The Ordway new era., 1921-06-08
:. ,,o,,d q, smoke from the cigar

ont a cloud Of smoke from the cigar
ette. ,.v,,,
"An' IL It's Nellie that you're havih
reference to-" said he. "she's NOT the
he,p.ess female that you think. iwas
a swell crack on the ear got 'or my
trouble"
"'Tis n sweller one you'll be gettih
from me" Cannon retorted with CON
y,ction. "Sure. If you've no more man
ners than that I'll teach you some.
"D'yer mean you've come lookin' ior
,rouble?" RYAN asked as he got Slowly
to his feet. -,
"Run home. now" he ADVISED"
..Youd better go while there's tiihe.
'Tis scared to death you look. ! wont
hurt Won. sonny, honest l won't, NOT
unless you do something fooiish.
What? oh, you would, would yer'
Ugh'
For Cannon in frenzy of anger
had stepped forward. swung his right
with all the force he could muster anu
landed neatly on Ryan's long jaw.
..pll larn yer" he yelled, his voice
breaking in its anger-"Tll learn yer
thing or two before I'm done Win
yer.r
Ryan sprang at his assailant with
howl of rage, driving blows mt the
face which the other strove to avoid
by rushing TO desperate clinch.
There ensued moments of Wild eX-
citement in the usually quiet court.
Windows went up with bang. heads
were thrust out, men beloved advice
and women screamed.
Struggling, cursing, painting. they
pushed and wrtthed and finally top
pied over to the pavement. And 1t was
at this inopportune moment that Gan
mons inspiration suddenly ceased, for
Nellie Shaughnessy, unable longer to
endure the stress of blind waiting.
quilted the piano and sought the front
window for nearer view of the melee.
"Play, Nellie" gasped Cannon chok-
ngly, for the fingers of Ryan's right
hand were already tightening on his
throat. "For Gods sake play 'killar-
ney,' an don't st1p!"
The girls white face disappeared
from the window. Once more from
behind the blinds came the wavering
notes of the piano. and at the sound
Cannon by almost superhumun efforts
wriggled loose from the grip OF the
man above him. With the lltheness of
cat he gained his feet, sprang at the
aStounded Ryan and rained on him
such shower of blows that he wav-
cred gave back step, tripped over
loose paving stone and went down.
Before he could regain his scattered
wits the shower of blows commenced
again, and with n howl of terror he
ran across the court with Cannon in
frenzied pursuit. and while the specta-
tors gave vent to yells of derision (for
to Cannon came all the sympathy
accorded the under dog) he fed up
the stoop whereon he had so recently
taken his ease, tore through the open
door and. banging it shut in his pur-
suers face, held it fast; the while. on
the other side, Cannon smashed It
Justify with fists and feet, demand
ing stridently that his opponent come
coming to him.
1t was only when, across the court.
the last notes of "Killarney" died
away that his assaults on the unyield-
ing door ceased. Then quietly. even
shamefacedly, he sought shelter In the
hallway from which few minutes
before he had emerged.
Because both eyes We're badly swOl-
len he could scarcely see. but he was
aware that some one ran from the
front room to meet him. that two arms
encircled his neck, and that soft, cool
cheek was pressed against his own
bruised and battered face.
kiss yer, would he?" he muttered,
stroklng her hair. kiss yer when yer
told him nay? Well, he's got his all
right for what he done He's got his.
Take me into the parlor, Nellie, an
play me Killarney once more"
""rwas not that l minded the kiss
so much, AL" she copessed as she led
him stumbling through the door, "but
twas the thought that you didn't mind
an that you'd let him because you was
afraid of him."
Gently he pushed her from him.
play Killarney" he repeated.
Then. as the uncertain strains float
ed out on the stiffness of the court he
closed his eyes wearily In supreme
content.
In the back yard of the house across
the way Blink Ryan nursed his bat
tered features and meditated deeply.
St. croIx Of History.
It was on ST. Croix, West Indies