Boy's Cinema (1933)

18 with a tin trumpet—all blow. Gee, you must have wanted to kick me.*' ".Sure I did," chuckled the trainer. "But you hadn't come against crooks before; you thought they were straight, an' what they told 5011 seemed to be truth, an' so you lapped it up like a cat does milk. When you go back you'll not only know all about wrestlin', but you'll know all about fouls and other ciook methods. It's gonna take me all the time trainin' you, an' all the cvenin' : telling you the various crook tricks of wrestlin'. Now be off for a swim, and mind you run back." A week later. Across the meadow comes Bucky, and this time he carries a young heifer across his shoulders. Without a word he releases the animal and gets down on his hands. For one minute he holds Leo on his stomach. The trainer jumped down. "I could feel those muscles giving." Leo stated. "But you're gettin' better. When you can stand mc there for all time you can think about beatin' Ivan Stanislaus." A month lias passed. The young man stagger^ across the field with a young bull across his r.houlders. A restive, heavy animal, but Bucky makes light of the weight. With the greatest of ease Leo stands balanced oiv .the young man's stomach. " Great stuff," approved the old boy. "Now let me show you a few of those holds." Six weeks of the secret training. Bucky can carry a cow across his shoulders. His muscles ripple under his skin. He demonstrates the various holds and he does a work-out. "Great!" Leo nodded. "All you've got to know now- is the foul holds an' the flyin' tackle." "The what?" "A football team has reserves," Leo winked. "This is a reserve tackle. When you come back they'll be lookin' out for that tackle, an' after a while they'll think you've cut it out. It may win yen the title. Up aloft_. son." "Oh. Hades!" Bucky scowled. "I ivondey I don't destroy you." But he laughed all the same, scaled a tree, crawled out on to a branch to two ropes with loops. He let himself down, put his feet through the loops and hung head downwards. "If folks could see me now!" cried Bucky. "You're gonna bless that position one day."'chuckled Leo. "When you can stick that* position half an hour you're trained to a second." "I wish I had something to while away the time." "Here's a letter from Joan." Leo produced it from his pocket. "Shall I open it ?" "Open it quick or I'll have cramp," shouted Bucky. "What's she say?" asked the trainer, twenty minutes later. "Give Leo my love and kisses. Swell chance." "She's a grand girl. You're a lucky fellow." "Lucky, hanging around like this. You going to keep me here all day?" "Two minutes more," was the answer. When Bucky was at last right way up. Leo took the muscular arm and pressed it. "There's little left to teach you," he opined. "I mustn't overtrain you. Another fortnight and we pack up, and April 22nd, 1933. BOY'S CINEMA b\ that time you should know all that's straight and all that's crooked in this game." "What do we do when we get back?" "That we've got to figure out." The trainer was thoughtful. "We've got to get a return match with Stanislaus, because the only way we can beat Hurley and his crooked mob is to win thai championship." "I'm sure I can do it." "So am I." Leo fingered his stubbly chin. "Once we got that title, we've got 'em licked, but we gotta figure out how to get a match with the champion. Ah, I've got it. Listen. Bucky. When we get to town, you go to Hurley's office and spin him this yarn. You're down on your luck and " Lee Blows the Whole Qame. JIM HURLEY was amused when his pretty typist announced that Bucky O'Neil wanted to see him. "I need a job, Mr. Hurley," an- nounced the youngster. "It's not easy getting work these days." "So you've tried the other towns, eh?" Hurley smiled. "Well, things are pretty tough here. I suppose you realise how you stand since that last match with Stanislaus ?" "Oh, I know I'm not much of a wrestler, but I feel that if the boys will work with me I could put on a show." Bucky spoke humbly. "Yes, it might be an idea." Hurley's box-office takings had fallen off again. " A come-back fight might pack the Stadium. I'm glad you realise that it is a question of give and take. You can't win all the time. I might let you have the first fall, and the champion win the next. How do you feel about it?' "Anything you say. Mr. Hurley." " Weli, I