Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-11-25

the alley; some poor woman often
thus appealed to all that used to be
good IN the man she married. to
make him stay away from the saloon,
or to give her q little of his money to
buy food for the children.
Michael had been able successfully to
add his influence to the wife's and get
the man.to go quietly home.
He put the hey hastily in his
pocket and hurried toward the two.
You shan't! You shan't! YOU
shan,t never go back to her!" he
heard the woman cry fiercely. "You
promised <n1e-- -sa
Shut up, will you?. j don't care
what I promised SAID the .man
in q guarded voice that Michael; felt
sure he had heard before.
Il shan't shut up! I'll holler el
got a right to stay with me. YOU
shan't do me no wrong ner you shan,t
go back to that stuck-up piece. You're
mine, I aay,' and you promised-!"
With a curse the man struck her q
cruel blow across the mouth, and
tried to tear her ciinging hands away
from his coat, but they only chung the
more fiercely.
Michael sprang to the woman's side
like a panther.
Look outl" he said In clear tones.
you can't strike a woman!" His
voice was low and calm, and sounded
as 1t used to sound on the bail field
when he was giving directions to his
team ate some crisis in the game.
WHO says I can't?" snarled the
man., and now Michael was sure he
knew the voice. Then the wretch
struck the woman between her eyes
and she fell heavily to the ground.
Like a flash Michael's great arm
went out and felled the man, and in
the same breath. from the shadows
behind there sprang out the slender,
wiry figure of Sam and flung itself
the man on the ground who
with angry imprecations, was trying to
struggle to his feet. His hand had
gone to an inner pocket as he fell and
in a moment more there was a flash
of light and Michael felt a bullet,whiz
by his ear. Nothing but. the' swerving
Of the struggling figures had saved, it
from going through his brain. 1tSoc.
Cured to Michael in that instant that
that was what had been intended. The
conviction that the man had also
recognized him gave strength to his
arm as he wrenched the revolver
from the hand of the would-be MS
sassin. Nobody knew better than Mi
chael how easy it would be to plead
"self-defense' II the fellow got into
any trouble. A man in young Car
ter's position with wealth and friends
galore need not fear to wipe an. un-
known fellow OUT Of e%xistence; a fell
low whose friends with few exceptions
We're toughs and jail birds and ex-
criminals Of all Ssorts.
It was just as he gave Cafter's wrist
the twist that sent the revolver clat-
tering to the ground beside the. NM
conscious woman that Michael heard
the hurried footsteps Of the officer of
the law accompanied by q curious
pistol shot and come to e what new
excitement life offered for their delec-
tation. He suddenly realized how bad
matters would look Tor Sam II he
should be found in the embrace sof$oRe
of Society's pets who would all ytoO
surely have q tale to tell that would
clear himself regardless Of others.
Michael had no care for himself. The
police all about that quarter knew
hin1 well, and acquainted with
his work. They looked upon him
with almost more respect than they
gave the priests and deaGoReases who
went about their errAnds Of meFcy;
for Aichael'ss spirit-look Of being
more than man. and the stories that
were attached to his name in the all
ley filled them with-a wprshipfuf awe.
There was little likelihood OF trouble
for Michael with any Of the ofncera
ne knew. But fam was another,
propositi0n. His life had not all been
strictly ~viFtuous In the spaat, ana gof
late he had been away In New Jersey
much that he was little known,
and would be at ONCE suspected OF
been the cause Of the trouble
Besides, the woman Ivy u1conseiousl
ut their feet! 8e
With ! mighty effort Michael now
reached forth md plW6ked Ham,
struGgltns fercely, from the arms 9pf
ny antaganist ana put him bsEird
a the doorway, standins ArEnly
III frert Garter this raleaseds
snyawle6 Tor an Instant IN the afp61
then tAkiHe AAsaDtaSe Tho
lacAsentefyJf elease 2rwaatsa III
~ and hNd insthe 5oppoS5te dit6S9
ton from that which tbeT olljcSf15
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