The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-11

outside himself, above, beyond HIM
self, had laid divine gift in the out
stretched hand of his necessity,
Riley had known of his legacy at
their last meeting had been the
meaning then of the definite purpose
in his eye when he had asked the doc
tor TO wait
The laughter traled from the shop
to the sidewalk, and Joe Riley stalked
pompously toward the buggy, Ahc
boys in his triumphant wake.
Well Doc said Riley with bolster
Gus joviality, what is II to-day-tea
oats, or a clotheswringer?"
The doctor laughed 81 guess it's
CONGRATULATIONS first. isn't 1t, Joe?"
."Pete's been leaking?" Riley play
fully slapped the mans shoulder.
There followed 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 ours?"
Riley lifted one foot to the buggy
step and bent over to tie dragging
shoe.string. Yes, Doc, had the leg
acy in mind all right"
Norton's smile held the radiance of
sunshine after a storm. The money
cOuldu'' 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
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 qute-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
seer"
Come, Joe" said the doctor quiet.
ly, quit your fooling. I'm in dead
earnest"
so am T."
Norton's eyes blazed. Joe Riley,
give you fair warning-I'll put up with
no nonsense! Youll payNme that $500
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 outlawed
yesterday had that in mind, too,
when 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 off his coat and toss.
ing il on the sidewalk, he cried: THE
bills outlawed, is It? BY heaven,
Wen settle It without the law them"
The astonished Riley skunk back
from Norton's threatening fist.
You're making a pretty good blum,
Doc he laughed derisively, but 1t
don't cut any ice with me! You book
ish men ain't got the ginger to fight,
and"
A blow from Nortons fist stung
crimson trail down Riley's left cheek.
With n cry of rage Joe sprang upon
his antagonist.
Out OF hurrying clouds OF dust ND
and down the pike men came running.
Something was doing" in front of
Watson's-in the field the plow was
left in the furrow; in the butcher
shop the cleaver flung down upon the
choppngblock
There was no time for explanations,
and the crowd was not one of fine dis.
elimination, but for the past ten years
Doc Norton had come into intimate
touch with their lives and hearts, and
they championed him to a man.
Go II, Doc! Steady there! That's
the boy, Doc!" were cries given in an
ascending scale OF enthusiasm.
Rileys great bulk was now wall
of self-defense. now a battering ram
Of danger against his foe. But Nor.
toms staying power, his habit of ig.
noring fatigue, aches and pain in the
performance of a physicians duties,
had stored the strength of resistance
In every fiber of his being, while his
alertness, both OF mind and body.
gained in telling force when brought
nto prolonged play with Rlley's lum.
bering clums'nsss.
The blow upon Joes left cheek no
longer showed--hls whole face was
purplish crimson, drops of sweat trick.
ling from his forehead, his breath
coming and going pantlngly.
Come, Joe-give in" cried Norton.
Lets call II a finish"
Never" yelled back Riley.
With new spurt OF fury the fight
continued.
Suddenly Joe staggered, threw up
his arms, reeling to one side On the
instant Norton dropped the attack
standing of guard. In q fash Joe
swung down his arms gave lunge
forward deyilish CLEAN in his Gun.
ming eyes.
A moment more and Norton, trlcked
a second time, would have been
lripped up and thrown to the ground
but in that moment an intmitive sense
of danger made him spring aside be.
fore Riley's outstretched fingers could
snatch at his ankles.
Riley clutchlng at the air. lost his
balance and pitched forward-as he
struggled to regain his footing hand
OF steel gripped the back OF his shirt