Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-08

CHAPTER L.
"Ho no, John Toppw said the boys
"You daren't tackle him, that's what
it is. The stranger can thrash you
and you know it."
Now, knew nothing of the sort, and
in fact. rather fancied that l could
thrash Alexander Ireland as easily as
had every other boy in Whitby, but
the others were jealous of my prowess
and therefore egged me on to tackle
the stranger In the hope that he might
prove too smart for me. For thus their
broken noses and lost teeth would be
avenged
| was at that time a bull necked,
squarely built young lout of 10, and
Alec was red haired, slender and wiry,
and about six months my senior.
was the best fighter in Whitby-even
Dan Asquith. the squint eyed butchers
boy, said so-aDd | had reputation to
lose; Alec was newcomer to the town
and had none.
Come on, carotty head"' | cried,
stung al last into action by the jeers
which | affected to despise. They tell
me you are good fighter: let us see
which of us two is to be cock"
But the stranger kept his hands in
his pockets.
why should fght? he asked
gravely. II haven't quarreled with
you
"AfraidT said | contemptuously
Right! Say | can beat you. and you
shan't have your lhrashing."
NO" he replied steadily. IL am not
afraid of you. but don't choose to
fight for nothing"
That's all brag." | said. as | edged
up to him. you've either got to fight
or acknowledge you're afraid" and
gave him shove with my shoulder.
"All right then: I'll tight
And without more words we stripped
and set TO
For an hour and n half by the church
clock the fight went on, each of us dog
gedly determined to come up TO the
would support him.
AT last the end came. and II was Ire
land who eventually struck the knock
out blow. How many rounds we fought
| do not know. but at last | felt that
unless | could finish him off quickly
| should not be able to toe the mark
the next time the umpire called time
So, summoning up all Of my failing
energies for one last slashing blow
that would make me the victor and
him lnsensible, rushed at him like
mad cart horse. He did not finch. but
stood his ground waiting for me.
Dodging my blow. he seized my left
hand with his right. ducked his head
under my arm. whipped his other hand
between my legs and before any one
mad ae.---~actlg- what had happened
lying on the grofnu 2 VII 'w'srrr- -rrlr-ers-l--~.s--
knocked out OF me like corn out Of
burst bag II was all done In less
than a couple OF seconds. and. as had
fallen on my head. lay quiet enough.
ALEC Ireland" said when | had re-
covered. Il own you have given me
thorough drubbng VIII you shake
handsW
mo, no. he snid. You had the best
of it but for the last fall. and IL II
hadn't been for that south country
trick by which | lifted you over my
shoulder should have had to knuckle
under to you"
Such was the beginning OF my friend
ship with Alexander Ireland. On that
very night we took together the sol
emn sailors oath. by which we became
sworn shipmates for life, and to this
day we have neither OF US broken It,
My new friend and quickly found
that we had a great deal In common.
The perils and pleasures of the sea
had always had an enthralllng fasclna-
tion for me, and when discovered that
Alec shared my passion for salt water
my previously vague longings became
suddenly crystalliZed into n definite
purpose would be a sailor. Conse-
quently Ii soon became the greatest
enjoyment of my leisure time to sit in
the dark little parlor OF the Angel and
listen TO the tales OF the old seamen
who frequented it-tales Of the great
captains they had known and sailed
under who, caring as little for the
violence Of the tropical hurricane as
for the Ice grip OF the cold north, had
braved the storms OF unknown oceans
In their stout little ships and had
brought back from every CLINE Its
choicest treasures to lay them at the
feet of our sovereign lady, good Queen
Bess.
There was, however, one thing. and
that no small one, over which Alec and
very nearly quarreled. And what
should that be IL not n woman? For 1t
is woman's bright smile and coyly
dropping eye which shatter half the
friendships OF man with man. even
when the longed for down has hardly
yet appeared on the upper lip and the
razor is still Joy TO be gloated over In
secret.
Inez was her name, and she was the
daughter OF Don Miguel, a Spanish
gentleman who had for reason which
/ did not then know taken up his resi-
dence In Whitby. had known her
since she was child OF 10 and had
never thought Of her more than Of any
other girl in Whitby until one day l
| chanced to see her In the street with a
| new gown on. II was n wonderful
| gown-the skirt OF IT was slashed and
puffed out to the size Of 40 gallon
| cask-and as ! looked ana maryeled II
suddenly struck me that the laughing
| face above It was the most bewitch-
Ing | had ever seen. Perhaps II was
the fine dress that did It, and perhaps
1t was the pretty mouth that smiled
and wished me good day." l am not
| quite sure which 1t was, but the next
time / met her In the lane near her
| fathers house ! asked her TO be my
| sweetheart. After a few bushes and
few kisses she said she would, and
was the proudest lad In Whltby.
Alec, however. was not pleased at
my success, and very soon he told me
| so.
Jack" he said, IL didn't think my
sworn shlpmate would prove traitor"
"A traltorw | exclaimed. TITS n
hard word, and | don't know what
have done to deserve IT, How am a
traitor|
"She Is a spaniard, Jack. The Span
iards are the queens enemies, and you
and | have said we meant to fight for
the qJeen."
''Inez is no ones enemy"
'But her father, Don Miguel, IL a
Spanlard."
"Yes: | suppose he Is. Is that all