The Harrison times., 1920-02-21
CHAPTER |.


Even Chicago's corroding March
wind could not dull the gloss Of his
buoyaucy. Like a furious mastiff il
tore at him angrily, swapping yiciousIy
at his poorly protected body, suarIing
and howliug maleyoIenuy. But to him
it was no more than a bumpuouS
puppy that worried him not at ALL
Head erect, hands thrust deep in rag
ged pockets. ne swung jaunuIy along
the Rush street bridge, whistling mer-
riiy a popular coon song.
lie WAS wretchcdly clad-a mass Of
rags and tatters. His face was
smudgcd with a healthy growth of jet
black beard and it trequired little soru-
tiny to see he had long been a stranger
to soap and water. He was very tall
oyer six feet-and this accentuated
his sloyonlinesS. He was Il man Of
twonty-four, with a distinguished face
rather than handsome one, and he
had an athletes physique.
At the south end Of the bridge he
turned and started across the street.
Midway he stopped short. Standing
on the opposite sidewalk WAS Il plain
clothes detective Pat Kelly by name,
who yesterday had arrested him on a
yagrancy charge and released him
with a warning to leave the city or Suf-
fer the consequences.
There was no time for hesitation.
He had caught Kelly's unfriendly eye,
and he knes what to expect. He
wheeled about, started back - and
plunged directly in the path Of a high
powered touring car which came hur-
Ting across the bridge.
Things happened quickly 1t was
too late to Sidestcp the onrushing ma
chine, too late to stop it, and the
chauffeur, in a frantic effort to avoid
running him down, ierked wildly 0t
his steering wheel; the big car ycered,
dashed diag0naIy across the street,
and smashed sIap-bang against q brick
WALL
The hood of the car was cayed in,
the lamps demolished, the front wheels
broken and the axle twisted; but to
the ocCupants-two girls who sat in
the tonneau-no harm had come
As soon as the yagabond looked
upon the wreck, smashing blow
caught him behind the ear another
on his neck; an arm was twisted be-.
hind his back, and a red, hairy hand
Clutched at his throat. without turn.
ing round he knew 1t was Kelly; knew,
also, that he must not strike back, for
nothing earns n culprit quicker or Sc
ycrer punishment than resisting an Of,
dCer
one of the girls in the tonneau
jumped quickly to the ground and
stepped between the bclligerents The
heavy motoring veil which heretofore
had concealed her face was now lifted
and she stood revealed as one Of those
msidiouSly beautiful and frankly fcmi-
nine girls who command golden opiu.
ions from all men, slavish obedience
from most, and the envy and joalousy
Of many women Her eyes, normally
Of dark. yolyoly blue Ike Il plnSy's
petals, were nearly black as she
turned scornrully upon the detective
"You contomplible cowurd' she ac.
cusod SpmtodlN "To attack man
when his back is turned :"
Kelly smiled down at her jnduIgcnt-
Dy pud shook his head,
"No, MISS" said he, you mIsjudgo
mo- I'm Il plo.n.cIolhcs man from
detective headquarters" ,"
"That does not alter the first fact"
she rrtorted. Fumbling hastily in her
purse, she confronted Kelly as he
started off with his prisoner,
"If YOU arrest that man. she cried
whrnngly, "l'll-'
She left the sentence uncompleted,
nd pluckng visiting card from her