Boy's Cinema (1939-40)

16 " Sine. I've pot a pal I've been betting with for years " He took the envelope and put it into his pocket. "Hoy, supjjosing I get heltl np or something?" "If you do it's going to be just too bad," said Gunner grimly. "Okay. I won't get held up." Mushv went auay and called on a big betring man. The man looked at Musiiy and grinned. "Outside, guy," be said. "You know where to place small bets. It isn't here." "Wait a minute," Mushy said. "I gtiess you don't know Avho you're talking to. Take a peek at that, then tell me how you feel." He put the envelope on the man's desk. The man looked inside it and saw thirty one- thousand dollar bills. He also saw the slip that was with them. "This is how I like to do business, Musliy." he said. " I didn't know you were in the big- time stuff." He started to write in his betting book. "Thirty thousand dollars, in the name of you and Gunner Grey. Is that right?" "That's right," said Mushy. "Thirty thousand—on Oleson to win." "Hey, what do you mean?" Mushy stared at him. "I ain't betting that money on no Oleson." "Well, the slip her'e says Oleson." Mushy stared at the slip, then laughed. "Well, can you beat that?" he said. "The Gunner's gone daffy. This don't mean nothing. Just make that wliole bet on Bob Hill to win." "Okay. It's all the same to me one way or the other. The betting's even." He scribbled out a receipt with the details on it. "There's your contract. Good luck, Mushy !" "Thanks," said !Mushy, and went on his way. At last Hip night of the big fight eame round. Giuiner and ilushy had seen little of each other since the bet had been placed, and Gutmer did not refer to it. Nor did Mushy. He saw that Gunner was pretty worried, so kept the conversation on to business only. Gunner did some shopping just before the fight was due to begin. He went to a drug store and came out with a tiny bottle in his pocket. When he walked to the ringside to give his last instructions to Bob and Mushy, there wore beads of sweat on his forehead. "You know what to do. Bob," he said. "Keep hammering away at his heart. Wear him down. Don't try for a knock-out for the first four rounds—you won't get it, and you'll be wasting your energy. Understand?" Bob grinned. "I get it," he said, "and I reckon I'm going to win. I've learnt a lot since that day Oleson floored me. Gunner." "Sure, you have—sure," said Gunner sadly and turned away. He went to the seat next to Joan and sat there watching. The referee made his annoimcements and gave the fighteis tlioir warnings. Then the seconds left the ring and the bell clanged. The fight was on. Bob did his stuff supeihly. He didn'C let Oleson get in close to him. 01(>son had a wicked left, and once it landed it was only a matter of time before the fight came to an end. Bob took good care it didn't land. He gave ground steadily, and ev(My lime he saw a gap in the champ's defence he |)lugged in at the heart. He got in three good ones in the first round and two in the second, and Oleson began to blow a bit hard. The third round was slower. Oleson was begiiHiing to show signs of distress. They were, hardly noticeable, except to hardened boxers, but the boys in the know could see (hat those heart blows were beginning to tell. Bob was younger than his opiionent and had a shade more speed. That, too, made a big difference. The end of the third round came and Bob went back to his corner, (iumier left his seat and went over. He had hidden the tiny bottle in his left hand. "Give him a rub, Mushy," he said. "I'll fix his water." Mu-^hy did what he was told, and Gunner, shielding his movements with his body, emptied the contents of the tiny bottle into Jamiarj^Oth, 1940. BOY'S CINEMA the mouth-washer. Then he laid it on the side of tlie ring. " Unleash on him next round. Bob," he said sadly. "Give him all you've got." "I'll fix him," Bob answered. "I think I've got him where I want him now." "How do you feel j'ourself?" Gunner asked. " Grand !"^ Gumier walked away. He did not return to his seat, but went along to the dressing- rooms. He dared not watch the remainder of the fight. He had put knock-out drops in Bob's water, and couldn't face what was going to happen now. It was the only way of saving Jeff. Jeff was in a bad way. and unless something drastic was done, he would have to go to jail. As for Bob—well. Bob was only a youngster. The defeat would be a setback, it was true, but he could always get another fight. He had put up a mighty good show against Oleson so far, and there would be no difficulty in get- ting a return match after a month or so. He heard the bell clang, and the crowd began to shout. Gunner leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes. Poor Bob, he had counted so much on this fight. The crowd roared louder. Evidently things were happening. Gunner could imagine the scene. Bob would suddenly feel the effect of those knock-out drops, and would get careless. Oleson would paste him with that left of his, and Bob would get dizzier and dizzier. Then would come that left for a second time, and Bob would crash to the canvas and lay still. One—two—three— four ! The crowd roared enough to lift off the roof, and Gunner knew that the fight was over. He stood there, motionless, the tears streaming down his