Arizona sun., 1947-08-15

ACSS. 1Ou IS LA1AOuS14S OCAAS JON
know. A has-been." Jeff still won-
dered why he hadn't chased Sam
then. mo business" he'd said.
And here he was, sitting in ring
corner as he had sat in other ring
corners a hundred or more times
=. a has-been at twenty-eight!
".. and in this corner, the for
mer middleweight champion of the
world, jeff Stoddard!"
jeff reused dreams faded
he rose and bowed, Jerry auttered
about him. They walked to ring CEN
ter for instructions. jeff sized up
his opponent. A likely looking
youngster, husky and obviously
well-trained. He shook hands and
turned back to his own corner. The
bell. jeff slid cautiously to ring cen
ter. Yancey came forward to meet
him, left hand extended slightly,
chin buried behind bulging shoul-
der. jeff tried a long left and land
ed, lightly. They came together and
jeff felt a jar on his chin, another
and yet another Singing blows
they were, delivered with amazing
speed and with deception. The boy
had something. They exchanged
blows and again that short, jolting
left found Jeff's face. He'd have to
do something about that. jeff
turned to his corner at the bell. A
trickle of blood flowed from the cor
ner of his mouth and over his chin.
"You gotta do something about
that left, jeff" whispered Jerry.
Hell claw you to ribbons"
jeff stepped forward briskly at
the bell for round two. He boxed,
he slugged, but that tearing left
kept reaching his face Something
warm streamed down his cheek.
jeff realized his eye was cut He
brushed the eye with his right glove
and gave ground slowly, drawing
Yancey toward him. Jeff'S right
dropped into position at his chest,
he feinted with his left and there
was the opening he sought. His
right fist shot out, the weight of his
powerful shoulders driving it home.
1t landed and at the impact jeff
felt soaring pain shoot up his arm
second he felt dizzy and then a nau-
seous feeling hit the middle of his
stomach. His eyes cleared and he
saw Yancey getting off the floor.
The punch must have landed high,
thought JEFF. His only hope now was
a quick left hook. He stepped for
ward, ignoring the pain in his right
hand, feinted for an opening. saw it
and punched. He missed. His last
chance gone. The bell. He sank
heavily on the stool.
did you bust it?" Jerry whis-
pered.
II don't know" JEFF answered.
But don't touch it, others might
See."
yeah, but you can't go on with
a busted right" argued Jerry.
Keep quiet" said jeff, and as
the bell rang for round three he
rose to meet Yancey.
Earlier that evening, at the For
sythe home, Helene faced her IA
ther across the dinner table.
Dad" she said, take me to the
Arena tonight, please. jeff is :"
''Still in love with that boy?"
Tive never stopped loving him,
Dad. But :"
Now, short distance from ring
side, they sat. The girl, white-faced,
tense, as she watched the stark
drama unfolding in that brilliantly
white square ahead.
\ 1t seemed hours to the girl-tor-
tuous hours-that they had been sit
ting there, when her father leaned
toward her.
Pm sold, Helene" he said
tersely. "And I thought that boy
lacked courage. Let's get out.
Later, in the dressing room, jeff
sat hunched on the rubbing table.
Jerry. striving nightly to hold
back the tears. was gently remov-
ing the tape and bandages from
Jeff's swollen right hand. The room
was empty. but through the walls
came the rumble of voices and
laughter. Nobody has time for a
loser" thought JEFF.
Mr.. Forsythe walked into the
room.
Hello Jeff," he said. He laid his
hand on Jeff's shoulder. THAT was
a magnificent stand you made out
there. Mighty few men have that
courage - and, more important,
Helene says you're the only man
for her and who am to ="
jeff glanced past Mr.. Forsythe
and his eyes found Helene's. She
nodded and smiled and to him
the world was young and warm
again.