Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-05

He knocked the man OF counter at
the nrst pass and climbed him with his
hobnails as he lay on the floor. A tight
Is fight and good thing for specta.
tors and participants, for 1t does more
to keep down scurvy than anything J
know Of, but the thud. Of those heavy
boots into that helpless flesh sickened
me, and we rushed Prosser out of there
while he struggled like maniac. ]
never saw such a complete reversal of
form. Somewhere, away back yonder,
that boys forefathers were pirates or
cannibals or butchers.
When the fog had cleared out Of his
brain the reaction was just as power
full. I took him out alone while the
others worked over the Alder Creek
party, and all at once my man fell
apart like wet sawdust.
what made me do it-what made
me do it," he cried. I'm crazy. Why,
tried to kill him! And yet what he
said Is true-that's the worst Of it
it's true! Think Of 1t, and fought for
her., What am coming TOT"
After the cleanup We came to camp,
waiting for the river to break and the
first boat to follow. 1t was then that
the suspense began to tell on our part
ner. He read and reread his letters,
but there was little hope In them, and
now, with no work to do. he grew
nervous. Added to everything else, our
food ran short and we lived on scraps
of whatever was left over from our
winter grubstake. Just out of cussed-
ness the breakup was ten days late,
the ten longest days ever put In, but
eventually 1t came. and week later
also came the mail. We needed food
and clothes, We needed whisky, we
needed news of the great, distant
world. but all we thought of was our
mail.
The boy had decided to go home. We
were sorry to see him leave, too, for
he had the makings Of a real man IN
him even If he shaved three times q
week, but no sooner was the steamer
tied than he came plunging into my
tent like moose, laughing and dane
ing in his first gladness. The mother
was we'll again.
Later went aboard to give him the
last lonesome good wishes Of the fell
low who stays behind and fights along
for another year. The big freighter.
with her neat staterooms and long,
glass burdened tables. awoke perfect
panic in me to be going with him. to
shake this cruel country and drift
back to the home and the wife and
the pies like mother made.
found him on the top deck with the
Marceau girl who was saying goodby
to him. There was look about her
/ had never seen before. and all at
once the understanding and the bitter
irony Of it struck me. This poor waif
hadn't had enough to stand. so love
had come to her, just as kink had pre-
dicted - hopeless love which she
would have to fight the way she fought
the whole world. 1t made me bitter
and cynical. but admired her nerve
she was dressed for the sacrifice,
trim and well curried as 81 900 pony.
Back Of her smile. though. i saw the
waiting tears, and my heart bled.
Spring is fierce time for romance.
anyhow.
There wasn't time to say much, so
squeezed Monty's hand like cider
press.
pGody bless you. lad, You must come
bAck to u.s. said. but he shook his
head. and heard the girls breath
catch. 1 continued. " Come on. Ollie.
I'll help you ashore.
We stood. on the bank there together
and watched the last OF him. tall and