Mexico Missouri message., 1909-01-14

10 the Sidewalk, ana joe riley stalkeu
pompously toward the buggy, the
boys" in his triumphant wake.
We'll. Doc" said Riley with bolster
Gus ioviality. what Ia II to-day-tea,
oats, or a clotheswringerf"
The doctor laughed. Il guess it's
congratulations FIRST, isn't II, Joe?"
"Pete's been leaking?" Riley play.
fully slapped the mans shoulder.
There followed q general exchange
OF bantering pleasantries. then in a
little drift of silence the doctor said
genially: 80 this legacy was In your
mind a week ago, Joe, when you
asked me to wait to settle that little
business affair OF ours7"
Riley lifted one foot to the buggy
step and bent over to tie a dragging
shoe.string. Yes, Doc, had the leg.
acy in mind all right"
Norton's smile held the radiance Of
sunshine after q storm. THE money
couldn't have come in more handy,
Joe. That little mother Of mine is all
worn out. Now ] shall take your 5000
and send her to the shore for as long
a time as ! can coax her to stay"
You amt a-frying your chicken be-
fore you've catched It, be you. Doc?"
'I-don't quIte-understand?" The
doctors mind fumbled for the point
Of humor in Joe's joke.
This here sleek. bobtailed fortune
amt no hack horse to haul load OF
debts. She's to be ridden for sport
see?"
| Come, joe" said the doctor quiet.
iy, quit your fooling. I'm in dead
earnest"
so am II"
Norton's eyes blazed. Joe Riley.
give you fair warning--rll put up with
no nonsense! You'll pay me that 5000
or I'll have the law on you!"
And the laugh on you, Doc Nor
toni" cried Joe. mimicking the doc.
tors tone. Your bill was outlRwed
yesterday had that In mind. too.
when l asked you to give me another
week."
For an instant the doctor sat mo-
tionless, then he threw the lines out
of his hands and jumped from the
buggy. Dashing OF his coat and toss.
ing II on the sidewalk. he cried: The
bills outlawed. is It? By heaven,
wen settle II without the law them"
The astonished Riley skunk back
from Norton's threatening fist.
You're making a pretty good blun,
Doc" he laughed derisively. but II
don't cut any ice with me! You book.
ish men amt got the ginger to fight,
and"
A blow from Norton's fist stung a
crimson trail down Riley's left cheek
: With a cry OF rage Joe sprang upon
his antagonist.
Out Of hurrying clouds OF dust uI
; and down the pike men came running
Something was doing" in front oil
, Watsons-in the field the pillow was
r left in the furrow; in the butcher
shop the cleaver flung down upon the
{ chopping-blockl
D There was no time for explanations
I and the crowd was not one OF fine dis
a elimination, but for the past ten years
3 Doc Norton had come into intimate
e touch with their lives and hearts. ant
{ they championed him to a man.
! Go II. Doc! Steady there! That's
!, the boy. Doc!" were cries given in an
4 ascending scale of enthusiasm.
!. Riley's great bulk was now a wal
e OF self.defense, now a battering ran
d OF danger against his foe. But Nor
e toms staying power. his habit of ig
g noring fatigue, aches and pain in the
Q performance OF a physicians duties
had stored the strength OF resistance
d In every fiber Of his being. while hi
4 alertness, both of mind and body
n gained in telling force when bropgh
s into prolonged play with Riley's lum
bering clumslness.
The blow upon Joe's left cheek n,
longer showed-his whole face was
purplish crimson. drops Of sweat trick
. ling from his forehead. his breatl
!. coming and going pantiugly.
Come. Joe-give In" cried Norton
Let's call II a finish"
= "Never!" yelled back Riley.
u With a new squirt OF fury the figh
continued.
II Suddenly Joe staggered. threw u
J. his arms. Keeling TO one side. On tn
q instant Norton dropped the attach
n standing on guard. In a fash 10
I. swung down his arms. gave a lung
forward, a devilish CLEAN in his cur
y ming eyes.
% A moment more and Norton. tricke
second time, would have bee
trlpped up and thrown to the grount
IN but in that moment an intuitive sens
Z of danger made him spring aside b,
10 fore Riley's outstretched fingers coul
b. snatch at his ankles.
II Riley, clutching at the air, lost hi
70 balance and pitched Forwards h
70 struggled to regain his footing a han
T. Of steel gripped the back OF his shII
Ie collar. a weight bore down upon hi
10 shoulders. forcing him firmly to IN
sidewalk. where he sprawled In III
e dust. Doc Norton's hold still on hi