Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-03-17

It was a sweet and rather touching |
little tableau; tc John Stuart Webster,
imaginative and possessed Of a ro-
mantle streak in his nature, 1t was |
more than tableau. It was NOV
ing picture!
II suppose her old man objects to
the young fellow" he muttereC to
himself sympathetically, "and he can't
come near the house. They've met
here for the fond farewell, and now
the young fellows going out West to
make his fortune, so he can come back
and claim the girl HUH If he wants
her, why the devil doesn't he take
herr Hellol By Judas priest! Now
know what those two paraQueets are
up to. One of them is the father of
that girl. They've been spying on the
lovers, and now they're going to cor
ner the young fellow and shingle him
for his nerve"
The girl had stood for moment,
gazing after her companion, before she
turned with her handkerchief to her
eyes, and continued on her way to the
cathedral. Webster heard her Sob
bing as she stumbled blindly by, and
he was distressed about her, for all
the world loves a lover and John
Stuart Webster was, no exception to
this universal rule.
"By George, this is pretty tough"
he reflected. "That young fellow
treated that girl with as much gentle
ness and courtesy as any gentleman
should, and I'm for him and against
this idea of corporal punishment.
Don't you worry, Tillie, my dear. I'm
going to horn into this game myself
If 1t goes too far"
The two dusky skulkers ahead of
him, having come to another cross
path, turned into it and came out on
the main path in the rear of the young
man. Webster noticed that the pair
were still walking on the grass. He
padded gently along behind them.
The four were now rapidly ap-
preaching che old French market, and
the steadily rising babel Of voices
speaking in French, italian, Spanish,
Creole patois and Choctaw, was suffi-
cient to have drowned the slight noise
Of the pursuit, even had the young
mans mind not been upon other
things, and the interest of the two
Central Americans centered upon their
quarry, to the exclusion of any thought
of possible interruption.
Webster felt instinctively that the
/ I'D
certed attack from the rear. He
smiled.
'T'll just fool you two hombres a
whole lot" he thought, and STOPPING,
picked up a small stone. On the in
stant the two men, having approached
within thirty feet Of their quarry,
made rush for him.
Their charge was swift, but though
it was, the little stone which John
Stuart Webster hurled was swifter. II
struck the young man fairly between
the shoulderblades with force suffi-
cient to bring him out of his senti-
mental reverie with jerk, as it were
He whirled, saw the danger that
threatened him, and-sprang to meet
1t.
"Bravo!" yelled Webster, and ran to
his aid, for he had seen now that II
was to be knife work. Tragedy in
stead Of melodrama.
The man with the puckered eye
closed in with such eagerness it was
apparent to Webster that here was
work to his liking. The young mar
raised his light cane, but Pucker-ey'
did not hesitate. He merely threw W
his left forearm to meet the expected
blow aimed at his head, lunged for
ward and slashed viciously at the
young mans abdomen. The lattel
drew back step, doubled like a jack
knife, and brought his cane dow
viciously across the knuckles Of hi
assailant's right hand.
$50 it is thou, son of pig" HI
called pleasantly in Spanish. II fool
ed you that time, didn't II" he addeC
in English. Thought would ain
for your head, didn't your"
The blow temporarily paralyzed tn,
assassin's hand; he dropped the knife
and as he stopped to recover it will
his left hand, the young man, befor
retreating from Pop-eye, kicked Puck
er-eye in the face and quite upset him
"Stop it! shouted Webster.
POp-eye turned his head at the out
cry. The man he was attacking fel
into the position of a swordsman el
garde, and thrust viciously with tn
ferrule at the face of the pop-eyed mar
who, disregarding Webster's approach
seized the cane in his left hand an
with a quick; powerful tug actuall
drew his victim toward him foot be
fore the latter let go the stick.
Before he could give ground agat
. Pop-eye was upon him. He graspe
the young man by the latter's LEI
arm and held him, while he drew bac
for the awful disembowiiing stroke
AS his long arm sped forward the hoo
J of John Stuart Webster's heavy can
descended upon that fiexed arm in tn
crook of the elbow, snagging
cleverly.