The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-01-17

stepped acruss TO the doekhouse. back
in against t. The girl followed.
Again came the warning blast from
the steamer and the voice Of an OH
Ger:
clear away that stern line.'
oh. well be- leftr' she breathed and
somehow il struck Gienister tina She
feared this more than the men whose
approaching feet he heard
"You can make Il all right" he ur;ed
her roughly. You'll get hurt II you
stay here. Run along and don't mind
us. We've been thirty days on ship
board and were praying for something
TO happen" His voice was boTiShiy
glad. as If he exulted In the fray that
was to come, and no sooner had In
spoken than the sailors came out o.
the darkness upOn them.
During the space of few heartbeats
there was only tangle of whirllng
forms with the sound Of fist on flesh,
then the blot split mp, and forms
plunged outward, falling heavily. Again
the sailors rushed. attempting TO clinch
They masseG upon Dextry. only 70
grasp empty air, for he shifted with re-
markable agility. striking bitterly. a
an old wolf snaps. 1t was battling
work. however, for in the darkness his
blows fell short or Overreached.
Glenister, on the other hand, stool
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 terrihed
her more than a din. and yet she
stayed, crouched against the wall.
Dextry swung at dim target and
missing II, was whirled OF his balance
Instantly his antagonist grappled with
him, and they fell to the floor, while
third man shuf1ied about them. The
girl tlrottled a scream.
"I'm goin' TO kick I'm, Bill" the MAJ
panted hoarsely. lie me AZ I'm"
He swung his heavy shoe, and Bill
cursed with stirring eloquence.
"Ow! You're kickin' me! I've 60;
i'm safe enough. Tackle the big un.
Bilrs ally then started toward the
others, his body bent. his arms feXed'
yet hanging loosely. He crouched be
side the girl, ignoring her, while She
heard the breath wheeling from hi
lungs; then silently he leaped. Clients
tar 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 lighting The two
spun back and forth so closely in
twined MS to he Neutrality-suspicious., the
others holding of. For what seemed
many minutes they struggled. til"
young man striving TO reach bis all
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 nae
never seen men thus. A moment ana
Glenister would be down beneath Their
stamping et--they would kick his
life out with their heavy shoes ~
thought of ii the necessity Of ACTON
smote her like a blow In the face. He;
terror fell away. her shaking muscle
stiffened, and before realizing wha'
she did she had acted.
The seanan's back was to her. she
reached out and gripped him by the
hair while her fingers. tense as talon$,
sought his eyes. Then the first lon
sound of the battle arose. The mair
yelled in sue den terror. and the others
as suddenly fell back. Ihe next in
slant she felt a. hand upon her shout
der and heard Dextry's voice.
.'Are We hurt? No? Come on, then,
or Wen get left" He spoke quietly
though his breath was loud. and, glanc
lug down, she saw the huddled form
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 qucnched As
they scrambled UP tne Santd MhFla
gangplank Il strip of water widened
between the boat and the pier
CLOSE shave. that" painted Glenlster,
feeling HIS throat glngerly, but J
wouldn't have missed it for spotted
pup"
1--WE been through b1ler explosions
ana snowsIldes, NOT 10 menu0n I'll
iin Jail delivery, but fer real sprightly
diversions | don't recall nothin' more
pleasin' than this" Dextry's enthusi-
asm was hOylike.
what kind Of men are youF' the
girl laughed nervously, but got NO an
awer
They led her to their deck cabin,
where they switched on the electric
light, blinking, at each other and at
their unknown guest.
They saw II graceful and altogether
attractive figure in trim short skirt
and long tan boots. But what CLIENTS
ter first saw Was her eyes, large and
~, ~. .fs.tg