The morning call., 1892-07-17

on bringing him home. Although wholly
unable TO see any Obiect-eYen dmly-Jim
could family distinguish light from dark
ness. and took great pride and delight Ia
being able to see" as he called il, the tiny
flame of the candle while IL lasted
One evening, having seen Jim safe in his
room and lighted his candle for him, the
Rat had gone off on business of his own.
DE usually came home early n the evening
and repaired ostentatlOUslY TO bed, In his
loft, only to sally forth again when Jim had
gone TO rest in the den below. On this even
ing. however, having relieved a drunken
countryman of valise which he had Of
fered 10 carry for him from the pier to a
lodging house, he had crept to his den by
way Of the roofs. Softly as any cat he low
cred himself and his burden. and peeping
down into the room below saw Jim and Tony
at their game.
They were not a pleasant looking pair.
Jim was maager and squalid. with sandy
hair and sparse growth of reddish beard
His slghtless eyeoalls were white with the
cataract that had obscuTed their vision. and
as the tips of his long, dirty, claw-lke
fingers moved over the surfaces of the domi-
noes his under jaw kept up constant SYM
pathetic working back and forth and side
wise. Tony was short and heavy set. dark
skinned, low brOWed, black-bearded, brutal
with throat and jaw like a sulleB bull
dog, face to be feared anyw here, and
rendered no less orrboding of mischief by
the yacuOus look that so often cnaracterizes
the faces of the blind. He swaved to and
fro as he sat leaning over the board
nervous and restless, as the blind man
generally is, dirty, unkempt and re-
puisiye, fit opponent for the mounting
image opposite. They sat at a rough red
wood table, the candle at one side, a black
bottle at Jlm's elbowand-the Rat started as
he recognized ii, lying beside the Candida
dirty bdckskin cOin-bag. that Jim used as
purse. The Rat could hardly believe his
eyes as he looked. Like most blind men,
Jim was suspicious and cautious to o
degree. The Rat had never before known
him to let the purse 60 out of his
hands until it was safe in his pocket.
de must, indeed, have been absorbed
in his game to lay it down so care
lessly, even in his own room, with no one
about but his blind guest. Looking down
upon the scene, sudden thought struck
the Rat The table at which the men sat
was little to one side Of his scuttle and
several feet below it. Taking from
his pocket the line and fshhook
that be used In capturing galls.
stick that he kept in bis den and cautiously
lowered the hook into the room below. 1t
nearly swung into Tony's face as il de-
, scended, but by careful mana cement the
Rat finally guided it until the hook lay upon
the purse. A little gentle maueuverng in
situated 1t beneath the tiestring, and in an
other moment IL was lifted from the table
Not so deftly, however, but that inns quick
ear caught the faint clnk of the coin as the
purse was moved. Instantly his yellow
hand was extended TO where he knew the
purse should be lying, but by that time il
was swinging in midair, and in another in
slant had been nois lessly grasped by the
Rat. With a howl like that of an enraged
beast Jim sprang from the table and rushed
al his guest
Give up that money | say, We thieving
sneak" he roared, with a volley of oaths.
at the same time feeling for TOny's hands,
where he supposed the purse to be. Taken
by surprise Tony protested and denied, but
Jim's vlse-like grip closed upon his throat.
shutting off all denial, and he was forced to
grapple with him in self-defense. Over
upon tile floor rolled the two men, raining
almless blows at each other in their blind
ness. In their fall they struck the ladder
finging il TO the floor. "Will We give it up?"
snarled Jim. as lie CROPPED over bis antago-
Disrs person in vain endeavor to find his
property. For sole reply Tonv raised his
one free hand In air. The Rat caught
steely CLEAN for one instant ere, with veil
of pain, Jim loosed his clench upon his foe
and rolled away from him in time to avoid
another blow from the sharp knife
that had found its way into his shoulder.
In another instant lie was on his feet. in his
hand the knife which no true Barbary
Coaster is ever without, ready for another
attack on the enemy. The latter stood also,
| his features working in rage, one cropping
hand extended to feel for bis enemy, the
| other raised, holding high the long. pointed
| blade, already stained with blood eau
tiousiy, stumbling, feeling, cropping. making
| herce lunges In the direction where their
| Quick ears located the enemy, The two en-
| ragged blind men circied slowly about the
roum. Not word did either speak; only
| their hoarse breathing betrayed to each the
whereabouts Of his foe. Each was intent
| upon knitting the other " hiie himself escap-
| ing the murderous blade.
Striking out In blind fury Jim succeeded