Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-22

upon the floor an gave Micky's face
the back of me hand. That reused
him. The ring closed in. Hammer an
tongs we fell to wi naked fists. At
first Micky had the best Of matters,
wi his long arms an big weight. Once
he sent me sprawlin' across chair;
another time he just missed blow at
me chin that ID ha' broke me neck. But
he was soft, an was hard; he had
strength an had science, so in awhile
he tagged an freshened, an he was
at me mercy. toyed WI him an gibed
him: | tapped him here an there an
laughed in his face; | led him on till
his guard got low an his breath came
short an he lost his temper: then, see.
in me chance, stepped in like IL flash,
took him blow on tie chin like the
kick OF horse an measured his six
feet upon the floor. Boys, the clatter he
came down! Man. the hubbub was
there. Stretched out he lay az pale rs
n sheet. wi blood on his lips an not n
breath in his body. He's dead! shouts
this one. He's murdered says that.
Catch him. says tine rest, till we have
his life An wi that | lifts coat an
waistcoat. shouts to Ned. then out into
the dark an away, an for an hour we
ran. an for hours we lay In ditch.
At last. towards mornin' y
Just there Phil stopped. pcered
through tie windows. turned quickly
and waved a hand at Ned. Here's
Larah." said he, and to me, There's
little more. hut I'll finish when were
started again.
l nodded. Ned gathered into his cor
ncr; Phil crouched low in his. The
whistle shrieked the brakes began
grinding, slowly the train drew up, and
there uron Larah platform stood two
policemen by the doorway, while along
it, from carriage TO carriage, two more
followed sergeant with drawn slaves
Then looked ut Phil. They're COM
ing" said |.
"Who?
"The police"
"Ah" He sat upright. his face
blanching and tightening. made n sud
den dash toward the farther door. then.
ut sight of black figures on the sicin.
beyond, turned and let fall his hands.
Trapped" said he. Trapped
He looked down upon Ned and upon
his horror stricken face. They're
here" said he. Come: bear it liz" a
man. It'll soon be over, an you needn't
fear anyway" He took Ned hr IN
arm, dragged nim across the carriage.
dropped him on the seat before me
and took his place in the corner.
Hold up" he said. giving Ned, that
poor misery of Ned, shake. BE
a man for once; be man." He looked
at me, a smile tightening his face. "Ali
up" said he. Il can't finish. but yell
see the rest in the papers. Goodby TO
ye.'' He laughed and turned as figures
darkened the windows. law. good
mornin' to ye, sergeant. Come, Ned
boy: we're wanted" And quick came
the click of handouts.
Some weeks afterward | found the
finish of Pills story in the newspapers:
also ! found details there which Phil
had omitted and some which he had
distorted. Up TO u certain point his
story to me kept sight Of facts. After-
ward it entered the region of fancy. Ii
was Phil himself who had been ac-
cused of cheating: it was on his own
behalf he had fought: it was when mat
ters were going hopelessly with him at
the hands Of Micky the Wig that Ned
had striven to help him, had clutched
Micky's arms and tried to restrain him,
had unwittinely held Micky tight while
Phil got home with the knife.
Happily the wound was not mortal.
so Phil lost his freedom for only three
years. and because of his youth and
innocence and Of some generous evi'
dence rendered by Phil on his behalf
Ned was admonished and set free.