Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1903-08-14


At one side was . barrowman with a
I load of walnuts, and beside the barrow
a bedrs ggled woman with a black
fringe and chequered shawl thrown
over her head. She was cracking wal
nuts and picking them out of the Shells
throwing out remark occasionally to
rough man in a rabbit-skin cap, with
straps under the knees Of his corduroy
trousers. who stood putting a black clay
pipe with his back against the wall
What the cause of the quarrel was, or
what sharp sarcasm from the woman's
lips pricked suddenly through that thick
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 blow, but the
woman gave sharp cry and covered
up against the barrow with her hand
to her cheek.
you Internal villainr' cried the Adj
miral, raising his stick you brute and
blackguardr
"Garnr growled the rough, with the
deep, rasping information Of savage.
"Garn out o. this or I'll" He took
step forward with uplifted hand, but in
an instant down came cut number three
upon his wrist, and cut number i've
across his thigh, and cut number one
full in the center Of his rabbit-skin cap
1t was not a heavy stick, but 1t was
strong enough to leave good red veal
wherever it fell. The rough yelled with
pain, and rushed in, hitting with both
hands, and kicking with his iron-shod
boots, but the Admiral had still quick
foot and true eye. so that he bounded
backwards and sideways, still raining
shower of blows upon his savage an
tagonist. Suddenly, however, pair of
arms closed around his neck, and glanc-
ing backwards he caught a glimpse OF
the black coarse fringe OF the woman
whom he had befriended. 1--WE got
himr she shrieked. I'll old i'm. Now,
Bill, knock the tripe out of him? Her
grip was as strong as a mans, and her
wrist pressed like an iron bar upon the
AdmiraPs 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, 1t
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 around in front of him. |
There was a noise like that Of stone
hitting a WALL a deep groan, her grasp |
and she dropped 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 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 veil of his friends and neigh
bors.
81 have been assaulted" painted the |
Admiral. This woman was attacked
and 1 had to defend her."
This is Bermondsey 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
[ would let that sort settle their own
little affairs. Sir.
do you think that a man who holds
the Queens commission will stand by
and see a woman struck?" cried the Ad-
niral 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
Town in front, and the watch gone.
He passed his hand over his forehead.
I would not have lost that watch for
anything" said he. mo money could
replace it. It was given me by the
ships company after our African
.ruise 1t has an inscription"
The policeman shrugged his shoulders.
Tt comes from meddling," said he.
"Whatll you give me if 1 tell yer
where it is?" said a sharp-faced boy
lmong the crowd. will you gimme a
Iuid ?"
Certainly"
'eWell, where's the quid?"
The Admiral took a sovereign from
lis pocket Here it is
Then 'ere's the tickerl' The boy
pointed to the clenched hand Of the
enseless woman. A glimmer OF gold
hone out from between the fingers, and
N opening them up, there was the Ad-
nirars chronometer This interesting
ictim had throttled her protector with
ne hand, while she robbed him with the
Their.
The Admiral left his address with the
policeman, satisfied that the woman
vas only stunned, not dead, and then
ct of upon his way once more, the
oorer perhaps in his faith in human
allure, but in very good spirits none the
.ss. He walked with dilated nostrils
nd clenched hands, all glowing and
ngling with the excitement OF the COM
at, and warmed with the thought that
e could still, when there was need,
AXE his own part in q street brawl in