Shoshone journal., 1921-07-29

short beard was curled Ike the hal
Il between a bulls horns. In one ham
n he carried a repeating rifle as lightl
q as though it were a mere straw.
j One Of his great arms suddenl.
Strengthened toward Dale, and voic'
= as gruff as the growl of bear SAID
4 hotly:
What was you a-doln' here a-talkin
. to my gyurl?"
Babe Littleford looked angry. Dale
flushed. then went pale.
Il have a habit Of talking with
whom l please" he said evenly.
Spoke like a man." drawled the
lanky Heck in a very low tone.
Goliath Of the hills stared unbeliey-
ingly. Dale said in an undertone TO
John Moreland: "Is it that Ball fel-
Iow?"
YES" answered the hillman; tits
Black Adam Ball"
Ball dropped his rifle to the
violets. slowly clenched his huge and
hairy hands, and thrust his bearded
jaw out aggressively.
81 dare ye over here, ye pink cow
ard - he challenged.
IF you have any business with me,
come over here and transact it," Dale
retOrted. Il won't run"
That's MOreland terrytory," Ball
objected. But I'll meet We half way.
and ! dare We to take me up, We lace
trimmed pink mOllycoddle
Halfway xrorld ha tho r,sIrifo +ba
river, and no place for a fight, surely.
But Dale was nettled His temper.
the temper that he had never been
able to keep wholly under control, was
rising fast. He threw off his coat and
hat and rolled the sleeves of his soft !
shirt to his elbows. Then he waded
into the pool. The slowly moving !
water was up to his waist at the half
way point, and the bottom was of
Eard-packed sand
The Goliath stared unbelievingly. |
He was moi accustomed to having his |
challenges thus accepted. He threw |
off his hat and west to meet the 1.-the |
young stranger.
Bill Dale squared himself and put |
up his guard. Adam Ball came on,
and he was scowling wickedly.
Ball rushed, the clear water swirling
in his wake, and let out with a power
full right. 1t was a blow to crush an
ordinary mans chest in; but, to Balls
it failed to land. Dale evaded
1t cleverly, and at the same time sent
a swift left uppercut to the others
Oull-like jaw. Adam Ball muttered two
wicked words and steadied himself;
he had caught a tartar A moment,
and he led out again, and he missed
again; but he followed it with blow
hat made a red mark on Bill Dale's |
"How's that, ye pink coward?" he
"All right-how's this?"
And Dale sent on a mighty blow
hat rebounded DULY from the giants G
hest and elected only a harsh laugh |
4 contempt There was little TO be L
aimed by striking a man like Adam
'all on the chest; Dale knew now {
hat he must reach a more vulnerable
pot.
Then he feinted with his left and
rove his right TO Balls mouth, bring
lg blood. Ball roared in his blind q
age and dashed toward his antagonist, L
asolved to get a clnch. But Dale NJ
uded the terrible arms, although in al
doing he received a blow on the
'mple that made him dizzy for few &C
,conds. W
While Ball was again engaged in
ying to gain the advantage of a % >.
inch, Granny Heck made her appear !"
ice on the Moreland bank. She nc
'omptly launched her sympathies in
manner that pleased both her gaping III
n and the watchful and silent John m'
oreland. IN
Hit him In the stummick. Mr.. Binl" ne
9 cried over and over. Hit him Je'
bar he lives at!' yo
The combat grew hotter and hotter. re'
'th landed frequently now. The faces
both were bleeding. and each spat 4
I now and then. Their clothing had Nc
en- torn away to the belt, and their h'
ignifcent wet bodies glowed in the na
'rning sunlight. Dale had seriously Gu
mayed his soft hands; they felt as an
ough they were filed With slivers Of the
'el- But still he fought en- doggedly,
desperately. minute aft Nc
minute. col
Those on the two banks watched II cai
with suppressed. excitement. Babe
tleford stood in the edge Of the yo'
ter. with her hands clasped below nal
: throat her face was pale. John tie
Ireland. who had witnessed MANY he
er great fights. himself a fighting sor
n, had never before behsld such a orr
test Of strength and endurance as tin
5; Bill Dale had won John More ma
DIS heart for all time 70 come. oai
But the blows Of the fighters were II
wing weaker now. The sound Of II
ir Iabored breathing rose distinctly
T the gentle roar Of tie sparkling
ters above.
hen the watchers saw Adam Bail