Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

The West Point Romeos They were used to giving knockouts until they met the girl— and she knocked them both out | break! Whatcha tryin’ to do, kill each other? Remember, this is only fer fun. Save some of that pep till the reg’lar boxin’ season starts.” Jim Duffy, the hard boiled coach of the United States Military Academy boxing squad, wagged his lantern jaw in vain. On a square of canvas sur- rounded by the usual rope fence, two cadets continued to hammer at each other. The battle was taking place in the huge, barren boxing room of the mas- sive West Point gymnasium. Around the ring, watching the fight, was a group of husky young men with bare arms and shoulders. Upon these was West Point going to pin her faith in the outcome of the approaching season of intercollegiate boxing. | The fight was getting rough. Jim Duffy clambered. through the ropes He would put an end to this bout. B REAK, you two young hyenas, He approached the punch swapping members of his squad. “When I tell yez to stop, I want yez to stop! Now break, ye devils.” His words fell on unheeding ears, A neat glove skimmed his nose. He was shoved against the ropes. That was enough for Jim Duffy. He climbed through the ropes again, and joined the spectators. There was a love light in his eyes. ‘“ Ain’t it grand?” he breathed to his squad. “ An’ they tell me that them two fellas be roommates, too! Ah, I was just like them meself in me young- er days. Wouldn’t stop fer hell nor high water.” Jim Duffy was right. The two in the ring were roommates. West Point called them “ battling Damon and Pythias.”’ No other two roommates in the Academy had as many fights as did these two. “Yet, none were as close in their friendship as they were; Jack Delany, tall, raw- 259 Gomichbooks COLA =