The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-25
A MATTER OF PRIN CIPLE

sidewalk. Comparative quiet ensued
only when Skinny sat triumphantIy
astride the victims chest while the ally
gagged Hefny and punched at his face.
Suddenly Skinny cried:
Look out. He's got a knife
The ally investigated cautiously.
Nav" he shrilled in high excitement.
It's a plunker.''
straightway he began to hammer at
the clenched hand. Heiny gripped with
the clasp Of desperation. It was the
gangs money. Without it he could not
get the peter, and the game must fall
through. They'd have to kill MIN be-
fore he'd give up. Futilely he twisted
his head. If he could but set his teeth
in that hand that was beating at his
Something warm trickled along his fin
gers. The sooty snow spotched pink.
With a conclusive effort Heiny writhed
his body half over. and suddenly found
it easy to turn. The weight lifted from
his chest, his lacerated hand was freed
and ne got dizzily to his feet.
A bearded man in sailor garb with
the word Texas" on his cap was hold
ing his ASSISTANTS. one in each hand
The mans simple face was beamine
with good nature; he seemed to find ii
all vastly amusing.
Two to ones no fair game. my heart
les" he said. What's the row."
They picked on me-" whined Heiny
Take your turn then. Hold hard
What's that in your hand? The steel
Oh, that's no good. Give It here?"
"Lemme 60" mailed Heiny. Tin
goin' fer"
Give it here" repeated the man
sternly. FYou won't?"
A quick twist wrenched the boys
hand open. ''Oh, a dollar. It's all right
You'll get it back-after the scrap
Now, which first?"
Something in tho sailors hearty bear
ing inspired trust. Heipy smiled UP In
his face and the man patted his back
go in. I'll bet on you" he said.
With a long breath of mingled prepa-
ration and satisfaction Heiny said, tits
up to Skinny" and pitched in.
Heart was lacking in Skinny; perhaps
wind. too, from that first Well-planted
butt. In two minutes he was whining
for mercy. To the lesser antagonist
the battle-warmed Heiny turned, but
that astute youngling, after squarine
off as IL on business bent, Tipped
around the corner with such speed that
pursuit was useless.
"Haw-haw-haw!" beloved the sailor
in deep-chested mirth. Purity cute
that Teller. Here's your dollar. son."
Thanks" said Heiny, and then Won
dered where he had learned the word.
The sailor chuckled. You ought tC
join the navy" he said. You'll make
scrapper. It's up to Skinny says
you. An in you boned. Haw-haw-
hawl"
A sharp curiosity beset the urehin
what did you do IT fer9" he asked
with unaccustomed timidity.
do what2 Oh. Well, you was one
an IAN an they was two an'-an' one Of
'em was bigger"-the sailor stumbled
about for expression. You'd help &
Teller that was gettin' the worst of it
wouldn't your" he asked triumphant
| ly.
ST dunno" said Heiny, considering
the proposition obviously. Many a mar
he had seen get "the worst of IT" will
no particular thought of help.
"Courst you would" said the rescuel
earnestly. IF I come along here an
couple o. coves pulled a gun on ms
you'd jump In He spoke simply, a!
one man to another.
And as one man to another: Your,
all right, Texas" said Heiny, with on,
Of his friend-making smiles, and wa!
off.
The sailors deep laughter followed
|
Texas! Haw-haw-haw! An M
from Ohyer."
Revolving strange things in his trou
bled mind, the boy lodged through tn
| thickening tenement region until h,
| turned up into Ludlow street and final
| ly slipped into little drug store. Hat
he felt less weight Of problem on hi
mind he would have carefully looked
about him before entering. AS 1t was
| he failed to see two heavy-booted mel
in dark doorway opposite. A learned
| looking clerk with eyeglasses peered a
him from behind the counter of the lit
| tie herb-scented store.
Don't look as If he knew the pat
ter" thought Heiny, and produced tn
bit of paper. 1t was torn and bloody
The clerk looked at 1t and then sus
piciously at the bearer.
What do you want, my yount
/ friend?' he asked.
THE stuff" answered Heiny boldly
He showed the dollar. Eighth Of al
ounce"
was ist asa vas du mir chen sagel
willst2" cried the clerk angrily, cast
ing little nervous glances at a woman
who had just entered.
"Ah-h-h, nix commeraus," retorte
the gamin scornfuliy. "Sprecker nj
Dutch. / want the stuff for my grand
father"
The clerks face cleared a little. ''Wh
is your grandfather"
Peter Schmidt" II might have bee
Peter Stein or Peter Cans or Pete
Kelly; the test word was the Peter.
"Yes"-with nodding head. And h
wants 1t for"
ITO make him sleep" said Heiny, fol
lowing the formula perfectly.
you have brought the money!"
zone dollar"
'The same as the last" said the cleri
handing him a very small vial such
one might hide in the palm of han'
Good night. Behute!"
The exclamation brought Heiny u
all standing But it was to late. II
had fairly run into the two burly me
who had crossed over from the dar
doorway opposite. One OF thel
snatched at his hand. But Heiny's &c
ucation had prepared him for an
emergency The vial dropped an
smashed in a thousand pieces on II
stone coping, while wall of angus
went up from Heiny's widesprea
face.
Me cough dope fer me kid brother
He'll croak, he Will. 1 got no mol
money. An the old womann kill m
for losin' IT.