Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-12
do you give up?" I demanded.
"Nol' he gasped explosiyely.
sT'll break your armv' ! snarlcd 1t

"I'll break your armr' snarlcd 1t
him.
He made no reply.
The blood was running into my eyes
from q small scrape on my forehead
1t was nothing, but 1t annoyed me.
was bruised and heated and mad. Ev.
cry bit of antagonism in me was
aroused. As far as was concerned, 1t
was very real fight.
"All right" growled, "I'll keep you
there then, - you"
Holding the arm In the same posi-.
ton, settled myself. The pain to
the poor chap must have been some
thing fearful. for every muscle and
tendon was stretched to the cracking
point. His breath came and went in
sharp Kisses, but he gave no other
sign. My heat cooled, though. as l
look back on 1t, far too slowly. Sud
denly arose and flung him from me.
He rolled over on his back and lay.
his eyes half closed, breathing deeply.
We must have been sweet sight, we
two young barbarians, myself marked
and swollen and bloody, he with one
eye pulled and pale as death. My
roommates, absolutely fascinated. did
not stir.
The tableau lasted only the fraction
of minute, after all Then abruptly
Talbot Ward sat up. He grinned up
at me with his characteristic momen-
tary flash OF teeth.
II told you you couldn't lick me-"
said he.
I stared at him In establishment.
Licked? Why, had you cold:'
you had not
"Td have broken your arm If had
gone any further"
"Well. why didn't you;"
stared into his eyes blankly.
would you have done itl.sI asked
in a sudden flash Of illumination.
"Why, Of course" said he. with
faint contempt as he arose.
"Why did you hit me at first as You
did? You gave me no warning what
ever"
do you get any warning in real
fight?'
/ could not controvert this, and yet
uneasily, vaguely felt there must be
a fallacy somewhere. had been told
and not told what should or should
not be done in an affair that appar-
emily could have no rules and yet
had distinctions as to fair and unfair,
some Of which were explained and
some left as obvious. felt somewhat
confused. But often In my later ex.
perience with Talbot Ward felt just
that way, so In retrospect it does not
strike me so forcibly as 1t did at that
time.
"But you're wonder, perfect Won
der!' Ward was saying.
Then we all became aware OF
knocking and rafting at the door.
1t must have been going on for some
time.
IF you don't open I'll get the po-
lice! promise you, I'll get the pO-
lice" the voice of our landlady was
saying.
We looked at each other aghast.
II suppose we must have been max
ing little noise," conceded Talbot
Ward. Noise! 1t must have sounded
as though the house were coming down.
Our ordinary little boxing matches
were nothing to 1t. lss s
Ward threw hts military cape around
seat beneath the window. put on an
overcoat One OF the boys let her In.
She was thoroughly angry, aud she
gave us all notice to so. She had done
that same every Saturday night for .
year, but we had always wheedled her
out Of 1t. This time, however, she
seemed to mean business. suppose
we had made good deal Of racket.
When the fact became evident |. OF
course, shouldered the whole response
bility. Thereupon she turned on me.
Unexpectedly Talbot Ward spoke up
from the obscurity Of his corner. His
clear voice was incisive, but so courte-
GUS with the cold finality Of the high
bred aristocrat that Mrs. Simpkins was
cut short in the middle Of sentence.
~ beg you, calm yourself, madam"
said he. st is not worth heating your
self over, for the annoyance, such as
it is, will soon be removed. Mr.. Nun
roe and myself are shortly departing
together for California"
If had any scruples-and l do not
remember many-they were overcome
within the next day or two. 1t was
agreed that was to so in Wards en-
ploy, he to pay my passage money and
all expenses. to give him half the
gold l might pick up. This seemed to
me at least an eminently satisfactory
and businesslike arrangement. Ward
bought the outfits for both Of us. It
turned out that he was Mexican war
veteran-hence the military cape-and
in consequence an old campaigner. His
experience and my rural upbringing
saved " fFew w2st ef the ridiculous
purchases hen made at that time. We
had stout clothes and boots. a water
proof apiece, picks and shovels, blan-
kets and long strips Of canvas, three
axes, knives, one rifle, q double shot.
gun and a Colts revolver apiece. The
latter seemed to me wonderful weap-
on, with its six charges in the turning
cylinder. but I had no opportunity to
try 1t.
Ward decided instantly for the Pan
anna route.
Its the most expensive, but also
the quickest" said he. "a sailing ship
around the Horn takes forever, and