The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-09-09

houses, n baSked IN the autumn SUN
At one side was a barrowman win a
load OF walnuts. and beside the barrow
a bedraggled woman with a biack
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 10
a rough mar in a rabbit-skin cap WITH
straps under the knees of his corduroy
A., trousers. who stood putting a black clay
pipe with his pack against the wall.
What the cause of the quarrel was, or
what sharp sarcasm from the woman's
lips pricked suddenly through that timex
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 a slap rather than a blow. but the
woman gave a sharp cry and covered
up against the barrow with her hand
to her cheek.
You Internal villain cried the Adj
miral. raising his stick. You brute and
blackguard!'
"Garnr growled the rough, with the
deep. rasping intonation of a savage.
earn out o. this or PHI He o 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.
II was not a heavy stick, but Ii was
strong enough TO leave a good red veal
! wherever it fell. The rough yelled with
pain. and rushed in, hitting with both
hands, kicking with his iron-shod
boots. IA the Admiral had still a quick
foot n a true eye, so that he bounded
backwards and sideways, still raining a
shower OF blows upon his savage an
~tagonist. Suddenly. however, a pair or
arms closed around his neck, and glanc-
ing backwards he caught a glimpse or
the black coarse fringe of the woman
whom he had befriended. I've got
him. she shrieked. I'll old i'm. Now,
Bill. knock the tripe out of him. Her
grip was as strong as a mans, her
wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the
Admiral's 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 it proved, IL
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 I'M
calmly strength, just as his partners
head swung round in front OF him.
There was a noise like that Of a stone
hitting a wall, a 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 a 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 a veil of his friends mo neigh
bors.
Il have been assaulted" painted the
Admiral. This woman was attacked
and / had to defend her"
This is B~ermondsey 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 a 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 were you
1 would let that sort settle their own
little affairs. sir"
"Do o think hat a man who holds
the Queens commission will stand by
and see a struck cried the Ad-
miral Indignantly.
well. just as 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.
II would not have lost hat watch for
anything said he. mo money could
replace it. 1t was given me by the
ships company after u African
cruise. 1t has an inscription
The policeman shrugged his shoulders.
1T comes from meddling," said he.
"What'll you give me II / tell yer
where it is?' said a sharp-faced boy
among the crowd "Wlll o gimme a
quid?"
Certainly"
We'll. where's the quid?"
The Admiral ook a sovereign from
his pocket. Here Ii is"
Then 'ere's the ticker" The boy
pointed to the clenched hand OF the
senseless woman. A glimmer Of gold
shone out from between the fingers. n
on opening them up. there was the Ad-
miral's 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 non the
less. He walke with dilated n~ostrils
and clenched hands, all glowing and
tingling with the excitement Of the COM
bat, and warmed with the thought that