Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1915-08-05
CHAPTER XVII-Contlnued.

Oioi6 ulOho Iuo Iduledu ny IedCulu6
for his glass of whisky, which he
emptied. He tried to assume a non
chalant air, but his hand shook as he
replaced the glass on the tabouret. 1t
rolled off to the floor and tinkled into
pieces.
Nerves a bit rocky, eh?" Warning
ton laughed sardonically.
You're screeching in the wrong
jungle, Parrot, old top" said Mallow,
who, as he did not believe in ghosts,
was physically nor morally afraid of
anything. Though, you have my word
for 1t that I'd like to see you lose every
sent of your oil fluke."
Don't doubt it."
But" Mallow went on, '1f you're
wanting little argument that doesn't
require pencils or voices, why, you're
on. You don't object to my friend
Craig coming along?"
ION the contrary, he'll make good
witness Of what happens"
1.-THE chit, boy!" Mallow paid the
reckoning. Now, then, come on. Three
rickshaws!" he called.
The barren plot of ground back of
the dock was deserted. Warrington
jumped from his rickshaw and divest-
ed himself of his coat and flung his
hat beside it. Gleefully as boy NAL
low did likewise. Warrington then
bade the coolies to move back to the
road.
"Rounds?" inquired Mallow.
you filthy scoundrel, you know
very well there won't be any rules to
this game. Don't got think know
you" Warrington rolled up his
sleeves and was pleased to note the
dull color of Mallows face. He want
ed to rouse the brute in the man, then
ne would have him at his mercy. 81
swore four years ago that I'd make
you pay for that night"
you scum!" roared Mallow, you'll
never be a whole man when they
carry you away from here"
wait and see."
On the way to the dock Warrington
had mapped out his campaign. Fair
play from either of these men was not
to be entertained for a moment One
was naturally a brute and the other
was a coward. They would not hest
tate at any means to defeat him. And
he knew what defeat would mean at
their s-disigurement, probably.
Twill you take a shilling for your
fifty quid?" jeered Craig He was 60
ing to enjoy this, for he had not the
least doubt as to the outcome. NAL
low was without superior in a rough
and tumble fight.
Warrington did not reply. He
walked cautiously toward Mallow.
This maneuver brought Craig within
reach. 1t was not fair blow, but
Warrington delivered it without the
least conjunction. 1t struck Craig
squarely on the jaw. Lightly as a cat
Warrington jumped back. Craig's
knees doubled under him and he
toppled forward on his face.
Now, Mallow, you and l alone, with
no one to jump on my back when I'm
looking elsewhere!"
Mallow, approaching the trick,
swore foully, and rushed. Warrington
jabbed with his left and sidestepped.
One thing he must do and that was to
keep Mallow from getting into close
quarters. The copra grower was more
than his match in the knowledge Of
those oriental devices that usually
cripple man for life He must wear
him down scientifically; he must de-
pend upon his ring generalship. In
his youth Warrington had been a skill
full boxer. He could now back this
skill with rugged health and a blow
that had hundred and eighty pounds
behind 1t.
From ordinary rage Mallow fell into
a frenzy; and frenzy never won a ring
battle. Time after time he endeav-
ored to grapple, but always that left
stopped him. Warrington played for
his face, and to each jab he added a
taunt. THAT for the little Singalese!"
Count that one for Wheedon's broken
knees!" "And wouldn't San admire
that? Remember her? The little JAP
anese girl whose thumbs you broker"
Here's one for mel" 1t was not dig
nified, but Warrington stubbornly re-
fused to look back upon this day
either with shame or regret. Jab-jab,
cut and slash! went the left. There
was no more mercy in the mind back
of it than might be found in the sleek
felines who stalked the jungles north.
Doggedly Mallow fought on, hoping
for his chance. He tried every trick
he knew, but he could only get so
near. The ring was as wide as the
world; there were no corners to make
graphing possibility.
Some of his desperate blows got
through. The bezel of his ring laid
open Warrington's forehead. He was
brave enough, but he began to realize
that this was not the same man he
had turned out into the night four
years ago. And the pain and igno- |
miny he had forced upon others was
now being returned to him. Warning |
ton would houa tho hotfIo |