The spectator., 1922-01-10

l Suoft DedEu WuS CuIlcu ilhc tHc huA between a bulls horns. In one hand he carried repeating rife as lightly as though it were mere straw.
 One of his great arms suddenly strengthened toward Dale, and voice as gruff as the growl of bear said hotly:
 What was you a-doin' here a-talkin' to my gyurl?"
 Babe Littleford looked angry. Dale flushed, then went pale.
 q have habit of talking with whom l please he said evenly.
 Spoke like man." drawled the lanky Heck in very low tone. Goliath of the hills stared unbeliev- ingly. Dale said in an undertone to John Moreland: "Is 1t that Ball fel- low?"
 "Yes," answered the hillman; tits Black Adam Ball." Ball dropped his rifle to the vioets, slowly clenched his huge and hairy hands, and thrust his bearded l jaw out aggressively.
 'I 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. "I won't run.' That's Moreland terrytory," Ball objected. But I'll meet ye half way, and l dare ye to take me up, ye lace trimmed pink mollycodde v Inl hn hn 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 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 unbelieyingly. He 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 wickedly. Ball rushed, the clear water swirling in his wake, and let out with power full right. It was blow to crush an ordinary mans chest in; but, to Balls surprise, it failed to land. Dale evaded 1t cleverly. and at the same time sent a swift left uppercut to the others 0ull-like jaw. Adam Ball muttered two wicked words and steadied himself i; he had caught a tartar. A moment, and he led out again. and he missed again; but he followed 1t with a blow that made red mark on Bill Dales shoulder
 "How's that, ye pink coward?" he crowed.
 All right-how's this?'
 And Dale sent on mighty blow that rebounded duly from the giants chest and elicited only 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 more vulnerable spot.
 Then he feinted with his 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 clinch. But Dale eluded the terrible arms, although in so doing he received a blow on the temple that made him dizzy for few seconds.
 While Ball was again engaged in trying to gain the advantage of clinch, Granny Heck made her appear ance on the Moreland bank. She promptly launched her sympathies in manner that pleased both her gaping son and the watchful and silent John Moreland.
 Hit him In the stummick, Mir. 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 were filled with slivers of steel. But still he fought on doggedly determinedly, desperately, minute aft CT minute.
 Those on the two banks watched 1t | all with suppressed excitement. Babe Littleford stood in the edge of the 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 q 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 |