battered face. The door of the dressing-room opened, and some men came in. Gunner forced himself to look, and saw that they were carrying a stretcher. "Gosh!" he muttered. "Was it as bad as that?" The men put the stretcher down, and a doctor came hustling in. Then they began to take off the sheet. "Hey, what's happened?" Gunner shouted, his eyes open wide. On the stretcher was Mushy! " I guess the excitement was too much for him," someone answered. "He suddenly passed out." The doctor looked up, a puzzled frown on his face. "This is strange—very strange," he said. "The man is all right, and will recover in a few mirnites. But he looks just as though he's doped himself with something." Gunner tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come. The next moment Mushy was forgotten, both by the doctor and by everyone el.se. The door crashed back and Bob came in, followed by Jeff, Doris, and Joan. "Well, Gimner, I did it!" Bob shouted exuberantly, and grabbed Gunner by the hands. "The cleanest' knock-out you ever saw." Gunner stared at him dazedly. "You mean—you won?" he said. "Of course I won. Weren't you there to see?" Gunner shook his head. "No. I wasn't there," he answered. "I sort of couldn't stand the suspense, and came away." Bob patted him on the shoulder, and went acros.? to the others. "What's the matter with Mushy?" he asked. "He nnist have fainted or something. I don't wonder at it. That hall was pretty hot. Some- body ought to do something about the ventila- tion." (^.iinner went over to Jeff and took him on one side. "I'tn sorry, Jeff," he said. "I did my best, lint T guess things have gone wrong some- how." "(!one wrong?" Jeff said, bewildered. "I don't understand." "I put that thirty thousand on Oleson to win," Gnmier explained. "He was about the Every Tuesday safest bet. I knew, too, that I could fix Bob— or 1 thought 1 could. He wouldn't do any- thing diity like taking a dive deliberately, of course, but I reckoned some knock-out drops would fix him. Then iMushy must have gummed things up by taking those knock-out drops himself. Maybe Bob felt he didn't want any water, so Mushv took a swig at it while the round was being fought. Whatever hap- pened, that thirt.v thousand has gone down the drain." Jeft' nodded grimly. Then his face cleared. "You did what .you could, dad," he said in a low voice. " You were even ready to sacri- fice VOIR- fighter for me. Doris and 1 will never forget it." Gunner looked at him iniserably. "How are things between you two?" he asked. "How are things!" Jeff sounded very happ.y. in spite of the fate that he thought was hanging over his head. "Dad, it is because of you that we're closer together than we've ever been. When I come out. I'll get to in.y feet again somehow. Meanwhile she's going to keep a home waiting for me. We'll start up again together—not quite so lavishly, maybe, but that doesn't matter. Money isn't everything. I've learnt that at all events." Gunner gripped his hand sympathetically. He felt good over the way Jeff' was taking things. His mother would have been proud of him. Jeff' suddenly nudged his arm, and pointed. Bob was standing close to Joan, and he had his arm round her shoulders. The.y were talk- ing together in a low voice. "It seems like you've got another marriage on ,your hands,~dad," he said. Guniier grinned. "He's a good lad," he said. "I couldn't wish anything better for her." Suddenly the door slammed open, and the betting man came in. He saw Mushy lying on the table, and stared in amazement. "What's the matter with him?" he asked. "He's passed out," someone replied. "And he's taking his time about coming round." "He is. huh?" The betting man put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a handful of notes. " I know something that will bring him round fast enough." He bent down and shook Mushy. "Hey, wake up!" iMushy stirred and groaned, but did not open his eyes. "Try burning some paper under his beezer," someone suggested. "It soinetimes works." "I reckon this is the kind of paper that will do the most good," the betting man replied. "And it don't need no burning, either. Hev. Mushy!" he went on in a louder voice and shook Mushy hard. "Do you want sixty thousand bucks, or shall I give it to the Cats' Home?" Gunner started. Sixty thousand dollars! "What's the idea?" he asked. "Why the fortune?" The betting man turned and saw him. "You ought to know, seeing yoti was in part- nership with him." he answered. ' "Mushy backed Bob Hill thirty thousand at even to win. Hey, Mushy, here's some big dough for you." Mushy heard that time, and opened his e.yes. He sat bolt upright, saw the wad of notes, and grabbed. "Gimme!" he said, and look them. Then there was a crash, and everyone turned. Mushv blinked. "Well, for the love of Mike!" he cried. The crash was the Gunner hitting the floor. He had passed out, too. And it took a couple of buckets of water to bring him round ; A new Universal Picture, controlled through- out the United Kingdom and Eire by General Fllin Distributors. Ltd. Based on the film "Ex-Champ," which has the following cast: Victor McLaglen as Gunner Tom Brown as Bob Hill William Frawley as Mushy Nan Grey as Joan Grey Donald Briggs as Jeff Grey Constance Moore as Doris Thurston Hall as Mr. Courtney