Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-22
The Light in
the C1eurinu
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1s17.The Bobbs- Merrill Co.
G BACHELLER

he had told or meeting Sally on
the street in Albany and that he
was in love with her. II was while
he was telling me how he had once
fooled a country gil that | baked
He thought it fine joke, for his
father had cut his allowance two
hundred a year so that the sum
they had had to pay in damages
had kept his nose con the grind
stone for two years. Then | stop
ped my horse with an exclamation
which would have astonished Lord
Chesterfield, / am sure.
The young man drew rein and
asked:
whats the natter"
"Only this. I shall have to try 70
lick you before we go any further"
"How's that?"
| dismounted and frightened the
girth of my saddle. Ny spirit was
taking swift counsel with itself az
the brink of the precipice. II was
then that | seemed to see the angry
face OF old Kate-the Silent Wom-
an-at my elbow. and IL counseled
me to speak out. Again her spirit
was leading me. Calmly and slow
" these words came from my lips:
Because / think you are a low.
lived, dirty-souled dog OF a man
and il you can stand that without
fighting you are a coward to boot"
This was not the language Of d.
plomacy but at the time it seemed
to me rather kind and fiattering.
Latour flashed red and jumped
off his horse and struck at me with
his crop. / caught it in my hand
and said:
Hold on Let's proceed deceptly
and in order. Purvis, you hold
these horses while we fight IL out"
Purvis caught Latour's horse and
brought the others close 10 mine
and gathered the reins in his hand.
l shall never forget how pale he
looked and how fast he was breath
ing and how his hands trembled.
jumped off and ran for my man.
He faced me bravely. / landed
stunning blow squarely on his nose
and he fell to the ground. Long
before, Hacket had told me that
a swift attack was half the battle
and l have found IT so more than
once. for l have never been slow
to fight for a woman's honor or
friends or my own-never, thank
God! Latour lay so quiet for
moment that l was frightened. HIS
face was covered with blood. He
came to and | helped him up and
he rushed at me like tiger, | re-
member that we had a long round"
then with our fists. l knew how 10
take care of my face and stomach
and that | did while he wore him
self out in wild blows and desper-
ate lunges.
We had dismounted near the end
of a bridge. He fought me 10 the
middle of il and when his speed
slackened l took the offensive and
with such energy that he clinched.
l threw him on the planks and we =
went down together, he under me,
in fall so violent that il shook the
bridge and knocked the breath out
of him. This seemed to convince
Latour that l was his master. His
distress passed quickly and he got
up and began brushing the dust
from his pretty riding coat and
trousers. l saw that he was wind
ed and in no condition to resume
the contest.
felt as fresh as if had moved
only once around the field, to quote
a saying of my uncle.
Well have TO fight it out some
other day" he said. I'm weak
from the loss of blood Ny nose
feels as if it had turned wrong side
out"
at ought to be used 10 the grind
stone after two years Of practice
| remarked. Come down 10 the
brook and let me wash the blood
off you"
without a word he followed me
and l washed his face as gently as
could and did my best 10 clean his
shirt and waistcoat with my hand
kerchief His nose was badly
swollen.
"Latour, women have been good
to me-" | said. I've been taught TO
think that a man who treats them
badly is the basest OF all men. .
can't help il. The feeling has gone
into my bones. I'll fight YOU as often
as | hear you talk as you did
Continued Tomorrow