The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-31

rupt and novel. Why he
.an7e when he came, or how he
came. we boys never knew. My first
-s1enbr nee of him is of his sudden
appearance in the midst of game of
-Ant'ny-Over." in which a dozen boys
bssidee myself were most enthusiastic
ssllv engag The scene of the excit-
~ contest was the center of the main
greet of the town. the elevation over
vhich We tossed the bail being the
skeleton remains Of a grand triumphal
arch. left as a sort of cadaverous re-
hinder Of some recent political demon
s.ratlOn. Although I recall the boys
external appearance upon that occasion
vritb some vagueness, | wildly remem-
bsr that his trousers were much too
large and long. and that his heavy.
sapping coat was buttonless. and very
bsdly worn and damaged at the sleeves
and elbows. I remember. too. with
even more distinctness. the hat he
wore: 1t was a high, silk. bell-crowned
tst-a mans hat and a Veritable
aplugr-not new and shiny plug"
bv any means. but still of dignity and
gloss enough 10 furnish a noticeable
contrast TO the other appertainments
AZ its Wearer's wardrobe. In fact, Il
vas through this latter article Of dress
nat the general attention of the crowd
zane al last to be particularly drawn
u its unfortunate possessor. who. evil
IDENTIFY directed by an old-time instinct.
had mechanically thrust the inverted
castor" under a falling ball, and the
hall being made OF yarn wrapped
tightly over green walnut, and drop
rtaE from an uncommon height. had
gene through the hat like round shot
Nature llv enough. much Tnsrriment
was ocCas;oned by the singular mis-
hsp and the victim OF the odd
occurrence seemed himself inclined to
ioin in the boisterous laughter and
make the most Of his ridiculous mis-
fortune. He pulled his hat back over
his tousled head, and with the Tapping
crown Of IL still clinging by one frayed
hinge. he Capered into grotesquelg
executed jig that made the clamorous
crowd about him howl again.
"Nol what a hat" cried Billy Kin
zsy. derisively. and with a paipably
rancorous twinge of envy in his heart;
for Billy was the bad boy of our town.
and would doubtless have enjoyed tn
strange boys sudden notOriety in thus
being able TO convert disaster into pos
five fun. "WOi what hat," reiter
sted Billy. making feint TO knock II
from the boys head as the still caper-
ing figure pirouetted past him.
The boys eye caught the motion, and
ne whirled suddenly in a backward
course and danced past his reviler
again. this time much nearer than be
fore. Better try it, he said. in a
low. half-laughing tone that no one but
Billy and myself heard. He was out
OF range in an instant, still laughing
as he went.
.Durn hint said Billy. with sitting
anger. clutChing his fist and leaving
- T. ras.1y
ed-loOkinE manner. 'Durn himt He
better not sass me! He's afeard to
come past here ag'in and say that! III
knock his durn ole 'stove-pipe' in the
middle o mex week."
You win. hey?" queried a revolving
voice. as the boy twirled past again
this time so near that Billy felt his
taunting breath blown in his face.
Yes. ] will. hey'!" said Billy. vi
ciously. and with a side-sweeping, fiat
handed lick that sounded like striking
a rusty sheet of tin, the crownless
plug went spinning into the gutter,
while. as suddenly. the assaulted little
stranger, with a peculiarly pallid smile
about his lips and an electric glitter in
his eve, adroitly flung his left hand for
ward. shifting his insulter such blow
in the region of the brow that the UNI
guarded Billy went tumbling backward
his pluclIy assailant prancing wildly
around his PROSTATE form.
"Oh, come and see.' snarled the
strange boy. in a contemptuous tone
cooking his fists up in a scientific man.
ner and dropping into a stoop-shoul-
dered swagger that would have driven
envy into the heart Of bullying hack
driver "Git the bioke on his pins" he
sneered. turning to the crowd. "S'pose
I'm goin' TO nit a man wen he's
DOWN.
But his antagonist needed no such
assistance. Stung with his unlocked
Tor downfall. bleeding from the first
blow ever given him by mortal boy,
and goaded TO absolute frenzy by the
taunts Of his staggering enemy, Billy
spranE to his feet, and moment later
had succeeded in closing with the boy
IN a rouEh-and- tumb bic fight, in which
his adversary was at disadvantage. be-
ing coasiderab bly, less in size. hampered
too. with his loose, unbuttoned coat
and baEgy trousers. But for all, he
did some very efficient work in the
way Of a def and telling blow or two
upon the nose of his overpowering foe
who sat astride of his wTiggling body
hut wholly unable to get in a lick
"Durn you.' said Billy. with his
hand gripping the boys throat. "holleI
'nou=h,"
Heller nothin's'' gurgIed the boy
with his eyes fairly starting from his
head
oh. let him M. Billy" called a
compassions te voice from the excited
crowd
Holler 'nouEh and I VIII" said Billy
N a tragic whisper in the boys ear
hurn We, boiler 'Calf-rops't"
The boy only shook his head, trem-
olsd ccnvulsively. let fan his eyelids
and lay limp. and. to all appearances
unconscious
The startled Billy loosed his hold
rose half way 10 his feet then fiercely
bounced again at his rival.
But II was too late. The ruse had
succeeded. and the boy was once more
on his feet.
You fight lie a dog" said the
'empt-"snd YOU air a dog Put "
yer props like a man and come at me
and TN meller yer head till yel
mother won't know you! Come on,
dare rnu,"
This time. as Billy darted forward a.
me challenge. l regret to say that IL
us PASSION he snatched up from tn
street a broken buggy spoke. befor'
Nhlch Narlike weapon the strange boz
vas forced warily to retreat. Step b!
ser ne gave back. and step by step hi
threatening foe advanced. I think
Ls.haps. part 81 the strange boys pur
use IN thus retreating was to am
,.hSef With one Of the lax
uan9Ies that protruded from
.nurn standing i'm front OF
k-o,ery toward which he s!owll
,,aeNe1 across the sidewalk. Howevel
lat may be. il is evident that he tool
- note Of an open Cellarway that lal
h4i him, over the brink of which