Licking Valley courier., 1921-08-25

The Combat Grew Hotter and Hotter.
Of both were bleeding, and each spal
red now and then. Their clothing had
been torn away to the belt, and thel
magnificent wet bodies glOwel in the
morning sunlight. Dale had seriously
damaged his soft hands; they felt as
though they were filed with sllvers of
Steel But still he fought on doggedly,
determinedly, desperately, minute aft.
er minute
Those on the two banks watched 1t
all with suppressed excitement. Babe
Llttleford stood In the edge Of tht
water, with her hands clasped below
her throat, her face was pale. John
MOreland, who had witnessed many
other great fights, himself 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. =
But 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 Bal,
lunge at his man, saw Dale stumble
out Of sheer weakness, saw Balls
mighty bloOdstreaked arms close
about the beautiful white body and
hug it close to his great and hairy
chest, A moment, and Ball was bend
ing Dale slowly backward and down.
ward more by reason Of weight thar
Of strength another moment, and Ball
was about to sink the brown head un.
der the surface!
Babe LittlefOrd gave smothereC
cry. John Moreland stepped toward
the water pnd shouted hoarsely:
Don't We drowned him Adaml Fl
ye do, yeil answer to mew
Dale had gathered himself for last
move. He slipped downward suddenly
immersing himself completely, ant
shot one arm around Balls thigh
then, by great effort he rose Will
the giant and overthrew him, ant
staggered free
Balls hairy face came to the surfac,
first. Dale fought back the pain o
the water In his lungs, and the pail
as of sharp and jagged slivers of stee
In his hands, and struck madly, hal
blndly, at the hateful face. He KEEP
It down, hut 1t wouldn't go under tn
water completely. -.
Adam Ball began to drift MS thOugl
lifeless down the stream. Bill Dali
followed, still lighting weakly, choking
~ he breOthed, But soon he cease
to strike, Tie saw, instead OF the beast
like fuce, flashes as Of distant summe
lightning, and red blotches against
thick blackness. The blotches faded
and all became dark to him;
pitched forward, gasping, and bega
TO drift down the stream with III
.yaDquished BAH,
FBabe Llttleford was standing In III
&Ayuter to her kEees, When Dale SUI
"a scumbed to utter exhaustion, she star
ed toward him, to save him frOl
drowning. She felt strangely draw
I toward the big, white, clean man wi
had whipped the Goliath she had Y
ways dreaded, But she had gone ON
' n few yards toward the center of Il
: river when John Moreland and Sa
Heck reached the unconscious figure
u Heck dragged Ball to the Llttlefol
l. bank and left him lying there, fn
downward ON the sand, Morelund hu
8 carried, half dragged Brl Dale TO Il
: other bank, Babe Llttleford wad
u out, She paid absolutely no attentl
$ to the w0rsted bully. She stood
u tently watching the limp form Of Da
u lis lie dead, John Moreand" s
y called tremul0uSly,
y "NO, Babe" Moeland answered, !
.; voice not mkind; "he amt unywa
I, nigh dead"
II lie and Sam Heck took up Dnl
W dripping figure and bore II away. In
3 Llttleford run to higher ground, !
herself behind n clump OF sassufl
10 und watched them.
Granny Heck followed with Dal
coat and hat, she chattered all
p" way across the meadow
e "Now what did tell ye, John q
n (Co .t'nued on page three.)
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