12 Sports Aces, May 1943 — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

56 12 SPORTS ACES Tim McCarty faced Henly, said, “Tell that dirty so-and-so who makes you jump through a hoop that we’re ready for him. Things are going to bust wide open around here!’ CHAPTER V WAS an oddly assorted gathering in the spacious office of Colonel Hisen. Besides Matty, Spike and Tim, there were Battler Alders, Henly and a hulk- ing beetle-browed oldish man, Squidge Pavelec. He was manager of Spider Johnson. Oddly enough, Spider Johnson was not there. The last to enter the office were B. J. Benson and a tall scholarly appearing man who wore pince-nez glasses. He looked questieningly at the stiff gentleman behind the desk. “Colonel Eisen?” he queried. “I re- ceived your wire and I am here. However, I am constrained to wonder why I should be summarily summoned to—” “Ah, yes,” the Colonel said smoothly, “you are Dr. Rice, I assume. I believe you will learn why I invited you, doctor, as things progress. Have a chair and—” “For my part, Eisen, I should like more explanation than that.” It was the heavy voice of B. J. Benson that cut in. His eyes darted around the group and there was something apprehensive in their depths. The well-manicured fingers of a plump hand nervously fondled a watch chain stretched across a noticeable paunch, “T suppose you asked Dr. Rice and me in reference to Rourke, although why all these others are here is beyond me. I am a busy man; I can only give you a few moments.” “A few moments should suffice.” Col- onel Eisen’s tone was flat and there was distaste in the steady look he gave Ben- son. Eisen turned to Tim McCarty. “It’s your party,” the colonel said. Tim arose and started speaking in a slow drawl. He reviewed briefly the Mat- ty Rourke-Spider Johnson fight, kept his gaze on Henly. “J was a sports writer for years,” Tim said. “And the boys who write sports get around, I smelled something fishy after a remark Henly made and I enlisted the aid of pals still in the newspaper game. I learned that Spider Johnson does have a glass jaw, oddly on the right side only. Johnson did not go into the tank. He was under the impression Matty Rourke was doing a dive for him. He’d been instructed to carry Matty for ten rounds. “Heniy knew the setup, knew that in all probability Matty would knock John- gon out in fess than ten rounds. He knew that it was planned to circulate the story that Johnson took a dive in order te harm Matty Rourke.” “That’s a lie!” Promoter Henly jumped to his feet. “Why should I—” “Because Benson ordered it,” Tim said harshly. He suddenly turned on Squidge Pavelec. “You know the setup, Pavelec. Benson ordered it, didn’t he?” Squidge Pavelec looked quickly at Ben- son. The paunch-bellied big-shot had a queer frightened leok in his eyes. He said quickly: “Of course it’s not true! McCarty is & sorehead, trying to besmirch me because he’s got a crazy idea that he lost his job through me. I refuse to stay and listen to such drivel!” “Sit down!” Colonel Eisen’s voice car- ried the ring of drill-ground authority. “You'll stay and you’ll listen! Go on, Me- Carty.” Tim went on. He went back to Big Mat Rourke, told everything, He told how he’d been assigned to go with Battler Alders that day in Ruxford: He told how Alders had deliberately picked a fight and then lied about Matty. “So you’re the Nazi louse that hit me when I wasn’t lookin’! Battler Alders jumped up, leaped across the room. Matty Rourke was out of his chair. “[ beat your ears off ence,” Alders snarled. “I can’t wait for a chance to do it again!” : “There never will be a more propitious moment,” Matty said quietly. “You knew all along who I am and you know that you are a liar of the first water!” An electric silence gripped the room. It was broken by Colenel Eisen. He came from around the desk and a gleam was in the boxing commissioner’s eyes. comichbook (E(0)