European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 11, 1947, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A Story by Richard Labarbara illustration by Ray Irwin the Breeze that came in the window had a Little of Central Park in it and it was gentle in the Way the wind can be when it is Early morning in Manhattan and you Are lying in a bed fourteen floors above the Smiley moved his toes under the Sheet and cupped his head in his his elbows Bent Back against the he was going to fight that night and he Lay there looking at the ceiling and the saggy owned character who came out of the bathroom took the soapy Toothbrush out of his Mouth and you can get up if you want Smiley didst what time is it he coin1 on Quarter to whats the matter you feel Concha the Little Guy went Back into the bathroom and spit out the lather and scrubbed his Teeth a Shataya wanta worry Smiley we got a Good Smiley turned on his Side and looked out the the Sun was Pale and there was a thin Haze Over the he thought a minute about the this was going to be his first outdoor he swung his legs to the i know what youre said the Little so what if i am i Tell that dont do no think about the we got a sellout we got a Tom picked up a newspaper and tossed it at it Lay on the floor open to the sports they got your picture in there bigger than the you ought like skip ill take care of the he got up and began to that what i youre i can see the Champ Deco ratin the Canvas skip Smiley said he pushed the tails of his shirt into his trousers and deliberated Over an array of ties that Hung Over the he had trouble tying the Bow and join came Over to help a think Shell like a better if a look like Frankie shut said i told a that Little French Dame  do a no i told a that in Smiley let his hands fall to his Side with a tired one crack about her its about time a wised a aint had Margot off your for a a gotta forget her a cant be Moshin about that babe the hell with in Smiley went Over and picked up a strip of Bacon from the tray a waiter had trundled into the just he Margot none of your youre my Tom and he broke a piece of Toast so the sound rasped across his you think i aint got an investment you was nothing i know what i i should left you in that i Yda been a charter Mem Ber of the fifty two Twenty with a stiff leg on top of it id have been better Oft at least id have a Smiley wiped his Chin and moved Over to the dont be a a think a lost her just because Flannery is a Good Lookin or because she likes sports writers better fighters dont be a lost her the Day a got her off the All she wanted was a free trip to the you was just a Way of her Gettin past Ellis Smiley reached out and grabbed the Little Guys shirt front but relaxed and dropped his hands to his sides what Jimmy Flannery wrote a was Tom began a can hit but a aint got no heart for the Alii a want is the a want the Manoola Thall buy her All the things she think a can get her Back again like it was in Paris dont be a she mar ried you so she could get Over Here and play the Shes after the big dough shut said he went Over to the window lets get out of he the Little Guy followed so youre quitting wont let yourself get mad Over that i thought you was a youre a that All you Smiley put on a i said lets lets get it Over he threw a coat at Tom and Guy caught it in a i give he he put the coat on and up his tie under his sagging a could made a million we both could made a forget said youll get your million come he put disarm on Toms shoulder and lets get it Over he they walked out to the ele i gators and the elevator girl grinned when she opened the ill be rooting for she Smiley said thanks quietly and they floors in they got out in the basement and Tom got in behind the wheel of the yellow roadster that had painted on the the Little Guy steered the yellow car into the Sunshine and Smiley some times i think youre scared we wont win tonight you sound like the a know who were fighting let me said just the that that a laugh jus the Guy who can Fry put his up to keep his Bow tie from flying in the they turned into fifty fourth Street quit ill give you youre championship a they got out of the car in front of still mans on the Platter will be said he opened the door and they went Lou came Over to them but before he could say Smiley turned in going to use the he whats the matter said he trying to hide Tom spat in the Hes about Margot always trying to get her on the dont let it get Lou the kids in great when Smiley came Back he walked toward the partitioned room which housed the the Little Vguy caught up with what did i Tell he she want was she Smiley didst they went inside the Little room and when they came out the fighter was tying his tie Lou just under ninety he you both better get some he been an even two grunted Hes got that tramp on his a Man came up to them and it was he wore a Magenta handkerchief in his breast pocket Smiley he in going to