The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-09-03

pain. ana rushed In hitting with both
nands. ana kicking With his iron-shod
boots. but the Admiral had still quick
FOOT ana true eye. % that he bounded
backwards and sidAways, still raining q
shower Of blows upon his savage an.
tagonist. Suddenly. however, q pair Of
arms closed around his neck, and slanc.
Ing backwards he caught q glimpse Of
the black coarse fringe Of the woman
whom he had hefrlended. 1--WE rot
him" she shrieked. ''Tll odd Inn. Now,
Bill. knock the trips out Of himv Her
grip was a. strong asa mans. and her
wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the
Admirafs throat. He made q desper.
ate effort to disengage himself. but the
most that he could do was to swing her
round. 30 as to place her between his
adversary and himself. Az It proved. II
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 ~ his partner'a
head swung around In front OF him.
There was q noise like that Of . stone
hitting wall, deep groan. her grasp
relaxed. and she dropped 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 hia
heels. and was instantly screened from
view by q veil Of his friends and neigh.
bors.
II have been assaulted" painted the
Admiral. "This woman was attacked
and had to defend her"
'This IL 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
q beard"
"Ah. that's Black ,Davie. He's been
up four times for beating her. Hes
about done the Job now. If were you
I 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 woman struck?" cried the Ad.
miral Indignantly.
well. Just ~ you like. Sir. But
you've lost your watch, see."
my watch!" 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.
cit comes from meddling." said he.
'What'll you give me IL tell yer
where It is?" said sharp-faced boy
among the crowd. "Will you gimme a
quid?"
Certainly"
"well. where's the quid?"
The Admiral took sovereign from
his pocket. Here Il is"
''Then 'ere's the ticker!' The boy
senseless woman. A glimmer Of gold
on opening them up, there was the Ad-
victim had throttled her protector with
one hand, while she robbed him with the
other.
policeman, satisfied that the woman
was only stunned, not dead, and then
set of upon his way once more. the
poorer perhaps in his faith I'm human
nature, but In very good spirits none the
less. He walked with dfrated nostrils
and clenched hands, all glowing and
tingling 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 q street brawl in
spite Of his three-score and odd years.