Show FICTION HAS HA S BEEN edt corner liet by GENE brockhaven sweats sW VV HATS the matter with you jeff you never acted lute like this before show some interest snip snap out of itlo good old faithful jerry thought jeff always worried nerves jittery during the endless training days and the torturous moments before the bell fluttering about jeff like a hen mothering a lone chick eight years he and jerry had been together eight years during which they had often faced hunger and of late a few of the good things of life maybe laybe jerry was right maybe there was something the matter with him the old fire the zest for battle the impatience tor for action the exhilaration of the blood racing through his veins the doubts yes and that little stab of fear in a corner of his heart looking back now as he sat on the little stool in the ring corner jeff realized he had felt none of them jeff roused from his reverie ile he glanced around the ringside big crowd announcer ballard busy a at t the hanging microphone A few more minutes to go to broadcast time jeff relaxed on his stool his mind blotted out the chaotic scene about him filled with memories this again eight years eight years of weeks hard work of sac of punish best ment of patience and the giving up fiction of many of the things that youth loves but there had been a driving purpose then a goal to attain fame meant much in the early years but it came and in the last few years the money come came too champion I 1 the thought of that year as champion brou kroughta brough gliVa ta glow to his soul and then he met helene forsythe it was at a charity bazaar on long island one of the appearances jeff as champion was frequently called upon to make again as he sat on his stool completely oblivious to everything but his memories jeff felt his heart sink as it had that afternoon she was rich society and he a nobody a prizefighter prize fighter they talked tor for a while and then others had taken him bim away he iet get to see her again that afternoon but did several weeks later that was the beginning they saw more and more of each other and saon soon they were deeply in love jeff had realized the hopelessness of it all to homshe was unattainable but helene saw no hopelessness in the situation at WL all jeff shivered on his stool as he lived i again that memorable night he had bad called upon her father hed never been so seared scared in his bis life except maybe that night when he entered the ring for his first fight his belly empty and his spindly legs rubbery but there had been k jells eyes found tenes and to him the world was young and again absolute that had buoyed his lagging courage butchli but this night the stake was bigger hello mr stoddard mr for words were adre stamped indelibly in jeffs mind helenes told me of you I 1 dont like the bus business iniss youre in but my daughter and you tire are in love she says so the bustness business matter but what does matter is what sort of a life can you offer her jeff felt the warm blood rise to his face ace and ears cars as it had done that night at his blurted idiotic she wont starve mr forsythe had answered ill see to that that will always be my responsibility ashes my daughter im sorry mr forsythe jeff had bad managed and then the words had started to flow senseless jumbled ofie one into the other ia a few more fights a trust fund I 1 love tier her heartsick feeling his cause causa had been irretrievably lost he had stumbled from the room and out of the house it was midnight before he got enough coura courage geto to call her he told her it was hopeless they would have to wait a bit hed make more money plenty of money helene had interrupted dad say no did he no oh you a sob and the click of the phone his frantic phone calls were fruitless and then miss forsythe has gone abroad that was a year aitio ago he toured the co theatres theartres the atres exhibitions appearances pe arances the money piled up but jeh jeff has lost interest then a match for the championship and his title gone because one man the referee raised another mans hand and then this sam abrams aliro had sought him out sam had a young chap up and coming but he needed a win over a name before he could challenge for the title therell be maybe ten grand in it for you sam had said and maybe sam paused mean angly more if we can do business youre through jeff you know A has been jeff still wondered why he chased sam then no business held hed said and here he was sitting in a r ring ing corner as ho he had sat in other ring corners a hundred or more times a has been at twenty eight I 1 and in this corner the former middleweight champion of the world jeff jeff roused dreams faded he rose and bowed jerry fluttered about him they walked to ring center for instructions jeff sized up his opponent A likely looking youngster young ster husky and obviously y well well trained he shook hands and turned back to his own corner the bell jeff slid cautiously to ring center yancey came forward to meet him left hand extended slightly c hin chin burled buried behind a bulging shoulder jeff tried a long left and landed lightly they came together and jeff felt a jar on his chin another and yet another stinging blows diews they were delivered with amazing speed peed and rd with deception the boy had something they exchanged blows and again that short jolting left found jeffs face held hed have to do something about that jeff turned to his corner at the bell A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth and over his chin you gotta ido do something about that left jeff whispered jerry hell claw you to ribbons jeff stepped forward briskly at the bell tor for round two he boxed he slugged but that tearing left kept reaching his face something warm streamed astrea med 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 jeffs right dropped into position at his chest he feinted with and there was tho the opening he sought his right fist shootout shot sho tout out the weight powerful i shoulders driving lehome it lt borne home if it landed and at the impact jeff kit felt a searing pain shoot up his arm to the shoulder for a fraction of a second he felt dizzy an dithen ana a nau U leous feeling hit the middle of bis stomach his eyes cleared and he saw yancey getting off the floor the punch must have landed high thought jeff ills k only hope now was a quick left hook book he stepped forward ignoring the thep pain aln in indis his right hand feinted tor for an opening saw it and punched he ate missed his last chance gone the bell he sank heavily on the stool did you bust it jerry whispered iiona 1 I dont know jeff answered but dont touch it others might see yeah but you cant go on with a busted abutted right argued jerry keep quiet said jeff andas and as the bell rang for round three lie he rose to meet yancey earlier that evening at the forsythe home helene faced her father th er across the dinner table dad she said take md me to the arena tonight please jeff Is still in love with that boy ive never stopped loving him dad but now a short distance from ringside they sat the girl whiteface white face faced d tense as she watched the stark drama unfolding in that brilliantly white square ahead it seemed hours to the girl girlton tor hours that they had been sitting there when her father leaned toward her im sold helene he said tersely and I 1 thought that boy bo lacked courage lets get out later in the dressing room jeff sat hunched on the rubbing table jerry striving mightily to hold back the tears was gently removing the tape and bandages from fr om jeffs swollen right hand the room was empty but through the walls walla came the rumble of voices and laughter nobody has time for a loser thought jeff mr forsythe walked into the tha room hello jeff he said ile ho laid his hand band on jeffs shoulder eh that was a magnificent stand you made out there mighty few men have that cour courage age and more important helene says saya youre the tha only man for her and who am I 1 to jeff glanced past mr forsythe and his bis eyes found He helenes lencs she nodded and smiled and to him the world was wa young and warm again 0 |