12 Sports Aces, January 1943 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

THE RED-LIGHT EXPRESS Sweeney took a deep breath. What had _ eaused Connie Leonard to buy the Raiders he couldn’t figure out. But she had and it meant a new lease on life to Rock Gurn- sey. The team had been snatched away from Angel and Bo Madden just as they were about to unload their trump card, The next morning, Sweeney dropped in on Rock at his office. He expected to find the old vet beaming and happy at the sud- den twist of good fortune. But Rock did not appear overly elated. “T told them Id aeeept the first offer I got,” Rock said. “Connie Leonard was waiting for me when I got back to my office. A half hour later Bo Madden called me. He was too late. I had already agreed to sell to Miss Leonard.” “You’re in the elear now,” Sweeney said. “Maybe the team can find its legs and get going.” “T’m not so sure about that,” Rock said dubiously. “I don’t know how Angel is going to take this. He’s bigger than the team. He can do most anything he wants and get away with it.” | Sam Jenkins looked up from a sheaf of papers on his desk. “This is a great break for all of us, Sweeney,” he said. “You certainly put it across.” “Put what across?” Jenkins laughed. “Don’t be modest, boy. We’re all aware that Miss Leonard wouldn’t have bought the team if it had- n’t been for you. I could make myself more clear by saying that she has a spe- cial interest in you. Keep up the good work, Sweeney.” . “That’s a good gag, Jenkins,” Sweeney said, “but not so funy. I’m a hockey player, not a gal chaser. Don’t get any silly ideas in your head.” Sweeney was confused. Jenkins’ atti- tude toward him had become quite sugar- eoated. The man had actually shown gen- wine gladness that Rock still bossed the Raiders. Sweeney had tabbed Jenkins as one of the paws that was elawing at Rock’s throat. Now Sweeney wasn’t so eertain. Yet Sweeney sniffed something behind Jenkins’ words concerning him and Connie Leonard. 18 CHAPTER Hl HAT night Sweeney came through the dasher door and the theusands stood up in their seats and let out a burst of noise. They all wanted to get a look- see at the rookie who was defying the jinx that surrounded Angel Toland’s wing-mates. It was a big erowd, the big- gest of the season. They had turned out partly because they were curious about how Sweeney would fare against the jinx and partly because of the publicity that had attended Connie Leonard’s purchase of the team. Shrouded behind that picture was the game itself. It was a game that definitely could make or break the Raiders. Only a winning performance could bring the mob back again besides lifting the Raiders out of their doldrums. Sweeney was cool and collected as he fired his warm-up shots at Ping Rucker, the goalkeeper. He glaneed at Angel Tol- and and the jinxman had a sulking grin on his lips. Happy -Holtiday skated up alongside of Sweeney. “Looka the mob,” Happy said, awed, “Everybody in town is here. When the club was broke and gonna tose its fran-. chise nobody came around. Now that we are millionaires, the joint is laced tight. . < eet wea Yeah, and take a gander at what’s sit-— ting up front in back of the bench. Gimme a gal like that and—five million. Boy, is she giving you the eye!” Sweeney burned but said nothing. He figured it better to let the wisecracks fly over his ear. He took a few pot shots at the net and looked up to see Rock giving him the finger from the bench. Sweeney, went over to him. “The new owner insists on talking to you,” Rock said, an edge to his voice. “Go see what she wants.” Sweeney grudgingly clumped to the rink-side seat that Connie Leonard and her party occupied. Connie’s smile belied the frozen gimt in her eyes. “I hope you do well, Mister Swee- ney,” she said, emphasizing the “mis- ter.” “I’ve told everyone what a wonderful hockey player you are. Don’t let me down” CORDIC OOO S (E@)