give you my anything you dont want me to say just Tell pm we aint got no said were in love with the wrong what Are you talking about said Margot out in my she came up Here to Tell you said Smiley and he started to walk just a said you want me to write this i dont read your Smiley write what you Damn Flannery walk Dover to where Smiley had take you dont under stand she and i the big fighter turned White and keep it to ill hear this from Margot he turned and started toward the Tom caught up to Hon and reached for his stay away from he dont be a a got a fight to think about Smiley moved on Down the stairs and some kids who had spotted the cars outside started running up the there was a lot of flatten in for one of them said Smiley and went Down the stairs to the the Little Guy was right behind she dont wanta talk to he in tellin a to stay away from dont try to Stop said and pushed through the trying to reach the curb where Flannery car was Tom ran around in front of Smiley Shes a Little i Tell Shes nothing but a Smiley started to swing even be fore he turned but by the time he brought his fist around was lying on the sidewalk and Flannery standing Over him rubbing the Knuckles that had tracked Toms dont Ever say that said in the background Smiley could see Margot getting out of Flannery what and she sounded More French than usual Tom Smiley do that Flannery put his Arm around the girl and Smiley Felt his Palms he reached for the Little Guys get he lets get out of Tom was on his feet you Gonna let that Guy get away with he youll never be nothing but a Flannery stood there make that he youre both Smiley turned get in the he said to the motor of smileys car churned up an extra noise m fourth Street and they drove when they were Back in the hotel Smiley Lay Down on the bed and kicked his shoes in a few minutes he was when Tom woke him it was dark in the Smiley is it time and Tom told him he got up and at the stadium the photographers came around and All the reporters were Smiley n sat moodily on the table in the dressing room with his wrapped in fresh lying Loose on his Tom paced Back and Forth in front of the up at Smiley every so often As if he had just remembered Smiley was he you gotta get that no Good French Dame outa your head Smiley boiled inside but he kept his hands Down and he smiled when they took his he was mad and he was mad at himself for not being Able to get Margot off his mind but he  Stop feeling the Way he did about maybe it would be different when he was maybe he would forget finally they came around and said it was the main bout they put the Towel around his neck and they helped him get into the he looked Down into the for there want anybody out there except two so he watched Flannery was there All right and he could see him talking to one of the boys at the Smiley watched the columnist move through the ringside chairs and sit Down next to Margot he watched the Way Margot laced her fingers around Flannery he saw that she was still wearing the brooch had Given her Way Back in he tried to turn his eyes away and then somebody pushed him into the he Felt the sting of a Glove and then he forgot everything but the fight he got in two solid punches and then he began backing he heard the crowd shrieking the Cham pions he began get then the Champ came in and dropped he stayed Down until he the referee count when he was up again he was careful he got the Champ to come in after and he ducked under a Cross and pegged inward righthand the Champ backed away and Smiley caught him with a left he heard yells coming up again from the crowd As his left hand found the Champ he watched the referee count the Bell he sat in his Corner and let them work on he chewed at his mouthpiece and didst take it out he got up and went toward the other he going to Kayo the knew that it was just a matter of not letting himself think about Margot and that Guy he poised and waiting for his Chance to land the punch that would kill the the Gong sounded and he went Back to where Tom was waiting for not listening to what the Little Guy was he was going to win this fight his own and he want going to look Down again at Margot in the fourth round he bounced the champs head Back with a straight the crowd roared but the Champ stayed on his Smiley followed him not the crowd scream for he wanted to do it coldly and to reduce the Champ to a floundering Shadow and then to quickly put him for nine rounds he punched and pawed at the Man who should by this time have been his he kept chopping with his left he absorbed everything the Champion it was All he All he had to do was throw that final he waited for his Chance and then he it was perfect his Glove connected and he Felt the Champion he stepped Back to wait the end of the count but something happened and the other Man didst go Smiley was caught off he tried to protect but a big fist caught him on the j and he went continued on Page 23 6