The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-10-06

Ham McMahan, the secretary Of the
club, and walked rapidly toward door
at the rear Of the hall. Two other
members Of the Give and Take asso-
citation swiftly joined the little group.
Terry O'Sullivan was now in the hands
Of the board of rules and social ref
erees. They spoke to him briefly and
softly and conducted him out through
the same door at the rear.
This movement on the part Of the
Glover Leaf members requires a word
of elucidation. Back Of. the associa-
| ton hall was a smaller room rented
by the club. In this room personal diff
| ficulties that arose on the ballroom
floor were settled, man to man. with
the weapons Of nature, under the su-
pervision Of the board. No lady could
say that she had witnessed fight at
Glover Leaf hop in several years.
Its gentlemen members guaranteed
that.
So easily and smoothly had Dempsey
and the board done their preliminary
work that many in the hall had not no
ticed the checking Of the fascinating
O'Sullivan's social triumph. Among
these was Maggie. She looked about
for her escort.
"Smoke upy' said Rose Cassidy.
''Wasn't you on? Demps Donovan
picked scrap with your Lizzie boy.
and they've waltzed out to the slaugh-
ter room with him. How's my hair
look done up this way. Mag?'
Maggie laid hand on the bosom
of her cheesecloth waist.
"Gone to fight with Dempsey" she
said breathlessly. They've got to be
stopped. Dempsey Donovan can't fight
him. Why. he'll-he'll kill him!'
"Ah. what Go you care? said Rosa.
Don't some of 'em fight every hop?"
But Maggie was off, darling her
zigzag way through the maze of dan
GERS. She burst through the rear door
into the dark hall and then threw her
solid shoulder against the door OF the
room Of single combat. It gave way,
and in the instant that she entered her
eye caught the scene-the board stand
ing about with open watches; Demp-
sey Donovan in his shirt sleeves dan
cling, light footed. with the wary grace
of the modern pugilist within easy
reach Of his adversary; Terry O'Sul-
Ivan standing with arms folded and
| a murderous look in his dark eyes.
And without Stacking the speed Of her
entrance she leaped forward with
scream-leaped in time to catch and
hang upon the arm of O'Sullivan that
was suddenly uplifted and to whisk
from it the long. bright stiletto that
he had dra wn from his bosom.
The knife fell and rang upon the
floor. Cold steel drawn in the rooms
of the Give and Take association!
Such thing had never happened be-
fore. Every one stood motionless for
minute. Andy Geoghan kicked the
stiletto with the toe Of his shoe curl
ously, like an antiquarian who has
come upon some ancient weapon un-
known to his learning.
And then O'Sullivan Kissed some
thing unintelligible between his teeth
Dempsey and the board exchanged
looks. And then Dempsey looked at
O'Sullivan without anger, as one looks
at stray dog, and nodded his head
in the direction Of the door.
'The back stairs. Giuseppi," he said
briefly. Somebody II pitch your hat
down after you"
Maggie walked up to Dempsey Don
ovan. There was a brilliant spot of
red in her cheeks, down which slow
tears were running. But she looked
him bravely in the eye.
Il knew it. Dempsey" she said as
her eyes grew dull even in their tears