded."
 She pushed the checkerboard aside.
 What are your plans for the future, Eddie?" The suddenness and earnestness of her question surprised him for long moment. He blinked couple times and fumbled for an answer.
 T get it." he said slowly, mean ingly Your story again, eh?"
 She felt a light flush creeping up her face. Forget it. Mother game?"
 I'm sorry" he said, strangely contrite. I'm sorry I said that But why did you want to knoW?"
 She looked at him levelly T am really interested. I've won- dered why you took up fighting since the first time saw you in the ring and spoke to you
 Its paid me well. It's the thing can do best. And it's honest work"
 For the most part" she ad- mitted.
 T intend to keep it that way" he said quietly.
 Do you like fighting?"
 "Why not? Oh, I'll admit it's no fun getting belted around and stopping a lot of leather with your face But I don't stop so much" he added significantly.
 She smiled slightly. "Yes, I know. You're a pretty slick ar- ticle. Haven't got a mark on you. l Not a semblance of a tin ear" He held up his hands. See these? A long time ago I hoped they'd ohld a surgeons scalpel some day. But things don't al- ways work out" He leaned back against the cabin wall.
 There was a funny feeling inside her as she waited for him to con- tinue. She didn't dare utter a sound for fear it would break the spell. This was the Eddie Cavalier she had never known the Eddie Cava- Her the boxing world had never known, for that matter.
 Two years of college was all I | was able to get in. My father was killed in an auto accident and I had to drop out of school to keep things going for Nom. I'd been conference Welterweight champion in college and when Duffy Kelso came along with an offer to turn pro jumped at it."
 He looked at her keenly. Sim pie, isn't it?"
 She nodded. Simple neough. But what about the future? I sup pose you'll sink your savings into a restaurant, just like Dempsey, Walker, Canzoneri and some of the others"
 Nope Not me. When I retire Duffy and I are going into the sporting goods business. Do you know" he said earnestly, "that this country is recreation con- scious? People are always out playing, whether it's tennis, golf,