Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-26
NINTH IHrALmENr.


cipice.
NINTH INrALnhENT.
The beach comber was shuffling along
the sands. like some murtively uncouth
night animal He was a forlorn spec
tacle-unshaven. i'll clad. For a week.
now. he had dwelt in a tumble-down
shacks at the far end of Surfton beach
"A two-room hovel, deserted long ago
by the coast guards and fit only for
outcasts
There could be no doubt that the beach
comber was an outcast. He spent his
days hidden in the shack. Only after
dark did he venture forth in search Of
food and firewood. The few people who
had seen him on these night prowls
thought him a mere tramp and hickman
ed him Mike"
This evening Mike was securing the
shore for driftwood. He had gathered
an armful of Il and was crossing the
beach toward the base of the cliff,
where Law a bit of wreckage that the
moonlight had just revealed to him.
He had nearly reached the cliff when
when a black cloud momentarily blot
ted out the moon, making the beach sud
denly dark. Mike looked up impatiently
to learn the cause of the darkness.
Even as he looked. the cloud passed
on. and the moonlight burst forth. as
yividly 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 gripped by
something that swayed and reeled ec-
centricaily on the verge of the cliff. far
above him.
He looked more closely. There. sill
houtted 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 battIe-so maddened blythe blood
lust as to be needless of their peril. A
misstep on that perilous verge must
send one or both of the combatants
crushing over the brink.
Mike stared upward. spellbound. Then
he shouted. The night wind carried
away his cry of warning. Galvanized
into feverish 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 bowl
der strewn and honeycombed with cav
ems and holes. Above these was a
torturous precipice-a path that light
and active man might possible climb.
Forgetful of his own safety, Mike be-
gan TO swarm up this steep trail, toward
the summit. No longer could he see the
fighters But. as he neared the crest.
he could hear their hoarse breathing, the
stamping and scuffling of their feet the
hailstorm of pebbles that they dislodge1
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 240 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 'enemy's intent, ana
fought like a wildcat to overcome the
terrible handicap of weight. He writhed
and struggled in vain to stay that ire
sistibIe pressure. Nearer and nearer TO
the verge his antagonist tugged him. All
wrestling tricks we're futile against that
low-built and compact mountain or mus
cuIar weight Other tactics were nee
essary-and must he put to use, right
uuickIy If Lamar were to escape with
his life.
The crime specialist wrenched one arm
free and struck. His left fist battered
thuddingly against the sweating flesh or
Eagan's upturned face. His blows were
delivered with all the skill of trained
boxer But his arm was too cramped
and the distance too short for him 70
deliver them with anything like full
force.
Earan shifted his hold. so as to pinion
the fierceIy 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 ard
his waning strength into a shortarm
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. a culver ran through
his mountainous body.
Before he could brace himself Lamar
struck again. Eagan reeled backward.
dizzy and all but helpless. With boxers
intuition. Max knew a 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, il swung out into space. For
Lamar was on the very edge of tie
precipice Understanding his peril, he
flung himself forward.
The movement caused a cave-in of the
crumbling verge. beneath his right foot.
He threw out his arms to save himself
But il was too late to recover his bal
ance. over the edge his body crashed.
over the edge and out of sight-h!s
hands clawing vainly at the precipice
side for some obstacle to break or check
his fall.
sam. his brain clearing from the jar
OF the two jaw blows. lurched forward
/ to peer down at his vanished foe. But
at the first uncertain step. he paused.
| over the side of the cliff, some ten
feet beyond. appeared the head and
shoulders of a man. A moment later
the lean body of Mike scrambled to its
feet on the summit.
Painting and exhausted from his steep
climb. the beach comber moved forwa rd
/ Uncertainty. Sam. seeing him approach.
:ancied the whole man hunt was upon
vim. and that dozen or more pursuers
..,.-----,-,v