New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-09

E~ard-packed sand.
The Goliath stared unbelievingly.
lie was not accustomed TO having his
challenges thus accepted. He threw
off his hat and went to meet the 1.-the
young stranger.
Bill Dale squared himself and put
up his guard. Adam Ball came on,
and he was scOwling w~ickedly.
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
surprise, 1t failed to land. Dale evaded
it %cleyerly, 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 ii with a blow
that made a red mark on Bill Dale's
shoulder.
Flows that, We pink coward?" he
crowed.
"All rlght-hOw's this?'
And Dale sent on a mighty blow
that rebOunded duly from the giants
chest and ELECTED only II harsh laugh
Of contempt. There was little to be
gained by striking a man like Adam
Ball on the chest; Dale knew now
that he must reach a more Vulnerable
spot.
Then he tented with Lis left and
drove his right to Balls mouth, bring
Ing blood. Ball roared In his blind
rage and dashed toward his antagonist.
resolved to get a ciinch. But Dale
eluded the terrible arms, although In
SO doing he received a blow on the
temple that made him dizzy for a few
seconds.
While Ball was again engaged In
trying to gain the advantage OF a
clinch, Granny Heck made her appear
ance on the MOreland bank. She
promptly launched her sympathles In
a manner that pleased both her gaping
son and the watchful and silent John
Moreland.
Hit him In the stummick, Mr.. Bill"
she cried over and over. Hit him
whar he lives at !"
The combat grew hotter and hotter.
Both landed frequently now. The faces
of both were bleeding, and each spat
red now and then. Their clothing had
been torn away to the belt, and their
magnificent wet bodies glowed in the
morning sunlight. Dale had seriously
damaged his soft hands; they felt as
though they We're filled with sllvers of
steel. But still he fought on doggedly,
d~eterminedly, desperately, minute aft
er minute.
Those on the two banks watched 1t
all With suppressed excitement. Babe
LIttleford stood In the edge Of the
water. with her hands clasDed below
her %ti!roat, her face was pale. John
Moreland, who had witnessed many
other great fights. himself n fighting
man, had never before beheld such a
contest Of strength and endurance as
this; Bill Dale had won John More
lands heart for all time to come.
Dut liit blDNS VI iuc hEiittIs NCit
growing weaker now. The sound of
their labored breathing rose distinctly
over the gentle roar of the sparkling
waters above.
Then the watchers saw Adam Ball
lunge ut his man, saw Dale stumble
out OF sheer weakness, saw Balls
mighty blood-streaked arms close
about the beautiful white body and
hug il close to his great and hairy
chest. A moment. and Ball was bend
ing Dale slowly backward and down.
ward more by reaso Of weight than
of strength another moment, and Bail
was about to sink the brown head un-
der the surface!
Babe I.ittleford. gave a smothered
cry. John Moreland stepped toward
the water and shouted hoarsely:
Don't We drowned him Adam! Ell
ye do, yen nswer TO me !"
Dale had gathered himself for a last
move. He slipped downward suddenly.
immersing himself completely, and
Sibl WV iih afouIu DdhS tnlsD I,
then. by u great effort. he rose with
the giant and overthrow him. and
staggered free!
Balls hairy face came to the surface
first. Dale fought back the pain of
the water IN his lungs. and the pain
rs of sharp and jagged slivers of steel
in his hands, and struck madly. half
bIindly. at the hateful face. lie kept
il down, but 1t wouldn't 20 under the
water completely. -.
Adam Ball began ia drift as though
l~ifeless down the stream. B.ll Dale
followed, still fighting weakly, choking
as he breathed. But soon he ceased
to strike. He saw. Instead of the beast.
like face. flashes as of distant summer
lightning. and red blotches against a
thick blackness. The blotches faded,
and all became dark to him; he
pitched forward. gasping. and began
to drift down the stream with the
vanquished Ball.
Babe Littleford was standing In the
water TO her knees. When Dale sue
cumbed to utter exhaustion. she start
ed toward him. to save him from
drowning. She felt strangely drawn
toward the big. white. clean man who
had whipped the Goliath she had al
ways dreaded. But she had gone only
a few yards toward the center Of the
river when John Moreland and Sam
Heck reached the unconscious figures.
Heck dragged Ball to the Littleford
bank and left him lying there. face
downward. on the sand. Moreland half
carried. half dragged Bill Dale to the
other bank. Babe L~ittleford waded
out. She paid absolutely no attention
TO the worsted bully. She stood in
- -4a- a. Il -