The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-08-18


hs carried a repeating rife ~ lightly
e. though il were . mere straw.
One - his great arms suddenly
slaughtered iouard Dale. and a voice
a. sruT g. tie gr0Wl Of = bear said
botiy:
what was you a-doin' here a-talkin'
70 mE gyuris-
Bale LittIeford looked angry. Daie
flushed. then went pale.
! have a habit o. taxing with
whom please he said evenly.
Spoke like a man. drswled the
isuky Heck ia a very low tOne.
Goliath Of the bills stared unbeiiev-
hgly Dale said in an undertone 20
J"hn Moreland lis IL that Ball fel-
iow?-
Yes answered the hillman; its
Black Adam Ball.
BAH dropped his rife TO the
yioiets. slowly cienched his huge and
hairy hands and thrust his bearded
Jaw oct aggreEsiveiy.
! dare ye over here, ye pink COW
ar,l ,- he challenged.
If you have any business with me.
come over here and transact it, Dale
retorted. i won't run.
That's Moreland terryiory.- Bail
objected But IN meet ye balf way.
and dare ye to take me up. ye lace
trimmed pink mollycoddle -
Halfway would be the middle of the
river. and no place for fight. surely.
But Dale was neitled. His temper.
the temper that he had never been
able To keep wholly under control, was
rising fast He threw of his coat and
Z hat and rolled tile sleeves OF his soft
shirt TO MS elbows. Then he waded
I into the pool. The slowly moving
wafer was up to his waist Vt the half.
way point. and tie bottom vas Of
/ hard packed sand.
The Goliath stared unbeliey'reiy.
] lie was not accustomed to having as
challenges thus accepted. lie threw
on his hat and went to meet the 1.-THE
I young stranger
Eli Dale squared himself and put
I mp his guard Adam Ball came on.
I and he was scowling wickedly.
| Ball rushed, the clear water swirling
IN his wake. and let out with power
/ fui right. II was blow TO crush an
! ordinary mans chest in; but. to Balls
| surprise. il failed to land. Dale evaded
1t cleyerly, and at the same time sent
Il swift left uppercut To the others
null-like Jaw. Adam Ball muttered two
/ wicked words and steudied himself;
/ he had caught a tartar. A moment.
and he led out again. and he missed
/ again: but he followed 1t with blow
that made red mark on Bill Dule's
/ shoulder.
"How's that, We pink coward?" he
| crowed
"Al ight-hOw's thlsf"
And Dale sent on mighty blow
that rehounded duly from the giants
/ chest and eliclied only harsh laugh
Of contempt There was little TO be
/ Eall on the chest: Dale knew now
| thar he must reach more yulnc ole
/ spot
Then he feinted with his left and
drove his right To Balls mouth. bring
I ing blood. Ball roared IN his blind
rage and dashed toward his antagonist
resolved to get a cinch. But Dale
eluded the terrible arms, although In
81 doing he received blow ON the
temple that made him dizzy for IA 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 sympnthies in
a manner that pleased both her gaping
son and the watchful aud silent John
| Moreland.
Hit him In the stummlck. Mr.. Bin :"
she cried over and over. "Ilt 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 10 the belt, and their
magnificent wet bodies glowed In the
morning sunlight. Dale had seriously
damaged his soft hands; they felt ms
though they were filled with slivers Of
steel. But still he fought on duggedly,
determinediy. desperately, minute aft
! er minute.
Those on the two banks watched IL
all with suppressed excitement. Babe
Llttleford stood in the edge OF the
water. with her hands clasDed below
her throat. her face was pale. John
Mureland. who had Witnessed many
other great fights, himself a fighting
man, had never before beheld such a
contest OF strength and endurance as
this; Bin Dale had won John More
lands heart for all time 10 come.
Bpt the blows Of the fighters were
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