Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-17
The Daily Story
TWO FIGHTS FOR BRIDE-BY OSCAR COX.
Copyrighted. 1918. py Associated Literary Bureau


ward the door. when the groom at
tracted his attention by n blow on the
jaw. The other dropped the girl and
went for his assailant like bull after
a red cloth.
The fight lasted ten minutes The
guardian. though he had plenty of mus
Gle, knew nothing about boxing The
groom. on the contrary. had evidently
been taking lessons in that art, for he
kept out of the way of his opponents
blows and now and again got in one
himself
The others stood looking on. the girl
with intense eagerness. for she felt
that her fate depended on the result
of the struggle. Once back in her
guardians hands, he might defy the
law. Every time he made lunge for
her husband she gasped. and every
time her husband got in blow she
danced for Joy. The landlord, fearing
that the woman was really a lunatic,
did not care to mix himself up in the
matter. and the parson was a man of
peace.
Evidently the younger contestant
was in training for some athletic
event, or perhaps his devotion to his
wheel gave him endurance. for as his
stouter opponent lost his wind the 9TH
er gained his own. But matters were
still undecided when the latter got in
blow under the chin that threw his
antagonist backward. He fell on the
floor and, hitting his head against an
oaken chair. lay quiet
Come" said the wife; 'let us be OF
before he gets on his feet again"
Leaving the fallen man TO the care
of the landlord and the parson, the
groom lifted his wife on TO her horse,
and, getting on his bicycle. in this in
congruous fashion they rode away.
Isn't this too ridiculous for any
thing?" said the bride. IF 1t We're not
! a matter possibly of life or death with
: me believe 1 should laugh"
"a prancing steed and a bike with a
| croak in the rear wheel aren't a we'll
/ matched team. are they?"
| They had not gone far before a horse
man was seen galloping toward them.
When they met he reined in and they
/ also stopped.
II feared I would be too Late" said
| the newcomer.
! you are too late" said the girl.
"What do you mean?'
ain order to escape my guardian I
was obliged TO take a husband This
gentleman kindly offered to help me
out"
Maud" exclaimed the man, '.you
don't mean to tell me that you are
married.
'Married-not fifteen minutes ago.
Why were you not at the Antlers when
I arrived?"
81 thought had plenty of time"
What you thought doesn't help
matters. Had it not been for this gen.
tleman-my husband-I would now be
going back to my place of imprison-
ment"
/ You must get a divorce"
"If do don't know that I'll marry
you"
Maud reproachfully.
"See here" interrupted the groom.
where do l come in in this busness:
You don't come in at ALL" said the
other man angrily. You so out
Perhaps | shall. but I've licked one
man for my bride. and before T. give
her up I'll lick another"
We'll see about that" said the other
savagely. throwing himself off his
horse He was angry with himself for
having been too late. and a man angry
with himself is prone to he angry with
every one else. He stalked up TO the
groom, who was standing by his wheel,
and. shaking his fist in his face,
growled:
You'll help annul this marriage or
I'll break every bone in your body
Harry" exclaimed Maud You are
|, acting like a fool You cant bring
about an annulment that way"
But before the last word was spoken
Harry and the impromptu husband
were pummeling each other unmerci.
fully. Harry. whose hardness had oc-
Cured from having stopped at a road
l house to refresh himself, was by no
means in the condition of bis enemy
] and was knocked out in half the time
{ required to do the guardian. After
I fall he tried to rise. but failing. sat ia
the road covered with dust and blood.
the latter from his nose.
Nov. my dear wife said the hus.
band. consider yourself free 20 go
! with this gentleman or with me.
Which do you PREFER"
She looked nj the, spectacle sltting1R
the road. then at her champion.
"You-for the present Mt least"
Again the bicyclist mounted his
wheel. and the two. leaving the discon-
tted man. proceeded on their wedding
journey Looking back. they saw him
limping toward his horse
:. The improyised husband turned out
to be n wealthy young man who was
about entering upon his worlds work.
After season he and his wife agreed
to stop certain annu!ment proceedings
that had been started ars. went on
: new wedding tour. But this time Il
/. was not in the ridiculous fashion Of
). horse and bicycle. They took par
Tor car.