Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-09-17
The City of
Purple Dreams

however. Sleupe HdIlIHeT StciHeu "
swing upon the point of his chin. and
he spun dizzily backward, unable to
regain his balance and fell heavily
against fender. But Nikolay was
not quick enough to follow up his adj
vantage, and when next he charged.
Fitzhugh had recovered, and was
dancing around him as before. his lip
drawn back from his cleaning teeth
in haunting smile.
The blood was streaming from a
dozen cuts. on the Russians face, its
crimson blots in his eyes; and ever
that smiling. white-and-black face
swan before him like a pirouetting
phantom.
Knowing his endurance to be his
strongest. and the others weakest,
point, Fitzhugh desired chiefly to
wear his opponent down until such
time as he could rush in and finish
him.
Nikolay was fast becoming exhaust
ed. Ten minutes of, this mad pace was
more than he could stand. His breath
came shorter and shorter. At last he
stopped and allowed his arms to
dangle Imply at his sides.
For little while, coughing and spit
ting blood and catching his breath in
wheezy gasps. he stared drunkenly.
Then. seizing a heavy water pitcher
from beside an overturned chair, he
hurled It, with vile word. FitZhugh
hn liz INF fnr tS
foe. He put every atom of his vigor-
Gus young strength into the blow he
landed under Nikolays jaw. and the
man went down like dubbed OK
The conquerOr walked to corner.
picked up his coat. and slung !: over
his shoulder. He came back to Esther
crOuching against the wall like one
awakening from some horrible dream.
He smiled. but In the neutral light the
smile was CHASTITY.
I'm sorry you had to see it, | told
YOU I'd slaughter him"
The next moment the woman was
sobbing Historically in his arms. II
can't let YOU go! l can't can't"
She chung to him as drowning per-
son, clutching his hands. his arms, his
neck.
you must. Esther He stroked her
hair tenderly. 1.-THE police may be
here at any moment. Get away as
quickly as possible. Never mind about
him-he'll be all right presently I'll
write you care of the post Office. You
write me. too Good-by dear. good-by."
With these words of parting he
turned and left the house.
Fitzhugh entered saloon and laved
his hurts and washed up, afterward
surveying his face very critically In
mirror. He concluded he was eff
fectually disguised against anybody
who had not seen him during the past
four weeks. He left the saloon and
continued northward
| In State street he stopped before an
| alleged restaurant-one of those dis
colored. unwashed places that can be
scented hundred yards off on warm
| day, and where full meal" may be
| had for twenty cents-and read this
| sign hanging from nail on the door
| post:
"DISHWASHER WANTED"
He removed the sign. walked inside
| and handed it to the chemicai-blonde
cashier perched on high stool be-
tween cash register and n pyramid
of to0thpicks.
I'm it," said he, favoring her with
an engaging smile.
| 1t was sweltering. filthy place.
| rocking with multitudinous odors and
overrun with cockroaches. The soiled
dishes came In never-ending torrent
and all day, with three respites for
food, he bent at the wash bench. his
arms immersed to the elbows in black.
soapy water. At eight came the night
man. and he drew breath Of relief
and dollar on his weekly wage. and
started home. Or. rather, he started
TO look for home. He found one for
two dollars week-a depressing
| room. little larger than a coalbox.
tucked away in the upper regions Of
shoddy lodging house. He paid the
grim-faced landlady half of his capt.
tai, bought packet of tobacco and
an evening newspaper and went to his
room.
He disrObed to his undercIothinp,
and with the newspaper and clga-
rette, stretched himself on the couch.
beds allowing his feet to rest on a
chair. He Inhaled a satisfying cloud
or smoke and nnfolded the news sheet
sand his fingers closed rightly on the
paper; his heart seemed to stand still.
What he read mt glance stretched
across four columns of The front page =.
MURDER MYSTERY AMONG REDS
, OLAF NlKOLAY. RUSSIAN Mill.
IST. FOUND DEAD IN SOUTH
SIDE BASEMENT,
WOMAN SUSPECT GONE,