The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-18
THE FIGHTER

Author of "Caleb Conover, Railroad
 er," 'Dr. Dale,'' con Glory's
 Trail," etc
 NEW YORK
 FRANK F. LOWELL COMPANY
 1909
 Copyright, 1909, by Albert Payson
 Terhune
 Continued from Page 14) The fugitive was clad in a soiled wait er-jacket and a pair of patched over alls- Both garments had evidently been intended for someone much larg- CT. Their present wearer seemed lost in their voluminous folds Yet, even thus hampered, he lodged his pursuers with an agility little short of incredi- ble in so old man.
 Darting forward into the full blaze of light. he fled around the table. The two servants had checked their pursuit near the door: and now stood irreso- lute. at loss whether or not to con tinue the chase into the sacred pre- cincts of the diningroom- They looked for instructions to a stout, pompous parsonage who. following them up from the pantry. now blocked the doorway and stared balefully at the little old man. The latter in his flight had come into violent contact with one of the slender pillars near the toastmasterS s chair. Wrapping both arms about this n6 SllQ LO the uOOT dnu CTOuCn6O In6TG, still clinging to the pillars; making horrible simian faces over his shoulder at the trio beside the pantry door.
 At the apparition. several diners had jumped excitedly to their feet, (with the world-old> instinct which taught prehistoric man to meet danger or sur prise. standing): others had craned their necks or shouted confused quer- ies. One woman had cried out. Every eye in the room was upon the grotes- que, couchant little figure huddled against the centre pillar. The toast master turned in lofty severity upon the big man in the doorway.
 "Stewardr he declaimed What does this mean9"
 -I am extremely sorry. MT. Dilling- Eham!" answered the steward, ventur- ing forward I'm sure I apologize most sincerely. I wouldn't have had such thing happen for worlds. We were short of men in the kitchen. to- night. sir. That that old panhandler over there. sir." pointing an abhorring finger at the refugee. "came around looking for an odd job. So I set him to washing dishes. He said he'd stop ped off a train on his way from the West He got at some of the wines sir. when we wasn't looking. He's in a disgusting state. sir. Then one of my men caught him pocketing some forks and told two of the walters to search him and send for the police. They grabbed him. but he slipped away and ran in here. So I-''
 That will dol That will dol" thun- dered the toastmaster. succeeding. aft CT divers trials. in breaking in upon the narrative Remove him. At oncei And as quietly as you can.NI am more sorry than I can say" he went on urbanely. addressing the guests. that such a disgraceful scene should have-'
 A howl from the man on the floor cut short the apology. Two servants had approached to do the toastmaster' s bidding. As the first of them seized him by the shoulder the little man screamed like a mad cat. Locking his legs about the pillar. he turned upon fighting with the deadly. unscientific fury of a cornered wild thing The scrimmage that followed set the room in dire confusion. To end which, the toastmaster so far unbent as to rush among the, ,combatants and order back | his myrmidons. The attendants drew | away, disheveled. bleeding. robbed of | the spruce peatness that was the Arareek's pride The defenders jacket | had been torn off. There was a slight bloodshot eyes glared with undiminish- ed drunken defiance: nor had his op- ponents' best efforts dislodged his legs | from about the pillar.
 "Oh. the sacred Arareeki" muttered | Caine. leaning across toward Conover | 'Dillingham will be in mysteries in an- | other minute. The sanctity of his | state dinner shattered just when he was at his asinine besti See. some ot | the women are starting to go. If they | leave. it'll break his heart''
 But Caleb did not hear. Almost alone | of all those in the room. he had shown | no excitement Fights were no novelty | to him. Bent forward. yet emotion | distorted face of the drunken inter loper.