The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-04-16

damned afraid of him. Don't mistake
me. Id like to see him fiat, beaten,
down and out for good. I'd like to see
But don't want to get in his way just
now"
Rot! Don't you worry; no beach
comber like that can stand up long in
front Of me. He threatened on board
that he was going to collect that fifty
pounds. He hasn't been very spry
about it,"
Il should like to be with you when
you meet"
Mallow grinned Not above seeing
pal get walloped, Ell? Well, you get
ringside ticket. It'll be worth it,"
II don't want to see you get licked"
denied Craig irritably. Cali ask is
that you shelve some of your cock.
sureness. I'm not so dead broke that
must swallow all of it. I've warned
you that he is strong man. He used
to be one of the best college athletes
in America"
"College!" exploded Mallow. "What
the devil does college athlete know
about dock-fght?"
Ever see a game of football?"
mo"
well, take it from me that it's the
toughest game going. It's a game
where you put your boot in a mans
face when he's not looking. Mallow,
they kill each other in that game. And
Ellison was one of the best, fifteen
years ago. He used to wade through
a ton of solid, scrapping, plunging
flesh. And nine times out of ten he
used to get through. l want you to
beat him up, and it's because / do
that I'm warning you not to underesti-
mate him. On shipboard he handled
me as you would bag of salt; damn
as if he had lived clean out here
There's no booze sign hanging out on
him, like there is on you and me-"
Booze never hurt me any"
You're galvanized inside" said
Craig, staring again at Elsa. He
wished he knew how to hurt her, too.
But, he might as we'll throas- stoneer ut
the stars.
nov wduid xons like to- put offeAover
on this chap Ellison2" ~
an what way?"A -
Mallow smoked for a moment, then
touched his breast pocket significantly.
Not for mine," returned Craig.
Cards are my long suit. I'm no Sec
ond-story man, not yet"
81 know. But supposing you could
get 1t without risk?"
''In the first place, the bulk of his
cash is tied up in letters of credit"
All, you know that?"
what good would it do to pinch
those? In Europe there would be
some chance, but not here where boats
are two weeks apart. A cable to Ran
COON would shut off all drawing. He
could have others made out. In cash
he may have a few hundreds"
"All gamblers are more or less vel.
low" sneered Mallow. 1.-THE streak In
you is pretty wide. I tell you, you
needn't risk your skin. Are you game
to put one over that will cost him a lot
of worry and troubles"
$50 long as ! can stand outside the
ropes and look on"
"He has a thousand pounds in his
belt. No matter how | found out.
How'd you like to put your hand on
it if you we're sure it you'd not burn
your fingers?"
"Td like to, all right. But it's got to
be mighty certain. And the belt must
be handed to me by someone else. I've
half a wonder If you're not aiming to
get rid of me-" With an evil glance at
his tempter.
"If wanted to get rid OF you, this'd
be the way" said Mallow, opening and
shutting his powerful hands. I'm just
hungering for a bit of a lark. Come
on. A thousand pounds for taking a
little rickshaw ride. Ever hear of
Wong's? Opium, pearls, oils and
shark fins?"
NO"
Not many do. | know Singapore
like the lines on my hands. Wong is
the shrewdest, most lawless China.
man this side of Canton and Macao.
Pipes, pearls and shark fins. Big
money. Wong's the man to go to.
Want schooner rugged out for Illicit
shell hunting? Want a man shang.
haied? Want him written down miss
ing? GO to Wong"
See here, Mallow; | don't mind his
being beaten up; but what you say
! doesn't sound good
you fool don't want him out OF
the way. Why should /? But there's
that thousand for you and worry for
him. All aboard"
you don't love Parrot e Co. any
more than do"
mo. I'd sleep better O. nights IL |
knew he was broken for keeps. Too
much red tape to put the United
States after him How'd you rig him ?"
Faro and roulette. They never
tumble. didn't have anything against
him until he ran into me at Rangoon.
But he's stepped in too many times