can alibi that defeat of yours and get you a return match with the champ, but vou understand you'll lose'" "Oh, that'd be great." " Well, I'll 6tart things moving right away." Hurley was brisk and business- like. "Get yourself in shape, and report at the gym in the morning." Hurley rubbed his hands when Bucky had gone and sent for the typist. " I want this notice sent to all papers: ' The world's famous exponent of the flying tackle. Dynamite Bucky O'Neil, will meet Champion Ivan Stanislaus for a return bout for a purse of twenty thousand dollars, winner take all. O'Neil lias just returned from a health resort, where he has been spending the summer recovering from a poison which ' " He paused to chuckle at his astuteness. "'Administered to him the night of the last match.' Get those typed out and bring them to me for an okay." Meanwhile Leo had gone to a speak- easy. All the while he had been in the hills he had concealed his craving for strong drink. On his return he tried to harden his heart, then decided that perhaps he might have one. That meanc several. Leo was in a maudlin condition when a man in the corner started to argue about wrestling. In the next partition bad luck had caused Nick to drop in for a meal. "You want to know who'll be next champion of tho world," hiccoughed the trainer. " I'll tell you." " No, who?" "Bucky O'Neil, that's who. Don't you laugh," cried Leo. "I've taught him evervthin' I know, and he's got lots of holds mugs never dreamed of. He's the Every Tuesday finest wrestler in the world to-day. He, he! Listen to this: Bucky's up in Hurley'6 office now, an", if he follows my instructions, Hurley'll fall like a ton of bricks for a re-match with Stanislaus, If Bucky ever gets the champion in the ring he'll toss him about like straw." Nick heard it all, and a fast car took him off to Hurley's office. Hurley greeted his right-hand man with glee. "Nick, I got a 6uipri*e for you." he cried. "Who do you think I've matched to wrestle the champ?" "Bucky O'Neil." The satisfied smirk -faded from Hurley's face. How had a sip lika Nick guessed his thoughts. "How did you know?" "So you fell for him?" "Fell for him!" Hurley's eyes Hashed, and he became excited in his anger. "You forget who you are. What jou mean by it?" "They're framing you." Nick laughed. "A frame-up by Leo an I Neil. Leo has been training Bucky and teaching him all he knews. Leo goi back and having been off the drink for weeks he had several and I overheard him boasting how clever they were." "So!" Hurley lay back in his chai'\ "And if Leo teach O'Neil all he know then O'Neil become a verra fine wrestler. " We know O'Neil was as strong as a horse," added Nick. "And how he can stand punishment. If he has learnt all Leo's holds he might beat the champ." "Nick you've done me good business." Hurley was smiling again. He rang for his typist. "I change my plans." When the typist appeared she nad the press notices. "I have changed my mind about that match with O'Neil. Please substititute the Masked Marvel to wrestle the Champ." Dickie Qives Bucky a Bright Idea. THE night of the fight between ttw Champion and the Masked Marvel. Joan's rooms, and it is a dismal scene. "Buck, I'll never forgive myself for tho dirty trick I played you," Leo win almost in tears. " I'd like to drown myself." "Aw, forget it Leo." Bucky shrugged his massive shoulders. "I made a bi:j blunder when I thought I was a wrestler. We ain't all of us perfect. Forget it." "If it hadn't been for hie, you'd b<> at that match to-night," went on tho trainer. "Giving the champion hell. I don't know how I'm ever gonna square myself with you." "I'll have to go back Buck managed to smile, through somehow." "I'm sorry, dear," whispered Joan. " It is bad luck." The door opened and a small figure in pyjamas appeared. "I just come to say good-night." "Here's my little man." Bucky gathered Dickie up in his arms. "Ho./ you feeling, son?" "I'd feel much better if you were in there wrestling the champ to-night." Dickie was sorrowful. "Sure! Sure! Why " Bucky put down the boy, and there was a queer expression on his face. "What's the matter, Bucky?" anxi- ously asked Joan. "Are you sick?" asked Leo. "The kid's given me an idea, spoke the youngster. 'Don't to football," "We'll pull word for a moment while I out " slowly say a jure this