10 Short Novels Magazine — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

mind was fully tenanted with forebod- ings. Fletch moved swiftly. He was perspir- ing. But the hectic spots on his cheeks and the rash on his chest weren’t from exertion. “T’ll fight ’im!” he muttered over and over. “If his name was Joe Louis, I’d fight ’im! Hook ’im and cross ’im, one, two, bam, bam!” He looked at Trina, and the terror in her eyes conjured up ugly memories of glove-shock and hunger. His nerves grew fangs that gnawed into his stomach. Fletch’s antics amused.the fans, but before Gahagan appeared, many of the customers threatened to storm the box office for a refund. Gahagan finally showed up, a strutting chunk of arro- gance. A towel over his thick shoulders and wearing his faded, age-worn trunks, he bounced into the ring and smirked at the booing crowd. “Sorry to keep you waitin’, whacky,” he greeted Fletch. The kid started toward Gahagan, fists raised. He couldn’t help it. He was almost blind with anger. His foe’s hands were naked. That meant at least five minutes for bandaging. Pop turned Fletch around. “Forget it, son. This is just another fight. Remember that.” Fletch chewed at his lip and fought for control. But the.more he struggled to ease up the nervous tension, the fur- ther he got on the losing side. When the referee called him out for instructions, Fleteh was quivering like a man with a chill. Yet it felt as though each nerve fiber in his stomach was a burning taper cooking the raw flesh. “T wanta get these here rules straight,” said Gahagan in a raspy voice. “I don’t figure to lose a round on a foul. Referee, is it fair to hit Brandell here? Like this. See?” Gahagan’s square-rigged right shot out. It grazed Fletch at the waist line and curved upwards, jarring the solar plexus. The blow didn’t have much power. It didn’t need much power. Not with a bundle of nerves ready to rebel at the slightest punishment. Fletch uttered a frenzied shout. Madly he fought te ward off disaster. But his legs failed him, and he doubled up. Fletch was down. The fight hadn’t begun, and he was out, face in the resin and kissing the canvas. Please mention Ace FICTION Group when answering advertisementa The Dressing-Room Champ owe 1 39 Arrest Him, Officer! PLL HAVE COMPLETE FACTS ON pe ES; ECRET Service Operator No. 38 is on the job... follow him through all the excitement of his chase after the counter- it gang. See how a crafty operator works. Tell-tale finger prints in the murdered girl’s room that help him solve the t mystery! BETTER than fiction because every word is TRUE. No obligation. Just mail me the coupon and get— FREE nov 50 made to His chiet No. 38 Made to His Chief And the best part of it all is this—it open your eyes to the great opportunity for YOU asa well paid Pinger Print Expert, Thisisa , fast-growing profession. The kind of work you would hike. Excitement! Travel! A regular monthly salary. Reward money. And remember: graduates of this school HEAD 47% of Identification Bureaus in the U. S. Quick! Mail the Coupon NOW and I’ll send you these nfidential Reports! Free Co INSTITUTE OF APPLIED SCIENCE 1920 Sunnyside Ave., Dept. 7466, Chicago, Illinois g Ore Sere s Sete sees ae eee ees Institute of Applied Science 1920 Sunnyside Ave., Dept. 7466, Chicage, IWinois Gentlemen:—Without any obligation whatsoever, send me the Reperts of Operator No. 38, also your illustrated Free Book on Finger Prints and your low priees and Easy Terms Offer. Literature will be only to persons stating their age. Name *enerre ereeenrerwreer ener werner eeee eee Oeeeneeeetae Address 7 eww eee eC ew ewe reaen eee ee eee ete weet een eee eee ee ee ee ee ee ee) Age eereeeevene (oe ne ee ee ee 2 a ee Le ee 8 eee oe ee ee ee Seer eT LLL LLL Lae Gomichbooksrco