Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-11-12

1t was sweet and rather touching
little tableau; &c John Stuart Webster
imaginative and possessed Of no
mantle streak in his nature, It was
more than tableau. It was NOV
Ing picture!
II suppose her old man objects to
the young fellow" he muttereC to
himself alphabetically, "and he can't
come near the house. They've met
here for the fond farewell, and now
the young fellows going out West to
make his fortune, so he can come back
and claim the girl. Huh If he wants
her, why the devil doesn't he take
her? Hello! BY Judas priest! Now
know what those two paraqueets are
up TO. One Of them Is the father or
that girl They've been spying on the
lovers, and now they're going TO cor
ner the young fellow and single him
for his nerve"
The girl had stood for . moment,
gazing after her companion. before she
turned with her handkerchief to her
eyes, and continued on her way TO the
cathedral. Webster heard her sob
bling as she stumbled bllndly by, and
he was distressed about her for all
the world loves lover and John
Stuart Webster was no exception to
this universal rule.
by George, this Is pretty tough"
he reflected. "That young fellow
treated that girl with as much gentle.
ness and courtesy as any gentleman
should, and I'm for him and against
this idea Of corporal punishment.
Don't you worry, Title, my dear. I'm
going to horn into this game myself
If II goes too far"
The two dusky skulkers ahead Of
him, having come to another cross
path, turned into II and came out on
the main path In the rear Of the young
man. Webster noticed that the pair
were still walking on the grass. He
padded gently along behind them.
The four were now rapidly ap.
preaching the old French market, and
the steadily rising babel Of yo ces
speaking In French, Italian, Spanish,
Creole patols and Choctaw, was suf-
cient TO have drowned the slight Loise
Of the pursuit, even had the young
mans mind not been upon other
things, and the interest of the two
Central Americans centered upon their
quarry, to the exclusion of any thought
of possible interruption.
Webster felt instlnctively that the
two men would rush and make con-
certed attack from the rear. He
smiled.
"rll just fool you two hombres
whole lot" he thought. and STOPPING.
picked up a small stone. On the in
slant the two men, having approached
within thirty feet Of their quarry,
made rush for him.
Their charge was swift. but though
II was, the little stone which John
Stuart Webster hurled was swifter. 1t
struck the young man fairly between
the shouderblades with force suffi-
cient TO bring him out Of his senti-
mental reverle with a jerk, as II were.
He whrled, saw the danger that
threatened him, and-sprang to meet
1t.
"Bravo" yelled Webster and ran to
his aid, for he had seen now that II
was to be knife work. Tragedy in
stead Of melodrama.
The man with the puckered eye
closed In with such eagerness II was
apparent to Webster that here was
work to his liking. The young man
raised his light cane, but Pucker-eye
did not hesitate. He merely threw up
his left forearm TO meet the expected
blow aimed at his head, lunged for
ward and slashed vlciously at the
young mans abdomen. The latter
drew back step, doubled like jack
knife, and brought his cane down
viciously across the knuckles of his
assailant's right hand.
80 It is thou, son of pig" he
called pleasantly in Spanish. II fool
ed you that time, didn't II" he added
In English. Thought | would aim
for your head didn't your"
The blow temporarily paralyzed the
assassir's hand; he dropped the knife,
and as he stopped 10 recover II with
his left hand, the young man, before
retreating from Pop-eye, kicked Puck.
er-eye In the face and quite upset him.
"Stop IT." shouted Webster.
Pop-eye turned his head at the out
cry. The man he was attacking fell
into the position Of sw6rdsman en-
garde, and thrust viciously with the
ferrule at the face Of the pop-eyed man.
who. disregarding Webster's approach.
seized the cane In his left hand and
with quick, powerful tug actually
drew his victim toward him foot be-
fore the latter let 90 the stick.
Before he could give ground again
Pop-eye was upon him. He grasped
the young man by the latter's left
arm and held him, while he drew back
for the awful disembowlllng stroke.
AS his long arm sped forward the hook
Of John Stuart Webster's heavy cane
descended upon that flexed arm In the
crook Of the elbow, snagging 1t
cleverly.
The knife never reached Its destina-
ton!
"You would, would you7" said Web
ster reproachfully, and jerked the fell
low violently around. The man he had
rescued promptly struck Pop-eye
arating them. The former is mostly
l0wland, with extensive sugar planta.
tfnna whiIa paeso Tarro aaortt,. a.