12 Sports Aces, May 1943 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

~~ 52 12 SPORTS ACES © 8.0 Geneon re ere nO Ot De O ebro Be Be Bet Ones er Perro Bee Ge 8s Oar Oro e Dents Pen Perr Oe Pee Ber er BerGro Besos Poo he + Pender ele Deri Ote Been Pea Per Dee ers Dre Perhe o 6 “You men should know the ruies,” the ref growled. “I want a good clean fight, but plenty of action. I’m warning you to keep it clean. These fans don’t go for dirt. Shake hands and come out fighting at the gong.” Rocky Stone threw another jibe at Matty as they touched gloves. “Big Mat Rourke’s brat, huh! Well, you ain’t out in no alley where your pal can sap a man from behind like your old man did!” For just a second’s fraction hot rage seethed inside Matty. He’d show the so- and-so. He’d drive that taunt back behind Stone’s. teeth! He’d— “Steady does it, lad.” It was Spike Babb taking the robe from his shoulders. “T heard that crack and I know it hurts. But stay smart, lad. It’s blood and leather that counts in a fight, not words. Rocky Stone is ringwise, tough and tricky. Watch ’im every minute. Box ’im till you get onto his style.” Matty was abruptly cool and calm. So that was the line they were going to fol- low, was it? He flexed his muscles, seuffed his shoes in the rosin. An odd flutteriness was in the pit of his stomach yet inside he strained against an eager- ness. HE clang of the bell drove the jit- tery feeling from Matty Rourke. He raised his gloved fists and danced lightly from his corner. There was 2o-ordina- tion and grace about his movements that were beautiful. In the center of the ring, he circled cagily, remembered Babb’s ad- vice to box Stone until he saw something of his style, Rocky Stone didn’t figure things that way. He had a job to do and there was no use wasting time. He tramped stolidly forward, waded straight at Matty. A stinging left jab bounced off Stone’s whiskers and he didn’t even blink. Matty stuck the left into the scowling face again. Stone’s head bobbed and Matty’s fist slid harmlessly off that round bullet head, then Rocky Stone was charging, pouring leather, shooting for a quick kill. : Matty Rourke learned then what Spike Babb meant when he said there were some things a man could only learn in the ring. Stone threw a looping right and Mat- ty stepped inside it, blocked a hard left, but he was carried against the ropes. He tried to clinch and Stone’s elbow cracked across the bridge of his nose. Stone’s shoulder rammed under his chin; he shoved Matty back and put all he had into a sock to the breadbasket as he jerked free. Matty Rourke was hurt. Water filmed _. his eyes from that elbow foul and his belly felt like a trip-hammer had ex- ploded against it. Rocky Stone stepped back to measure Matty for the finish. But Matty had the instinct of a born fighter. He saw the opening when Stone jerked free and took it. He weaved, sidestepped, dodged away from the ropes. The haymaker right Stone brought up from the basement was wild, missed a foot, Rocky Stone snarled a curse. “Stand still and fight, you lily-fingered bum!” He charged in, belting with both fists, This time Matty didn’t give ground. He met Stone’s rush in midring with a stiff ieft. They stood in the center of the ring and slugged. The crowd was suddenly on its feet, a roar of wild approving shouts filled the little club. This was what they laid their dough on the line to see. This new guy was all right! Matty Rourke was in the midst of a storm of leather yet inside him something sang fiercely. He liked this, it was in his blood. He handed back just a litttle more leather than Stone dished out. It was Rocky Stone who broke from that mael- strom of battering fists. Stone snorted blood from his nose, swiped a glove across his mouth and bulled in again. Matty dropped back a step, jerked his jaw away from a vicious left hook. It looked like the blow landed squarely, but he rolled with it, teok away most of the force. Rocky Stone thought he had him. He rocked back on his heels and cocked a right that was broadcast like it was put on the air by Clem Mc- Carthy. z Matty Rourke didn’t miss the opening, comichbook (E(0)