The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-04
Kelly Takes a Beating

WlLIllIl bWO yCHA0 1T AAC WOAAeSS w concentrate on the game.
 Val Douglas long ago had decided in print, too-that Eddie Caova- Her, with his dark, curly hair and handsome features, was too good- looking to be a fighter. Once she had hinted that he could have been a greater riot as slugger instead of the boxer he waS-but that he preferred to protect his good looks.
 That, in fact, was what had start ed the whole feud. He had never forgiven her for that an threatened to eject her bodily himself if she tried to pay 8 visit to his Pompton Lakes training camp.
 From her position of vantage overlooking the deck, Val Douglas smiled Sardonically. Here, at least was one training camp he couldn't pitch her out of.
 Duffy Kelso, spattered and smelly from paint, fixed her with a vindictive eye at lunch. 'We're gonna work out on the bags this afternoon and maybe spar three rounds with Kelly. Any objections he inquired belligerently.
 Mot at all," she answered brightly. I'm anxious to see if his surroundings affect his ring disposi- tion."
 "I'll try not to disappoint you,' Eddie said meaningly, and she won- dered if he'd vent his spite on Mike Kelly. That, however, might be g boomerang. Mike Kelly, after all was heavyweight and still in good condition despite his long absence from the ring.
 Cavalier donned Kelly's old ring togS and they fitted him somewhat grotesquely. The shoes were a half size too large but he wore an extra pair of soX to take up some of the slack.
 Kelly was forced to wear make shift garb. He borrowed a pair of sneakers from a member of the crew and cut down the legs of an old pair of trousers to serve as trunks. Both fighters wore heavy sweaters to protect them from the tangy ocean breezeS.
 Val could hardly suppress a snicker, they looked SO funny. Duffy Kelso, noticing, tapped her on the shoulder familiarly.
 Please, lady-cut the comics. Ii he sees you enjoyin' this too much it'll throw him so far off he'll never get back"
 While Mike skipped rope to gel himself warmed up Cavalier went to work on the light bag. Coolly expertly he beat out a rhythmic tattoo of leather on board Faster faster he worked until the bag be- came an indistinct blur of motion and the noise became a flat, rolling wave that sounded like a muffleo machine gun.
 Val found herself admiring the sight. Eddie lifted his eyes from the bag, without breaking the rhythm and noticed the rapt look on her face. AS though it were a sudden, spiteful gesture he slammed the bag one terrific punch and ended the show. The gesture startled her and he smirked.
 A message sent down by the radio operator interrupted the work ount. Its from Sam Golden" said Duffy Kelso, reading it quickly.
 Golden, hey? Whats up?" Pop Grimes asked.
 Plenty" Duffy moaned. "He says the newspapers guys don't believe he didn't know a thing about this and they aint even talking to him, and if know Sam Golden, he's tearing out his hair for fear maybe they'll boycott the fight.
 But that ain't all," Duffy con- tinued. "The state boxing commits sion had to be notified, of course, and they demand that we put up a $5,000 bond that we'll show up for weighin' in ceremonies on time"
 Who'll we get to dig up the $5,- 0000 for us?" Kelso demanded. We gotta think fast"
 "Well think about that later,' Cavalier said impatiently. I'm get- ting cold. Let's go Mike" and Kelso and Grimes looked at each other questioningly. It wasn't like the kid to be so impatient. He was like a race horse at the post. It was something new and they didn't like it. Duffy Kelso forgot all about the $5,O0O bond.
 "Okay," Pop grunted, taking out his watch. start slow and take it easy"
 | Cavalier danced forward and flicked a straight left without a pre- liminary motion of any sort It cought Mike on the bridge of his nose and tilted his head back sharp ly Mike looked surprised and ad- vanced more cautiously.
 Val tried to read Cavaliers ex- pression but the padded head guard he wore obscured his features. All she could see were pair of pierc- ing eyes, and she didn't like the way they were being directed at Mix.
 Mike Kelly went a good 195 CINE HA A1@EG