The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-11-03


the sailors rushed, attempting to clinch- t
They massed upon Dextry. only to /
grasp empty air, for he shifted with re- +
rnarkable agility, striking bitterly. as
an old wolf snaps 1t was battling |
work. however, for in the darkness his /
blows fell short or oyerreached.
Gienister, on the other 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 a din, and yet she
stayed. crouched against the WALL
Dextry swung at q dim target and.
missing it. was whirled off his balance.
Instantly his antagonist grappled with
him. and they fell to the floor. while
third man shuffied 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.
low, You're kickin' me. I've got
i'm safe enough. Tackle the big un.''
Bits ally then started toward the
others. his body bent, his arms fiexed.
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
stiffened. and before realizing what
she did she had acted.
The seaman's back was to her. She
reached cut 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 shout
der and heard Dextry's voice.
Are ye hurt: No? Come on, then,
or We'll get left" He spoke quietly,
though his brea.1 was loud, and. glanc-
ing down, she saw the huddled form Of
/ the sailor whom ~ had fought
That's ak right. He amt hurt. It's
Il Jap trick | learned. Hurry upn'
They ran swiftly down the wharf,
followed = GIenister and by the
groans of re 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
"C1ose shave that" painted G1enister,
| feeling his throat gingerly ''but
/ wouldn't have missed it for a spotted
/ pup"
1--WE been through b'iler explosions
/ and snowSlides. not to mention tri-
/ fin Jail delivery, but fer real sprightly
! diversions / don't recall nothin' more
/ pleasin' than this" Dextry's enthusi-
| asm was boyIike.
what kind of men are youf" the
! girl laughed nervously, but got no an
/ swer
They led her to their deck cabin,
/ where they switched ON the electric
] light, blinking ut each other and at
i their unknown guest.
They saw q graceful and altogether
/ attractive figure i'll Il 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, he
thought, and they flashed swift. COM
t prehensive chances at the two men,
Her hair had fallen loose and crinkled
TO her waist. all aglcam. Otherwise
she showed no sign of her recent or
i deal
Glenister had been prepared for the
/ type of beauty that follows the from
tier-beauty that may stun, but that
has the polish and chill of a new
/ ground bowie. Instead this girl with
the calm, reposefui face struck a note
t almost painfully different from her sur
roundings, suggesting countless pleas
ant things that had been strange to
him for the past few years.
Pure admiration alone was patent in
the Older mans gaze.
II make oration,' said he, that
/ you're the gamest little chap l ever
fought over, Mexikin, Injun or white.
/ What's the trouble?'
II suppose You think I've done some
thing dreadful. don't your She said.
"But l haven't. 1 had to get away
from the Ohio tonight for--certain rea-
sons I'll tell YOU all about it tomor-
row. l haven't stolen anything, nor.
I poisoned the crew--really l haven't"
/ She smiled at them, and Glenister
! found it impossible not to smile with
/ her. though dismayed by her feeble
! explanation.
well I'll wake up the steward and
find place for you to 60" he said at
/ length. you'll have TO double up with
! some of the women. though. It's aw-
T