Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-10-24
under his gloves a pair of hard fists
balled Np inNoluntarilN.

10 some IL NnSll DaNS occurred TO I
pay no attention to the matter. bat
Tom Scott WAS of Different eaiiisei Ii
was true that he had seen LITTLE oi the
great world. but he was brave To Il +
fault. and nature had added 4 tan.
well-knit frame to this sift. lie d., +
telmined to prevent the villains from
accomplishing their purpose II it lay I
in hts power. and had no doubt Of his /
ability to do so.
Fearful that the men might turn and (
see him. he slackened his pace and al /
lowed them to gain several yards on /
Kim, keeping close to the buildings
| himself and hoping each moment to /
see an officer.
But none appeared, and soon the two
/ leyway, which led TO one of the
! wharves, and We're lost to vteM.
Tom was in q quandarN. 10 venture I
into the place was to invite attack
from the villains. and he decided To I
wait in a convenient doorway until the
intended victim came along OF an of
\ ticer should appear to whom he could
1 tell his story.
\ few yards to the right he found a
sheltered recess in front of Il block 4
and took up his station, Keeping &
/ sharp lookout in the direction of tho
saloon, where he naturally supposed
4 the man was enjoying himself n short
/ distance away street lamp shone dim
/ ~ through the falling snow ANA threw
a broad band OF light on the sidewalk,
across which no enc could pass with
out being Seen by him
4 1T was Il situation to try the stoutest
nerves, for Tom was unarmed. and the
man he was trying to save might be
/ intoxicated, While the two robbers
would surely be provided with all the
! tools of their trade 4 DOZEN schemes
i dashed through his mind as be
crouched in the shadow. only to be dis
4 carled as useless. The time dragged
I slowly enough, but his resolution did
not falter
Suddenly a dark figure came stag
geiing across the lighted space and
1 Toms heart gave a bound. Was this
his man? Would h. have sense enough
to understand his danger?
No. the drunken sailor lurched heav-
lily along and turned up side street a
short distance beyond the allcyway,
), where the men We're hidden.
Another and stu another followed at
/ intervals. but none paused ON their
Way and Tom began 10 wonder IL his
A ears had net played him false. lie WIS
1 beginning to WAIVER when u slight
crunehing noise at his left caused him
to turn quickly in time to see the form
of man disappear in the alleyway,
having approached from the opposite
avenue.
What was to be done?
lie stood for a moment With his heart
beating tumultuuusly and every nerve
tinglng. Then from the dark opening
came muflled cry. followed by an
oath and the sound of Il struggle.
4 Tom cast one quick look about him.
No one was in slght and the next in
slant he had pulled off his gloves and
dartcd UP the passageway ut fun
speed.
The darkness was intense for a short
distance. but after q few yards le
emerged into a small open space in the
midst Of which the three men We're
writhing and twisting in desperate
struggles. Tom WAS unable to distin-
guish one from another. but as lie
reached the spot one man tore himself
free and shouted:
, Help. Police! Stand back or IN
shoot"
The rest of HIS threat was drowned
by a lleaS.. blow from a blackj jack.
which knocked the weapon from HIS
hand.
stop" cried Tom, springins toward
the assaiant.
He was too late for 3 second bloN
tstrstched the stranger SENS less sna
bleeding on the sl,ow. and NTH an
. ANGRY snarl the rolber turned just ts
Z Toms right fist shot out With trenlens
, dous force.
Down went the man ike aiicNen
on and 1'oin erappled with He pthel.
n with . shout Of Triumph. Ills blood
VAS up and. lifting his smaller o;opa.
, nent bodily from the ground, h& shook
him as u lnastiif would 4 terrier.
i Hands off!' painted the helpless
you trying to Co,
, In,