Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday Sight of steps that ascended to the hall. A significant look passed between them, and, first glancing round to make certain that they were unobserved, they slipped from the lounge and moved across the hall. It was at that moment that George Regan chanced to turn his head, and, slightly fuddled though he was, the spectacle of them vanishing into one of the other rooms sobered him in- stantly. He set down his glass and walked in the direction that Rose and Lewis had taken. He entered an apartment at the other side of the hall. It was empty, but, looking through to a small room btyond, he saw the Kid's wife in Lewis' arms. Regan closed the door of the larger room noisily. Rose drew away from Lewis with a start, turned swiftly, and then came into the apartment where the fight manager was standing. "George," she panted, '"you shouldn't come in here!" He did not answer her, but the con- lompt in his glance was eloquent. Wheeling, he went out into the hall again and back to the lounge, where he poured himself another drink, almost savagely. Rose and Lewis appeared in the lounge a few seconds afterwards. Both of them seemed \ineasy, but. looking viciou,?ly at Regan. Rose spoke to a butler and asked liin\ to tell the Kid she wished to see him. The message was delivered, and the Kid came across the lounge. "You've got to get George out of here," Rose said, her voice quivering ^■w'ith anger. "He's bothering people— 'trailing them into the other rooms. I don't want him in mj' house!" The Kid bit his lip. ''Let me talk to him," he jerked, and made his way to where the fight manager stood. "George," he said firmly, "you've ^otta cut out bothering the guests, see? Otherwi.se, I'm gonna ask you to go home. Rose tells me you've been follow- EOY'S CINEMA ing people into other rooms an' pester- in' thorn. Well, you can't do that." Regan stared at him for a moment, and then brushed past him en route to the hall. At the steps he paused and addressed Rose vehemently. "So I've been bustin' into other rooms, huh? I've been spyin' on people, have I " Lewis planted himself in front of Rose. "Now listen, Regan," he snapiiod. "Try to behave like a gentleman. Go on— get out!" tieorge glared at him truculently. " So Rose told the Kid what I was doin'," he grated. "Why didn't she tell him what I saw ?" "Get out of here!" Lewis snarled. "You're drunk!" George Regan's restraint was sundered by a surge of violent rage. With a hoarse cry he launched himself at Lewis, striking him and then grappling with him. Lewis staggered back to the wall, his face white and scared. There was an outcry among the guests. Then Kid Mason leapt across the room, seized George Regan and dragged him away bodily. " George, George," ho protested, "have you gone crazy?" His voice became more heated in its tone. "You'd better go on home. Go on home, I said. You hear me? Get out!" "Why, you poor dummy!" Regan blurted. "If you had any brains at all you'd see that this doublc-crossin' wife of yours " He never finished the sentence, for, eyes blazing, the Kid lashed out at him. His fist drove crashing into Regan's jaw, and, hurling him off his feet, sent the fight manager sprawling across the stairs. The blow was hardly struck ere the Kid regretted it. and, with an exclama- tion, he ran forward and fell on his knees beside the man who was his best friend. "George!" he groaned. "George I" "Throw him out in the street!" It was Rose's voice, but the Kid scarcolv hoard her. Turning, he called 9 to the butler, ordering him to help him with George Regan's prone form. When Regan recovered consciousness he was back in his own room near the training quarters. He was stretched out on a bed, and the Kid was bending over him, having apparently been making anxious efforts to revive him. "George, I didn't mean to go so far," the Kid pleaded, "but I had to do it!" "Aw, get out of hero an' leave me alone!" Regan flung at him. "George, you " "Get out of here!" Regan said fiercely. "Leave me alone!" The Kid turned slowly. The New Challenger. McXEIL and old Jeff were talking in the gym. "Look what he done to Sailor Hess," McNeil was saying. "Did you see the Sailor? Teeth knocked out, nose bleediu', broken jaw! A beautiful picture!" "Well," declared Jeff, "Rattler O'Keefe can thank George Regan. George learned him everything he knows. Just the same, I'd like to know what George is holdin' him back for. Why don't he fix him up with more fights?" "I can't figure George out lately," re- turned McNeil, "except that he's drinkin' too much " While those two discussed him and hi'i latest protege, George Regan was re- ( lining on a sofa in his room, lost to his surroundings in the oblivion of a heavj' slumber. In fact, a loud knock- ing on the door, followed by the entry of a man and a woman, failed to disturb him—so deep was his sleep. The visitors were Rose Mason and Paul Lewis, and only by tapping the surface of a table with his cane did Lewis succeed in awakening Regan. The fight manager looked up. then blinked dazedly, and then heaved himself into a sitting posture. *I hope you'll pardon our instmision," said Lewis contemptuously, "but they told us at the gynniasium that we'd probably find you here." "Drunk," added Rase. "Listen. Still struggling savagely, the Kid was dragged from the dressing-room. July Itth, 1931.