Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-01-29

III Jack Jack Norton with
pockets Of heavy winter overcoat,
came stridlng over the hardened snow,
down the slope OF dark and deserted
side street that led to the East Gaver.
Ee had just caught sight of another
man passing through the yellow patch
of light that marked a suualid rumshop
in basement, and some instinct had
pEoDapted him to hail as partner" this
nao whom he then saw for the first
Iig.a. -,
The strange man checked an impulse
to look back, bV. only went On all the
more dogsedly. Norton also quickened'
his pace. After few more strides he
could see. in the faint light which the
snow rejected from the last lonesome
gas lamp on the block, that there was
20 need OF sWiftness to catch un with
Ihls man; the street ended right there
III q sort OF platform with an iron
calling at its edge, and Immediately
holoW this railing wzss the East River.
WneIc cakes 1f tee sWirled out of the
<2TEIiess iT.eo stray beams Of light. and
@n INTO darkness again. The stranger
a strongly built man in thick pea
.ackel- stood there, grasping the head
Vt NJ. iron rail i'll either hand, staring
ont beyond
"lts no good, old man." said Norton,
'runching ever the fresh snow on the
PLATFORM to reach the stran ger. no
good Thought OF doing it myself. IT
Foul' hold on 4 minute I'll tell YOU
WHY"
the man in the peajacket turned and
siared at this intruder with the tall hat
and the air of another class. "Who in
thunder are you:' And then. as if q
@aW thought had suddenly occurred to
'iiln, he leaned forward and peered into
Norton's face
That's all right said Norton, stand
lnSs up to the, scrutiny as if he had
quite expected it. I'm not off my head
not altogether. I only want to keen
you from a mistake I nearly made
myself. A few minutes ago I starred
10 come down here and-welI, disap.
Ee.E IN that darkness out there. See
fhose chunks OF ice racing each other:
T you and I Jumped this railing now
f;e'd be racing like that next moment
ana with no more idea Of where we
were racing to. It's all like that. the
other world is. Chap named Hamle,
settled it all long age
Well, say, if you amt crazy you've
Sot more gall than anybody's got ;
right TO and keep their senses. Wha1
Sou got to do with my affairs?''
Norton laughed aloud. your af
i&Ts! Don't you see were in the same
scat. you and /? You just listen L
Ni2-"
No, won't just listen to you.' thu
'tAer man growled. "And if you know
what's Good fo- you. you'll get ava,
cut Of here
Inls threat TO man who had all bu
resolved on suicide struck Norton S,
suddenly and sharply as comical tina
he broke into a roar OF laughter
awakening the echoes of the winte
night. His mirth instantly reused III
resentment of the man in the pea
jacket, who. backing away from til
railing, struck violently IL linn rich
md left.
by instinct and long habit Norto
pot Up his hands. He was The talIe
man o1 the two, active and more skill
"a! IL self-defense titan the other: bu
ioEs winter oveycoat is an awkwar
@a1-Aent for boxing IN, and the glove
pfoper for q gentlenaan's afternoo
ILLS are noy at all the prize-ring typ.
tlandlcapped like this, lie was less di
"cQlt for the smaller man, whose fur
Jus orlVos and swings fellSshort of b:
'aes' Out reached his chest and ribs.
lae TWO clinched and stamped u
-o COVE IN the dry snow, their ster
% Hnuned as to be soundless, even j
-, ..,7 stiffness OF that deserted noe!
-sJ Ia-l. G1aoZ,-.ilag fa-'eey, and Ii
~'17zs lamp lli1led down az them, lis
Se.-[ary and impartial witness f
9o,l sides. while a river steamer wez
H",1'hg and croaning past, as if inter
oH'S opcn Its own struggle with Il
1e and the floating ice. Over al
>, eS they rolled together, the man
ue pe"lacket ferceIy struggling
freak his exasperation OH Norton
,"e3 whenever q chance offered.
avs bizarre struggle, what with j
4l S-i''cai aspects, ard what with Il
l'ltal OF tragedy that increased ever
'-'-Slear, as Norton realized his Q