The Washington times., 1916-02-07
INsTALLMENT TX.
"DOdging the Law"

-HE beachcomber was shufflins
along the sands. like some fur
lively uncouth night animal. He
was a forlorn spectacle - un-
shaven, III clad. For a week now he
had dwelt in a tumblc-down shack at
the far end Of surfton beach-a two
room hovel, deserted long ago by the
coast guards and ht only for outcasts.
There could be no doubt that the
beachcomber was an outcast. He spent
his days hidden in the shack. Only aft-l
er dark did he venture forth in search
OF food or frewood. The few people
who had seen him on these night prOwls
| thought him a mere tramp. and nick
named him Mike"
This evening Mike was securing the
shore for driftwood. He had gathered
an armful Of It and was crossing the
beach toward the base of the cliff,
where lay a bit Of wIeckage that the
| moonlight had Just revealed to him.
He had nearly reached the cliff base
when q black cloud momentarily blot
ted out the moon, making the beach
suddenly dark. Mike looked up inpa-
tiently TO learn the cause OF the dark
ness.
on. and the moonlight burst forth. as
WILDLY clear as before. But. before he
could lower his eyes and continue his
search for the elusive bit OF driftwood.
Mikes gaze was caught and Eripped by
! something that swayed and reeled &c
centrically on the verge Of the cliff,
| far above him.
lie looked more closely. There. sill
houe,ted against the brightness Of the
midnight sky. he could make out two
close-locked bodies. fighting for very life
on the cliff edge-battling as wild beasts
battle-so maddened by the blood lust
| as TO be needless of their peril A mis-
| step on that perilous verge must send
one or both of the combatants crushing
Mike stared upward. spellbound
Then he shouted. The night wind car
ried away his cry of warning. Gal
vanized into fevsrish activity. he cast
aside his carefully boarded armful OF
wood and ran to the base of the cliff.
The lower part of the cliff was
boWlder strewn and honeycombed with
caverns and holes. Above these was a
tortuous path. up along the sheer edge
OF the precipice-a path that light and
active man might possibly climb.
ForRetful Of his own safety. Mike be-
gan to swarm up this steep trail. to-
ward the sumit. No longer could he see
| the fighters. But. as he neared the
crest he could hear their hoarse breath
| ing. the stamping and scufhing of their
| feet the hailstorm OF pebbles that they
dislodEed and sent rafting down the
side Of the cliff
Max Lamar was yielding. inch by inch.
to the fearful pressure of his foe. With
every ounce of his 2+o pounds. and with
every atom of his mighty strength.
| Smiling Sam" Eagan was striving to
drag Lamar to the cliff brink and hurl
him over.
Max realized his enemys intent. and
fought like a wildcat to overcome the
terrible handicap of weight. lie
writhed and struggled in vain to stay
that Irresistible pressure. Nearer and
nearer to the verge his antagonist
tuRged him. All wreatlinG tricks were
futile against the lowbuilt and COM
pact mountain Of muscular weight
Other tactics were necessary-and must
be put to use. right quickly II Lamar
were to escape with his life.
The crime specialist wrenchod one
arm free and struck. His left fist bat
tered thuddlngly against the sweat
Ing flesh Of EaEan'S upturned face.
His blows were delivered with all the
skill Of a trained boxer. But his
arm was too cramped and the distance
too short for him to deliver them with
anything like full force.
| EaRan shifted his hold, so as to pinion
the fercely driven left arm. and twisted
his broad face to one side to evade the
shower OF blows.
The maneuver enabled Max to tear
free his right arm. Bracing himself. he
threw every atom of his weight and
has waning strength into short-Arm
uppercut. HIS fist caught Sam at the
point Of the jaw.
Eagan's mighty arms relaxed their
hold under the impact Of the blow. His
head jerked back. culver ran through
Before he could brace himself, Lamar
Istruck again. Eagan reeled backward,
dizzy and all but helpless With BOXERS
Intuition, Max knew q third blow would
end the fight. He braced his feet to de-
liver IT. throwing his right foot several
Inches behind the left.
The right foot did not touch ground
Instead, 1t swung out into space. For
Lamar was on the very edge OF the
lprecipice. Understanding his peril. he
flung himself forward.
The movement caused a caYe-in Of the
Icrumbling verge, beneath his right foot
He threw out his arms to save himself
But It was too late to recover his bal
ance. over the edge his body crashed
Over. the edge and out Of sight-his
hands clawing vainly at the precipice
side for some obstacle to break or check
his fall
Sam, his brain clearing from the far
Of the two jaw-blows, lurched forward
to peer down at his vanished foe. But
at the hrst uncertain step, he paused.
over the side Of the cliff, some ten
feet beyond, appeared the head and
shouldera Of man. A moment later tho
lean body Of Mike scrambled to its feet
on the summit
RdnIlnB ana exhausted from his steep
climb, the beachcomber moved forward
uncertainty. Sam. seeing him approach, /,
fancied the whole man hunt was upon
him. and that a dozen or more pur-
suers might be at hand He snarled
like a wild beast cotnered. With one
smash Of his beefy hst he knocked the
, painting beachcomber half senseless
TO the ground: then made of at top
speed along the summit of the blum,
running with awkward swiftuess to-
ward the nearest rap in the rocks
never once looking back nor slaoken-
ing his flight until he had rounded a