REVENGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 184, 5 August 1936, Page 23

REVENGE.

(By A. FITTEROY.)

6CQECONDS out—time." The woman ,J fidgeted nervously as the boxers advanced towards each other The older and smaller man was her husband, from whom she had parted. ' The other, younger even than herself' was her chosen protector. H c was regarded as a coming champion, whilst her lawful husband had recently retired and was earning his iking as a'trainer The youngster took the lead from the start. Ho fought in the modern spectacular style with plenty of noise md bluster. He a.lso seemed to have a -ood defence and parried the veteran's blows easily enough. As the gong announced the end of the round, she o\ei heard various comments of the spectators. "A walk-over for young Basher Jackson." "Yes; the old 'un's had his time; he's only a 'has been' now." The second round confirmed the general opinion. The veteran contented himself with ducking and slipping; the youngster parried every one. ot with ridiculous ease. "A slice or pie for young Basher." '"Ics it s a wonder his manager allowed such a match." "It's a personal affair—a row over the old 'un's missis. He got so insulting they could only shut him up by ing his challenge. He gets nothing from the purse—he's only out for revenue." The woman shivered and tried to hide closer in the densely packed crowd. So everybody knew aiiout her. Bitterly she regretted her brazen conduct at the ringside. .She had expected her husband to divorce her. As the wife of a champion she would travel about and see life. In imagination she had seen her picture in the papers—embracing her new husband immediately after the battle which was to place him right on top. And now ....

Her exasperated husband had threat} cned her; the Basher had interfered; stewards had prevented a "rough house."

Her lover, goaded by the taunts of the older man, liad publicly accepted his challenge. The knowledge that the men were out for blood caused additional interest in the fight. The third round finished as the others had done, in favour of young Basher. He became impatient in the fourth, and used a tremendous amount of energy trying to land more effective blows. The veteran, however, was too clever for him, although he still gained most points. So certain did the result of the light appear, that odds of ten to one were being offered against the veteran. *»' * • In the sixth round the aspect of the fight changed completely. The youngste*l- - as quick as lightning with liis hands, but his footwork had been neglected. In this branch of ringcraft the veteran was his master every time, and won the round easily. He won the seventh by an even greater margin.

In the eighth, by clover footwork and uncanny head movements, he eluded every one. of the Basher's blows; the youngster was made to look more like a novice than a coming champion.

The betting odds had dropped round after round; two to one on the Basher was now being offered.

The Basher came out for the ninth round looking somewhat annoyed; the veteran was as slippery as an eel; as the round went on lie became even more annoyed.

Unfortunately—for him—he lost his temper completely and rushed in like a charging rhinoceros, determined to annihilate his presumptuous adversary. A beautiful right to the jaw, however, "turned the light off," and he was only saved from a knock-out by the gong.'

Pandemonium broke loose, the betting dropped to evens. The woman's agitation was pitiable, but in the general excitement she was unnoticed.

She saw the Basher's seconds working hard on him. They were busily talking to him as he recovered. He evidently did not like what they were saying, for his face was convulsed with anger.

When he came out for the-tenth all signs of anger had left the youngster's face. The admonitions of his advisers had evidently taken effect; he was apparently as cool as an icicle.

He no longer held the veteran in contempt; he was alert and dangerous. Making use of his superior reach, he kept the older man on the move and won the round on points.

He forced the pace in the next and the veteran began to show signs of fatigue. The latter left an opening for an instant. Like a cat after a mouse the youngster sprang and the veteran went down for nine.

The woman breathed a sigh of relief and immediately felt mean and contemptible. A tear trickled down her cheeks as she w.' clied her husband stagger to his feet. He managed to last out the round, but the terrific punishment he received left him dazed and only half conscious. He came up for the twelfth round looking nearly all in. He left several palpable openings. They were too palpable, however, and the Basher wasn't

(SHORT STORY.)

1 hf Vll1 ° any \ The round finished with the veteran hopelessly behind on points. , In the next round he altered his tactics. Although he had recovered but ) 0l y little in the interval, he pretended , to be quite fresh. I lie veteran even indulged in specacular fancy work. He feinted, tapped Ins left thigh, and flicked the Basher's tace as the blow rebounded. The blows were light and harmless, . annoying; they also counted for points, but the youngster's freshness and activity soon enabled him to baffle this trick. The first tap telegraphed the flick; long before (he end of the round he was guarding it mechanically. I lie veteran finished obviously winded and unable to keep up the pretence of freshness. The Basher, openly contemptuous, was leading casilv. The woman clenched her hands. Heedless of protests she forced her vav to the Basher's corner. She heard the final instructions of his seconds as the gon" sounded. ° ° E's at the end of 'is rope; work 'im to a corner, rush in, and mix it." Obeying hi* instructions the Basher set uj) a terrible pace. The other was unable to get in a single blow. His smacking and (licking trick was baffled with ease. The noise of the crowd was hushed; the smack-smack of the gloves could be heard distinctly. The woman was feverishly biting her finger nails. She was certain that her husband could not last out the round, but she felt sick with fear. Just as he seemed about to collapse, what she had feared, happened; he worked the jLr*p lie had so patiently set. Smack went his glove on his thigh. His face still sneering, the Basher raised his guard to parry the rebounding blow. It didn't rebound, but Swift as a flash of light the veteran's right came in with the last of his strength and every pound of his weight behind it —fair and square on the mark —the most effective of all knock-out blows—the deadly solar plexus.

The recoil flung him back into the upright position; instinct, probably, enabled him to deliver a left hook and a right swing to the jaw. The fight was over. The woman felt stunned and incapable of movement. After a time she went to the Basher's quarters. Her reception justified her former fears. His remarks were loud and ungentlemanly. As she came away she heard a laugh. A little way off she saw her husband's battered face; he had evidently heard the Basher; he looked at her and grinned derisively. She hurriedly left the building and walked out into the night. * * » » Almost unconsciously her steps turned towards the river which was not far away. She heard hurried footsteps behind her; recognising her husband she fled as if for iicr life, but her pursuer broke into a run. Terrified, she made for the river steps. At the top she was overtaken and her shoulder seized in a vice-like grip. She crouched to avoid the expected blow. Instead, she was jerked upright and swung round as if she were 110 more than a rag doll. As if from a distance she heard her husband speaking. What was he saying—she thought she must be going crazy. "Can't you be a sport and give me another chance ?" Her eyes opened wide with amazement. "B-but Bill," she stammered, "I don't deserve " "To be kept at home 60 much," he finished for her. "I know you don't,' 110 went 011. "Anyway I can aflord to take you out a lot more now; I've made quite a pile of money over the scrap. I can treat you quite as well as young Basher," he added somewhat ambiguously. She broke down and sobbed convulsively as she nestled close to him. Over her bowed head, which he was caressing, the veteran's grin was wider than ever. 1