Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-11-14

Il was not a heavy stick, but II was
strong enough to leave good red veal
wherever 1t fell. The rough yelled with
pain, and rushed in, hitting with both
hands, and kicking with his ir07saOd
boots, but the Admiral had still e quick
foot and true eye, so that he bounded
backwards and sideways, still raining
shower Of blows upon his savage an
tagonist Suddenly, however, pair OF
arms closed around his neck, and glanc-
ing backwards he caught glimpse OF
the black coarse fringe Of the woman
whom he had befriended. "rve gos
him" she shrieked. "Tn old i'm. Now,
Bill, knock the tripe out Of him!" Her
grip was as strong as a mans, and her
wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the
AdmiraPs throat. He made a desper-
ate effort to disengage himself, but the
most that he could do was to swing her
round, so as to place her between his
adversary and himself AS 1t proved, 1t
was the very best thing that he could
have done. The rough, half-blinded
and maddened by the blows which he
had received, struck out with all his un-
calmly strength, just as his partners
head swung around In front of him.
There was a noise like that of stone
hitting a wall, a deep groan, her grasp
relaxed, and she dropped a dead weignt
upon the pavement, while the Admiral
sprang back and raised his stick once
more, ready either for attack or de-
Tense. Neither were needed, however,
for at that moment there was scatter
ing Of the crowd, and two police con-
stables, burly and helmeted, pushed
their way through the rabble. At the
sight Of them the rough took to his
heels, and was instantly screened from
view by veil of his friends and neigh
bors.
IT have been assaulted" painted the
Admiral "This woman was attacked
and I had to defend her"
"This is Bermondsey SAL" said one
police officer, bending over the berag-
gled heap of tattered shawl and dirty
skirt. "She's got 1t hot this time"
HE was a shortish man, thick, with
a beard"
"Ah, that's Black Davie. He's been
up four times for beating her. Hes
about done the job now. If were you
would let that sort settle their own
little affairs, SIR"
do you think that man who holds
the Queens commission will stand by
and see a woman struck" cried the Ad-
miral Indignantly.
"Well, just as you like, sir. But
you've lost your watch, I see."
my watchw He clapped his hand to
his waistcoat The chain was hanging
down in front, and the watch gone.
He passed his hand over his forehead.
IT would not have lost that watch for
anything" said he. mo money could
! replace it. 1t was given me by the
ships company after our African
cruise. 1t has an inscription"
The policeman shrugged his shoulders.
at comes from meddling," said he.
"Whatll you give me If I tell yer
where it is?" said a sharp-faced boy
among the crowd. viii you gimme
quid?"
Certainly"
well, where's the quid?"
The Admiral took a sovereign from
his pocket. Here it is"
'Inen ere Ine IlCheT! Inc IVY
pointed to the clenched hand Of the
senseless woman. A glimmer of gold
shone out from between the fingers, and
on opening them up, there was the Ad-
/ miraps chronometer. This interesting
victim had throttled her protector with
! one hand. while she robbed him with the
other.
The Admiral left his address with the
policeman, satisfied that the woman
was only stunned, not dead, and then
! set off upon his way once more, the
poorer perhaps in his faith in human
nature, but in very good spirits none the
! less. He walked with dilated nostrils
and clenched hands, all glowing and
tlngling with the excitement of the COM
bat, and warmed with the thought that
he could still, when there was need,
take his own part in street brawl In
spite of his three-score and odd years.
(To BE CONTINUED