The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-03


 But when Herman and Verman set tot the record must be no more than few fragments left by the expurga- tor. It has been perhaps sufficiently suggested that the altercation in MT. Schofeld's stable opened with mayhem in respect to the aggressor's nose. Ex- pressing vocaIly his indignation and the extremity of his pained surprise, MT. Collins stepped backward, holding his left hand over his nose and strik- ing at Herman with his right Then Verman hit him with the rake.
 Verman struck from behind He struck as hard as he could And he struck with the tines down. For, in his sim pie, direct African way he wished to kill his enemy, and he wished to kill him as soon as possible. That was his single, earnest purpose.
 On this account, Rupe Collins was peculiarly unfortunate He was plucky and he enjoyed conflict, but neither his ambitions nor his anticipations had ever included murder. He had not learned that an habftually aggressive person runs the danger of colliding with beings in one of those lower stages of evolution wherein theories about hitting below the belt's have not yet made their appearance.
 The rake glanced from the back of Rupe's head to his shoulder, but 1t fell ed him. Both darkies jumped full upon him instantly, and the three rolled and twisted upon the stab1e floor unIoosing upon the air sincere ma1edictions close ly connected with complaints of cruel and unusual treatment while certain expressions of feeling presently ema- hating from Herman and Yerman indi- cated that Rupe Collins, in this ex- fremity. was proving himself not too slavishIy addicted to fighting by rule. Dan and Duke, mistaking all for Inirth. parked gayly.
 From the panting, pounding. yelling heap Issued words and phrases aither- to quite unknown to Penrod and Sam; also hoarse repetition in the voice of Rupe concerning his ear left it not to be doubted that additional mayhem was taking place. Appalled,, the two nearest the yard, where they stood dumbly watching the cataclysm. The struggle increased in primitive simplicity. Time and again the howl ing Rupe got to his knees, only to go l down again as the earnest brothers in their own way assisted him to a more reclining position. Primal forces op- erated here, and the two blanched, slightly higher products of evolution. Sam and Penrod, no more thought of interfering than they would have thought of interfering with an earth quake
 At last out of the ruck rose Verman, disngured and maniacaI. With a wild eye he looked about him for his trusty rake, but Penrod in horror had long since thrown the rake out into the yard Naturally it had not seemed necessary to remove the lawn mower. The frantic eye of verman fell upon the lawn mower and instantly he leaped to it's handle. Shilling a word- less warcrys he charged. propelling the l whirling. deafening knives straight upon the prone legs of Rupe Collins The lawn mower was sincerely intend ed to pass IongitudinaIly over the body | of MT. Collins from heel to head, and l it was the time for death song. Black Ealkyrie lowered in the shriek- ing air.
 Gut his gizzud outt'' shrieked Her man. urging on the whirling Knives They touched and lacerated the l shin of Rupe, as. with the supreme agony of effort creature in mortal l peril puts forth before succumbing. he tore himself free of Herman and got upon his feet
 E Herman was up as quickly He Ieaped to the wall and seized the gar den seythe that hung there
 I'm go cut you g1zzud out z he an- nounced definitely, ''an eat if!''
 Rupe Collins had never run from l anybody (except his father in his life. He was not q coward, but the present situation was very. very unusual He
 was already in a badly dismantled condition, and yet Herman and Yer man seemed discontented with their
 work. Verman was swinging the grass cutter about for a new charge. appar- ently still wishing to mow him., and Herman had made quite plausible l statement about what he intended to do with the scythe.
 1 Rupe paused but for an extremely condensed survey of ina -4aaSs ad-
 vance Of the brothers ---stnen, utter ing blood curdled scream of fear, ran out of the stable and up the alley l at speed he had never sefore at
 tained, so that even Dan aad hard
 work to keep within barkip distance. And cross shoulder gIar-ce 1t the cor
 ner revealing yerman and Herman fn
 pursuit. the latter waving his scythe
 overhead, MT. Collins s1ackened not lis
 gnit. but rather. out of great anguish,
 increased it, the while a rapidly devet
 oping purpose became firm in his mind
 and ever after so remained not only l to refrain from visiting that neighbor hood again, but never by any chance
 to come within a mile of it.
 From the alley door Penrod and San watched the flight and were without words. When the pursuit rounded ths