Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-02-02

vious occasion; but was certain that
the sailor would never recognize him
for the immaculate counsellor OF the
afternoon.
Crewe was acting his part to the
life.
Here! Garcon!-Waiter!" he yell
ed. bring US quart bottle OF tizzy
drink. And say, you see that the
ices cold, or I'll knock your block
Of" And he flung down fifty dollar
bill upon the beer-soaked table, which
the waiter ran TO seize with aVldlty.
AS fingered near, Crewe's sharp
eye was turned on me.
Come here. bo," he yelled. Have
drink. Gemmen, friend. My
friend-gemmen," he added in intro
duction; and, rather disguised with
the part we were to play, l sat down
at an adjoining table, which was al
ready filed with Crewe's strange
guests.
None of them addressed me, how.
ever, being all apparently bent upon
the possibility Of extracting some
money from Crewe.
Then the uproarious crowd Of sail
ors turned into the alley and lined up
in front of the booth. I heard Egan's
voice ring out. apparently to smother
some protest.
Shut your face" he yelled to the
obJector. Let him be yaccinated II
he wants to be. Show EN- your chest,
Frank Look, boys. Amt that the
finest eagle you've ever seen! That's
the Yankee eagle" he continued, and
/ don't. want anybody to tell me that
Frank cant beat the Brittsher with
that eagle on his chest. II anybody
tells me So" he continued, looking
around, "let him step up and say So
and I'll smash his face in
Either nobody disagreed with the
speakers views, or else each OF the
sailors felt that his face would be
more suitable if it were not smashed
in. With look of triumph Egan
turned to the tattooer and pushed
| Thompson into q chair. The China
man took out his needles and pig.
ments and began his work.
There is some psychological moment
when the noisiest crowd becomes mo-
mentarily silent. At such time the
voice of some individual will arise
and dominate the mob. So, at this
juncture, the drunken tones of Crewe
came floating across the still air:
ITO hell with the American eagle!"
A dozen sailors sprang round, glar.
irg. whats that? What's that?''
they cried. who said that?"
81 said that" shouted Crewe, rising
and staggering unsteadily toward
them. "To-bell with the American
eagle" he repeated with drunken gray.
ity. There's no Yank living but lit
tie Canadian can knock the five-spot
off every time"
There was a rush in Crewe's direc-
ton. In an instant he was surrounded
by a mob of excited seamen, while his
new friends made themselves scarce,
evidently unwilling to share his un'
| popularity, yet not wholly absenting
| themselves, in case of further profits
! to come.
You'll take that back" shouted q
brawny sailorman, shaking his fist un
| der Crewe's nose. You'll eat them
words or I'll make squash pie outen
you"
You will, will you?" replied Crewe
sneeringly. Twelve to one-twelve
Yanks to one Canadian, and that's
about your. measure. There amt g
man here I can't lick singly in fair
fight"
Crewe had forced his way to Thomp
! sons side. The sailor had just been
released from the tattooer's charge
and was rearranging his clothes. Now
hearing these words, he sprang ul
glaring.
Let me get at him." he shouted.
mo, no, Frank don't fight. You got
to save your hands for tomorrow
Frank" cried his supporters.
Let him fight" shouted Egan
whats the odds. 1t won't take many
seconds to put that slob out of bust
ness. Say, do you mean what you
said?" he yelled, thrusting his face
within an inch of Crewe's.
Il surely do, and here's to prove it, u
Crewe answered, and his fist shot out
and caught Egan on the point of the
jaw. l saw the man collapse, crumple
up, and lie still. 1t was one of the
cleanest fighting blows had ever seen
delivered.
Infatuated by the defeat of his
friend, Thompson darted forward, his
fists whirling like engine shafts. There
was nothing of science shown. Crewe
fought pluckily, but it was evident
that he could not stand for long before
those sledge-hammer blows. He sprang
forward and the men clinched. heard
a short, quick snap, and heard the
sailor utter an exclamation of pain
He fell back and looked down at his
hands stupidity. One dangled Imply
from the wrist, as though it were
broken.
ut was a foul blow, Langton," said
Crewe to me on the following day.
But unquestionably it was justified
for the saving of the mans life. By
the way, see that the Englishman
easily defeated Thompson's substi-
tute."
What was the substance used by
the tattooer?" I asked, knowing that
| -41.~x xx,s,,1l l,ouo tn ha wU