Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-07
AND HERE IT CONTINUES

Il
L now almost at the top of the stairs,
was unconscious that he was painting
heavily from his exertions, unconscious
of everything save a new refrain that
had taken possession Of his mind: "It
was Crang in there! It was Crang in
there "
1t was the door just at the right Of
the landing. Crang's voice came from
the squeal of an enraged animal:
. you're mine! I've got a right TO
those red lips. you vixen, and I'm
going to have them! A mans got the
right to take the girl he's going to marry
In his arms DO you think I'm going
to be held off forever? You're mine,
and--'
The words were lost again in a cry
from Claire, and in the sound of a
struggle--a falling chair, the scuffle
once more of feet. &,
John Bruce flung himself across the
hall and against the door. 1t yielded
without resistance. and the impetus of
his own rush carried him, staggering
far into the room. Two forms were
circling there under the gas light as
though in the thrOes of some mad dance
only the face of the woman was
deathly white. and her small clenched
fists beat franticnlly at the face of the
man whose arms were around her.
John Bruce sprang forward. He laughed
aloud, unnaturally. His brain, his mind,
was whiring: but something soft was
grasped in his two encircling hands,
and that was why he laughed-becausc
his soul laughed. His fingers pressed
tighter. 1t was Crang's throat that was
soft under his fingers.
Suddenly the room swirled around
him. A giddiness seemed to seize upon
him-and that soft thing in his grip
slipped from his fingers and escaped
him. He brushed his hand across his
eyes. 1t would pass. of course. 1t was
strange that he should go giddy ike
that, and that his limbs should be trem =
bling as though with the ague! Again
he brushed his hand across his eyes. II
would pass off. He could see better now.
Claire had somehow fallen to the floor
hut she was rising to, her knees now,
using the side of the bed for support,
and =,
Her voice rang wildly through the
room. 80, ,
"I.ook out! Oh, look OUT" she
TO John Bruce it seemed as though
something leaped at him out of space
and struck, The blow, aimed Mt his
side. which was still bandaged, went
home. 1t brought, an agony that racKe'
and tore and twisted at every nerve ~
his body, 1t wrung moan from ms
lips, it brought the sweat beads BURSTING
oit upOn his fOrehead-but it cleared
his brain. n
Yes. it was Doctor Crang-but dis
reputable in appearance rs he had never
before seen the man. Crang's clothes
we're filthy and unkempt, as though tht
man had fallen somewhere IN the mlr'
and was either unconscious or cal.ou'
Of the fact; his hair draggled In a mat
ted way over his forehead, and thougl
his face worked with passion, ana the
passion brought curious hectic rose
color to supplant the customary lifeiess
gray of his checks, the eyes were mos
strangely glazed and fixed;
And again John Bruce laughed,aht
with vicious guard swept aside
second blow aimed at his side. and hi
left fist, from full arm swing. CRASHED
to the point of Doctor Crang S jaw. Bu
the next instant they had closed, thell
arms locked around each others waists
their chins dug hard into each other
shoulders. And they rocked there. ant
swayed, and lurched, curious I'm,
potence in their ferocity-and topplet
to the floor
John Bruce's grip tightened as Doc
tor Crang fought madly now to teal
himself free-and they rolled over ant
over In the direction Of the door: Ho'
and cold waves swept over John Bruce
He was weak, pitifully weak, barely
convalescent. But he was content
to call it an equal fight. He asked
for no other odds than Crang himself
had offered. The man for once hat
oversteeped himself with dope, and was
near the point Of collapse. He hat
read that in the others eyes, as surely
as though he had been told. And 81
John Bruce, between his gaspini
breaths, still laughed, and rolled ovel
and over-always toward the door.
From somewhere Claire's voice
reached John Bruce, implOringly. II
terror. OF course! That was why h'
was trying to get to the door, to ge
out of her room-through respect fol
her--to get somewhere where he coult
finish this fight between one man wht
could scarcely stand upon his fee
through weakness, and another whos'
drug shattered body was approaching
that state Of coma which he. Johr
Bruce, had been made to suffer on thu
night the robbery had been committed
And by the same needle He remem,
bered that! Weak in body. his miA(