ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

ADVENTURES OF THE CHUMS

At the present moment the Chums are not too happy. This is the reason. They were seated comfortably one evening, when Richard came in, smiling all over his face. , „ , 'Such fun," he said, "Toby (that's the dog three doors away), has challenged me to a boxing match." „ "Really," said Polly, "that comes of making out you know all about boxing. "You'll have to accept it," cried Gwen, jealous df the reputation of them all.

Now, let it be said straight away that Richard had no intention of not accepting the challenge. For one thing, hev felt pretty certain that he could knock Toby into the next street; for another thing, he wasn't going to allow Toby to think he was afraid. So that night the Chums, in deep consultation, concocted a reply to the challenge. "Tell him if he beats you, 1*11 take him on," said Gwen. "If he beats me," replied Richard, "you wouldn't stand a chance; but he

Having accepted Toby's challenge, Richard, much to his disgust, f ound that he had to go into training. Gwen insisted upon that. "We can't allow you to be beaten," she said, "It would be a blow to our P Gwen did not know exactly what prestige meant, but she knew it ,sound well. So Richard went into intense training. And you may be sure that Gwen did not spare him. ■.

Poor Richard! He soon began to wish that Toby had not sent him the challenge. Gwen was a hard taskmaster! Not content to keep him at the punching bag, she must needs make him run five miles every morning, until Richard began to feei that, when the great fight came along,*he would not have strength enough to hit Toby at all. What is more, she put him upon a diet— he noticed. that she ate all the tasty pieces herself. Richard. decided that he must get his own back somehow.

In this picture you see how Richard began to get even with Gwen for the strict training upon which she insisted. He said it was no use to train unless he had sparring partners, so Gwen and Ted had to be the sparring. partners. With his training, Richard was feeling that he must hit someone, so ' he hit both Ted and Gwen. Polly did her best to encourage them to stick it, but by .the time Richard had finished, they had black eyes! Now they are beginning to wish Toby had not sent the challenge, and Richard is feeling decidedly better.

And now comes the real reason why the Chums are not too happy. On the night before the Big Fight, Richard rushed in with a note. "What do you think of this?" he cried.' "After all the trouble we've taken, Toby says he doesn't wish to fight." "Won't fight," yelled Gwen, "Theri Ted and I have black eyes for nothing." "I'm afraid so," said Richard. "If he doesn't want to fight we can't make him." "Well, if that isn't the limit," said both Gwen and Ted. And, I am afraid, we must agree with them.