Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-07-28
The City Of
/ Purple Dreams


crimson hlots 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. Selling a heavy water pitcher
| from beside an overturned chair. he
hurled it, with vile word Fitzhugh
lodged the missile and leapt for his
I foe. He put every atom of his vigor-
Gus young strength into the blow he
landed under Nikolay's Jaw. and the
mnn went down like a dubbed OK.
The conqueror walked TO a corner.
picked up his coat and slung it 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. l told
you I'd slaughter him"
The next moment the woman was
sobbing Historically in his arms. 81
can't let you go / can't-I can't -
She chung TO him as a 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-hell 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 n
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 stol@led before IN
alleged restaurant-one Of those dis
| colored, unwashed places that can he
scented a hundred yards off on a warfa
day, and where full meal" may be
had for twenty cents-and read this
sian hanging from a nail ON the door
pos
"DISHWASHER WANTED"
He removed the sign. walked inside
and handed II TO the chemiCal-blonde
cashier perched on high stool be-
tween p cash register and a pyramid
of toOthpicks.
I'm IT," said he. fsvoring her with
an engaging smile.
II was sweltering, filthy place
reeking with multltudinous odors and
1
dishes came In never-ending torrent,
and all day. with three respites for
| food, he bent at the wash-bench, his
arms immersed 10 the elbows in black,
soapy wafer. At eight came the night
man, and he drew a 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 undertaking.
and with the newspaper and a ciga-
rette, stretched himself on the couch
bed. allowing his feet TO rest on a
chair. He inhaled satisfying cloud
of smoke and unfolded the news sheet
and his fingers closed rigidly on the
paper; his heart seemed TO stand still.
What he read at glance stretched
across four columns Of the front page
MURDER MYSTERY AMONG REDS
OLAF NIKOLAY, RUSSIAN MIMI
IST, FOUND DEAD IN SOUTH
SIDE EASEMENT
WOMAN SUSPECT COMET
The story so shriekingiy heralepG