The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-08-24

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load of walnuts, and beside the barrow
a bedraggl woman with black
fringe and a chequered shawl thrown
over her head. She was cracking wal
nuts and picking them out of the shells,
throwing out a remark occasionally to
a rough man in a rabbit-skin cap, with
straps under the knees of his corduroy
trousers, who stood putting black clay
pipe with his back against the wall.
What the cause of the quarrel was, or
what sharp sarcasm from the woman's
lips pricked suddenly through that thick
skin may never be known, but suddenly
the man took his pipe in his left hand,
leaned forward, and deliberately struck
her across the face with his right 1t
was slap rather than a blow, but the
woman gave sharp cry and covered
up against the barrow with her hand
to her cheek.
You Internal villain!' cried the Ad-
miral. raising his stick. ''You brute and
blackguardp
"Garnr growIed the rough, with the
deep, rasping intonation of a savage.
''Garn out O. this or I'll" He took a
step forward with uplifted hand, but IN
an instant down came cut number three
upon his wrist, and cut number five
across his thigh, and cut number one
full in the center of his rabbit-skin cap.
It was not heavy stick, but it was
strong enough to leave a good red veal
wherever it fell. The rough yelled with
pain, and rushed in, hitting with botn
hands, and kicking with his lron-shod
boots, but the Admiral had still quick
foot and true eye, SO that he bounded
backwards and sideways, still raining
shower of blows upon his savage an
tagonist Suddenly, however, a 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. I've got
hin!' she shrieked. "I'll old i'm Now
Bill, knock the tripe out of him!' Her
grip was as strong as mans, and her
wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the
AdmiraIs throat. He made 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 it proved, 1t
was the very best thing that he could
have DONE The rough, half-bllnded
and maddened by the blows which ne
had received, struck out with all his un-
calmly strength just as his partners
head swung around in front of him.
There was noise like that of stone
hitting a wall, deep groan, her grasp
relaxed, and she dropped a dead weight
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.
81 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 it hot this time"
''He was shortish man, thick, with
a beard
"Ah, that's Black Davie. He's been
up four times for beating her. He's
about done the job now. If l were you
I would let that sort settle their own
little affairs, sir"
do you think that a 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, see.'
''My watchr' 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.
81 would not have lost that watch for
anything" said he. mo money could
replace it. IT was given me by the
ships company after our African
cruise. It has an inscription"
The policeman shrugged his shoulders.
'It comes from meddling," said he.
"What'l1 you give me if 1 tell yer
where it is?" said a sharp-faced boy
among the crowd. "Will you gimme
quid?"
Certainly"
.Well, where's the quid?"
The Admiral took a sovereign from
his pocket "Here it isl
'sThen 'ere's the ticlxer!' The boy
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 Adj
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
tingling with the excitement of the COM