The Darkened Ring

Take one man with a gnawing hunger for glory, but in here the thundering roar of a fight crowd in his ear. That's our story. The darkened ring, taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer.

Hello friends. This is John Steele. Every once in a while I reach way back in my files and pull out a story I want to hear. One of those off the beaten cracktails of haunting mood and smoldering action.

This is that kind of story. Now I first met Joe West when I was a sports writer for one of the big New York newspapers. He's quite a different guy now than he was the first time I saw it, but I'll let him tell you about it.

Joe, how'd he get mixed up in the fight racket? I don't know, something about it. Smoking a gym, the feel of a glove in your hand, the sweat, the blood, the roar of the crowd when you're going good and the humming in your head when you're hurt and down.

It ain't like nothing else in the world. world. Once you're in it, you can't get away. It's back a few years in New York at Fought of Prelimid St. Nick's against a big muscle bound, ate me almost for me. But in the sixth round I caught up with him and away hit the canvas and it was all over. After the fight

I dropped in at Harry's a bar over on second-hand. I just need a hotel on the night. I guess I needed a drink. Hello Joe. Hello Harry. What'll it be? Yep. How to go tonight?

Tough. Yeah, I know. Thanks. I caught the last two rounds on television just before the main event. Give me another. Sure. He gave you a hard time on the fifth. Yeah. Did he hurt you?