The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-02-28

''Now remember whispered Parks.
DO careful. This guys got my $780,
900 and his is in this bank. Tho $l0.-
900 to bet against 1t is ours. Hanna
has got 1t over in Y. This stun
has got to think It's n purse made
up by fellows over there that are TO
be the suckers. Now don't bungle."
Pindell himself let them in. He had
the money ready on his desk and
counted 1t out to Fox. Ten minutes
later the three men emerged, got into
Pindcll's automobile and drove Off for
".
Just before o'clock stream OF
buggIes. wagons, bicycles and automo-
bilcs began to trickle down the main
street of Y toward the Parker farm.
AT the gate of this place another
crowd from X met 1t. Mostly the
men who came we're business men,
clerks, shopkeepers from the two rival
towns, but there was also q liberal
sprlnkling of somewhat sinister
strangers.
Tho interior Of the Parker stable
had been crudely prepared for q battle.
The seats were filling UP when Parks
arrived with Fox and Pindell. The
moment he entered the man who held
the door called him aside and whis
pered to him. Ho nodded and looked
troubled. Then he called Pindcl and
Fox outside and walked them Off
few yards.
Frank tells me the sheriff's shopping
around" he said ominously He's
afraid a couple Of guys who got in
are deputies"
Pindell was nervous Immediately.
Even in the darkness he seemed pale.
"Tell you what you better do, Fox"
said Parks in moment. 1--WE must
be mighty careful not to do any bet
ting in public. You go inside. You
know the fellows that have got the
Y money. Get 1t booked quietly
and come out here with 1t, so we can
count up the BETS
Pindell agreed Under the stars
Pindel and Parks walked up and
down, while Fox disappeared inside
the barn on his Grand. In ten min
utes he was back. The men sneaked
round the corner of the barn and
Parks went for lantern, by whose
light the stack Of bills was counted.
Y had done well. There was some
thing like $4,000 in their pile
Were couple Of thousand short"
said Pindell. -
Say" demanded Fox, don't get
any chance to lay few bets? Let
me copper this for NINE"
And so 1t was agreed. Fox rolled
the money carefully into leather
holder and crammed 1t into capa-
cious pocket. The men went back
and entered the stable. Parks went
to the center of the ring and held up
a warning hand.
Boys" he said, 81 want you all to
have good time, but this thing is
dangerous, and I'll have to ask you
to be quiet. We've got tip that the
sheriff is wise and is coming from 2.
When it's over make your getaway at
once. And If anything happens run
for II. You know 1t might mean Jail
to get caught. understand that some
of the boys have made some bets.
That's against the law. II the sheriff
gets anybody who has done that, It's
likely to mean Jefferson City. only
want to warn you"
He was slightly longer and less pow
erful than Ford, and he had a terrific
face and fierce mouth which he
kept tightly locked. He looked right
and left, bowed. sat and stared about
him, always with his jaws locked and
his lips pressed to protusion. Parks
changed the bell. Fox might have
been standing close to the door In a
shadow, his hand on the hasD, holding
it shut
The Sycamore Kid sailed straight
in. He was a whlrlwind. For the
whole first round 1t seemed Ford was
to cvade his blows He
swung wild, missed and took the
Kids swift punches about the body
and head for his pains. In the sec
ond round 1t was much the same, save
that Ford seemed to try harder, to
swing more desperately, to fight more
surely. How those two young men
did lombard each other. 1t was worth
the money ten TINES over, said the
gleeful crowd. 1t was a peach!
Clang! The third round. Ford was
in the center Of the ring at tho bell,
swinging his hand and trying furious
ly to penetrate the Kids guard. The
Sycamore leaned over and popped his
gloves to Ford's eye. The smaller
man grew furious. He rushed In like
a wild bull. He swIDg ,nadly with
his right. For a fractional second the |
willy Sycamore had becl of guard.
The blow went home like trlpham-
mer smashing into his heart region.
The sycamores guard went down;
his eyes glazed. Instantly Ford shot
over bis fist to the stunned mans
Jaw. The Kid reeled, His jaw fell
open. 1t snapped shut systematically
and a thin stream Of blood shot across
the ring The next moment the beat
en- fighter toppled and fell on his
face.
Instantly Parks had sprung into the
ring. He leaped across and bent over
The fallen fighter. He pressed his ear
to the mans ribs and listened. In
moment he stood up tall and white
and trembling.
.sGood Lord" he yelled hoarsely. II
guess you've killed him!"
run for It," shouted some one
rom near the door. In I'VE minutes
lot one remained.
A minute later John Parks and Bill |
Fox carried the fully dressed form Of
he Sycamore Kid up the road q iew
yards TO an automobile that had been |