Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-10

ID dOlrn on jockeys hard Skul.
rs law any day, and law was being
steadily throttled when the pale CLEAN
of Philips candle lit up the confines of
the ruinous hovel about which the two
men stamped and lurched and wrestled.
At the precise moment Of the boys
entrance the policeman's knees yielded,
and he fell, with his remorseless an
tagonist uppermost. Philip, gazing at
them wild eyed, almost fell, too, for his
left foot rolled on the constable's staff.
Being fashioned Of the stuff which
founds empires-on the principle that
instant action is worth century OF
diplomacy-he picked up the truncheon
and brought it down on JOCKEYS hard
skull with such emphasis that the con-
vict emitted queer sort Of cough and
collapsed Imply Oh top Of his conquered
adversary.
Then the boy was horrihed. The two
lay so still that he imagined both We're
dead. 1t is one thing to help the law,
but quite another to kill man. He did
not want to be a murderer as we'll as a
millionaire, not knowing then the quail
ties which so to form these varieties Of
genus homo are strangely alike.
He gazed at them as In n trance. but
relief came when he heard them breath
ing stertorously. At last, after a pause
that apparently endured unnumbered
minutes, the constable weakly rolled
himself free from the bulky form of
his would be slayer and sat up.
He inflated hi, lungs vigorously. Then
he managed to gasp:
Thank you! You've saved my life!
He pressed his ribs with both hands
and ,inserly felt his throat. He stood
up. His lamp was still alight, but q
quantity of oil had run over his tunic
and trousers.
"By .Iove. 10y. you are brick" he
said. ANA his voice was under control
again.
Philip ansv cred not a word. His
eyes we're g,rcd on the PROSTATE form
of Jocky. '.'ie policeman understood
his fear and laughed.
Don't you worry about him. He'll
do stretcii all right. would have
given him harder oGe than that If l
got swing III him"
His wOr,i: We're quickly justified.
The fallen man growled unintelligibly
and moved. With rapidity born OF
much practice the officer handcuffed
him. There must have been some
sense Of familiarity in the touch Of the
steel bracelets, for the recipient Of this
delicate attention stirred uneasily.
"You knocked him silly" grinned the
policeman, "but he will get his wits
back in minute or two. Can you
bring him drink of water? 1t won't
do me any harm either"
Philip hurried away to comply with
this request. His mind was relieved
now and with the backward swing Of
the mental pendulum camo the refec-
ton that the least said Of his connec-
ton with the case the better.
He filed q small tin cup at the soul
lery tap and ran with It to the scene Of
the capture. The constable was gen.
tly shaking his prize and addressing
him by name.
phase Of Homeric combat. The vio-
lent Jocky, foiled by an unnoticed
iron bar in his attempt to escape, turn
ed like q madman on the policeman.
There was no sort Of parley between
them. Cursing the luck that had re-
vealed his hiding place. the man, an
ex-convict, with the frame Of a giant.
sprang at his pursuer suddenly from
an inner room.
The policeman had seconds warn
Ing. 1t was something, but not enough
to give him an advantage. He got his
truncheon out, but simultaneously his
assailant WAs on him with feroclty
of catamount. They closed In bone
breaking endeavor, and before they
were locked together for ten fearful
seconds the officer of the law bitterly
regretted the professional pride which
sent him single handed into this un-
equal strife.
For he was physically outclassed, and
he knew It, and there, Is no more un-
nerving knowledge can come to man
in such supreme moment Neverthe-
less he was brave man, and he fought
with all the resolution that Is born OF
the consciousness Of justice and moral
right. But Providence is ON the side
of big battalions, and Jocky was taller,
Leavier, very much more active. More
over. liberty Is as potent an incentive