Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-07

al He ~ PUSH WILL TatncE lAd4l ~
strike blows that counted.
The Arizonan could not afterward
remember at exactly what stage of
the proceedings the face of Jerry
Durand impinged itself on his con
seriousness. Once, when the swirl OF
the crowd flung him close to the door,
he caught a glimpse of it, tight
Tipped and wolf-eyed, turned to him
with relentless malice. The gang
eader was taking no part in the fight.
The crowd parted. Out of the pack
a pair of strong arms and lean broad
shoulders plowed a way for a some
a debonair smile. With pantherish
litheness the Arizonan ducked q
swinging blow. A moment, and he
was outside the three steps that led
to the street.
Into his laboring lungs he drew de-
%liciously the soft breath of the night.
1t cooled the fever of his hammered
face, was like an icy bath to his hot
body. A little dizzy from the blows
for q moment uncertain which way to
go. q
Then again he became aware of
Durand. The man was not alone. He
had with him a hulking ruffian whose
heavy, hunched shoulders told of
strength. There was a hint of the
gorilla in the way the long arms hung
leaned forward. Both of the men were
watching the COW puncher as steadily
as alley cats do a house finch.
HIS going to pop in about three
seconds" announced Clay to himself.
Silently, without lifting their eyes
from their victim for an instant, the
two men moved apart to take him on
h1%h -slN~ 70 IT. ~I,~~ - 49, ~-~ II
forcing a frontal attack. The laugh
ter had gone out Of his eyes now.
They had hardened to pin-points.
This time it was no amateur horse
play. He was fighting for his life.
No need to tell Clay Lindsay that the
New York gangsterl meant to leave
him as good as dead.
The men rushed him. He fought
back with clean, hard blows. Jerry
bored in like a wild bull. Claylcaught
him off his balance, using a short arm
jolt which had back of it all that
twenty-three years Of clean outdoors
Arizona could give. The gangster hit
the pavement hard. Y
He got up furious INC charged
again. The Arizonan busy with the
other man, tried to sidestep.. An up
percut Jared him to the heel. In
that instant of time before his knees
began to sag beneath him his brain
flashed the news that Durand had
struck him on the chin with brass
knuckles. He crumpled UP and went
down. still alive to what vas going
on, but unable to nov in his own
defense. Weakly he tried to protect
his face and sides from the kicks OF
a heavy boot. Then he floated bal
loon-like in space and vanished into
Inconsistencies.
Clay drifted back to a world ir
which the machinery of his body
creaked. He turned his head. and
racking pain shot down his neck. He
moved a leg, and every muscle in il
ached. From head to foot he was
/ sore.
Voices somewhere in space. tdetach.
ed from any personal ownership
f1oated vaguely to him. Presently
these resolved themselves into words
INC sentences. y.
Were not to make a pinch. Tim
That's the word he gave me before
he left. This is wan av Jerry's pri-
vate little wars and he don't want a
judge askin' a lot Of UNNECESSARY
questions, v understand"
Mother av'Moses, if this herman
from HIS Hinges hadn't the luck
av the Irish, there'd be questions
a-plenty asked. He'd be ready for
NAAo 0oS AAAAAu&C. JCK-
RVS a murderin' divvle. When ]
breeze in I find him croakin' this lad
proper and he acts like a crazy man
when I stand him and Gorilla Dave
off till yuh come a-runnin'. At that
they may have given the bye more
than he can carry. Maybe it'll be
roses and a nice black carriage for
him yet"
Clay opened his eyes, fexed his arm
muscles, n groaned. He caressed
tendefly his aching ribe.
"Some wreck" he gasped weakly
"They didn't do a thing to me-out-
side of beatin' me up-and stompin'
on me-and runnin' a steam roller
over the dear departed"
Who's fault will that be-? Don't
you know better than to start a fight
with a rigiment?" demanded the ser.
geant of police severely.
That wasn't a fight. It was a
waltz h faint, unconquered smile
of brown Arizona broke through the
blood and bruises Of the face. "The
fight began when Jerry Durand and
when Jerry landed IN me with brass
knucks. After that I was a football
h words came in gasps. Every
breath was drawn in pain.
Wed ought to pinch yuh," the SER
geant sad by way of reprimand.
Think yuh can come to New York
and pull your smsll-town stuff on US
falfa green I'd give yuh a ride" The
officer dropped his grumbling COM
plant to a whisper. ''Whisht, bye,
Take a straight tip from a man that
knows. Beat it out Of town. Get
where the long arm of-of a friend
of ours-can't reach yuh. He's a re-
vingeful inemy il ever there Was
ran"
"Wou mean hat Durand-"
I'm not namin' Names" the officer
Interrupted doggedly. I'm tellin'
yuh somethin' for your good. Take
it or leave it."
Thanks; IN leave it. This is a
free country. and no man Twin can
a Srom MIN me .a away'I I'M answered aar. d,vs Clay Lay
a lift, sergeant" :
They helped the COW puncher ia
his feet. He took a limping step OF
two. Every mov was torture to his
outraged flesh.
Can you get me a taxi? That is,
il you're sure you don't want me In
yore ~calaboose." the range-rider said,
leaning against the wall.
We'll let you go this time"
Muc obliged-to Mr.. Jerry .Du-
rand. Tell him for me that maybe
III meet up with him again some
time---and hand him my thanks per-
sona1 for this irst-@lass wallopin..s
From the bruised, bleeding face there
beamed again the smile indomitable,
the grin still gay and winning. ply.
sically he q been badly beaten. But
I'm shirt ne was still the man al
EhprBebAck.
Presently he eased himself into 4
taxi mfortably al he could,
Home. & Jamess ne said Sjauntily.
xsWhere s." asked the diver
The nearest hospital .axpIained
iClAys@HmSSsEofn to- let tbesdoctorI
worry over. me tor a&Whfie. Ma