The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-10

Will EN- Til you re ABOARD. Iney
stepped across to the dockhouse, back
Ing against it. The girl followed
Again came the warning blast from
the steamer and the voice Of an Off
Ger:
Clear away that stern line
'Oh, We'll be leftv' she breathed, and
somehow it struck Glenister that she
feared this more than the men whose
approaching feet he heard
You can make it all right" he urged
her roughly. You'll get hurt if you
stay here. Run along and don't mind
US. We've been thirty days on ship
board and We're praying for something
to happen" His voice was boyishly
glad. as if he exulted in the fray that
was TO come, and no sooner had he
spoken than the sailors came out of
the darkness upon them.
During the space of a few heartbeats
there was only tangle of whirling
forms with the sound Of fist on flesh,
then the blot split up, and forms
plunged outward, falling heavily Again
the sailors rushed, attempting to clinch.
They massed upon Dextry, only to
grasp empty air, for he shifted with re-
markable agility, striking bitterly, as
an old wolf snaps. 1t was battling
work, however, for in the darkness his
blows fell short or overreached.
Glenister, on the~0ther hand, stood
carelessly, beating the men off as they
came to him. He laughed gloatingly
deep in his throat, as though the en-.
counter were merely some rough sport
The girl shuddered, for the desperate
silence of the attacking men terrified
her more than din, and yet she
stayed, crouched against the wall.
Dextry swung at a dim target and,
missing it, was whirled off his balance
Instantly his antagonist grappled with
him, and they fell to the floor, while a
third man shuffled about them. The
girl throttled a scream.
I'm goin to kick i'm, Bill" the man
painted hoarsely. lie me fix i'm"
He swung his heavy shoe, and Bill
cursed with stirring eloquence.
"Ow! You're kickin' me. I've got
i'm safe enough. Tackle the big un."
Bills ally then started toward the
others, his body bent, his arms f1eXed,
yet hanging loosely. He crouched be-
side the girl. ignoring her, while she
heard the breath wheeling from his
lungs; then silently he leaped. Clients
ter had hurled a man from him. then
stepped back to avoid the others, when
he was seized from behind and felt the
mans arms wrapped about his neck,
the sailors legs locked about his
thighs Now came the girls first
knowledge Of real fighting. The two
spun back and forth so closely in
twined as to be indistinguishable, the
others holding off. For what seemed
many minutes they struggled, the
young man striving to reach his ad-
versary, till they crashed against the
wall near her and she heard her cham
pion's breath coughing in his throat
at the tightening grip of the sailor.
Fright held her paralyZed, for she had
never seen men thus A moment and
Glenister would be down beneath their
stamping feet-they would kick his
life out with their heavy shoes. At
thought of it the necessity of action
smote her like blow in the face Her
terror fell away, her shaking muscles
st1ffened, and before realizing what
she did she had acted.
The seaman's back was to her. She
reached out and gripped him by the
hair, while her fingers, tense as talons
sought his eyes. Then the first loud
sound of the battle arose. The man
yelled in sudden terror, and the others
as suddenly fell back. The next in
slant she felt a hand upon her shoul-
der and heard Dextry's voice.
Are We hurt? No? Come on, then,
or We'll get left" He spoke quietly,
though his breath was loud, and, glanc-
ing down, she saw the huddled form of
the sailor whom he had fought.
That's all right. He amt hurt. It's
a Jap trick learned. Hurry up!''
They ran swiftly down the wharf,
followed by Glenister and by the
groans Of the sailors in whom the lust
for combat had been quenched. AS
they scrambled up the Santa Maria's
gangplank a strip of water widened
between the boat and the pier.
"Close shave, that" painted Glenister
feeling his throat gingerly, but
wouldn't have missed it for q spotted
pup"
I've been through b'iler explosions
and snowslides, not to mention a tri-
fin Jail delivery, bat fer real sprightly
diversions l don't recall nothin' more
pleasin' than this" Dextry's enthusi
asm was boylike.
What kind of men are your the
girl laughed nervouSly, but got no an
swer.
They led her to tAeir deck cabin
where they switched on the electric
light. blinking at each other and al
| their unknown guest.
They saw graceful and altogether
attractive figure in a trim short skirt
and long tan boots. But what Clients
ter first saw was her eyes, large and
gray, almost brown under the electric
light. They were active eyes, be
Nd