The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-15
(Continued fro-l yesterday.)

| There was a grave but .Inpersonal
 sympathy in her steady eyes. She said: ''PIease don't hurt the
 Craig. turned back to Harry.
 Its a disgrace" he said, ito let a drunk like you wander around in
 sultin' helpless girls. By God, its got
 to stop snt.+ou ,. nro+.s+a6 tzar
 "On your wayl" thundered Craig. for he was conscious that many eyes were upon him.
 Two formidable figures appeared on either side Of him. They were | AHaurie Gordon, black of face with I wrath, and Dave Carey, his lip lift 1 ed from his teeth like a wolf about l to snarl.
 l They were three formidable ami nals, facing the swaying figure Of l Harry. When mon act under the | civilization is lifted. The lovely Miss l S.lyesrre was Ee..rby. The three be- l came raYing beasts. l "OEt with hiJni'' said Dave Carey l "MOvr!" said NIauCie. l "Start!' sad Ben Craig. 1 i2ut the same thing that male the l hair of Jacquelire red made ths
 'Tll see you da4nned fjrst," he said ta:cl1ly.
 Instantly six iron hands g:tpped l him. He was whirleti, and struSg gling
 ra1nly. borne across the floor toward 1 lhe door. A universal claprlng G l hands came from the edges of the 1 hall. It was understood that Harry | had insulted the lovely stranger, and i in the West, a woman, whether l beautiful or ugly, may be treaJcd with
 familiar words but must be treated 1 with reverent thought. At the very threshold of the door 1 that led from the main hall into the 1 little anteroom where guns and hats 1 loose. The fury of hiS anger was sob
 ering him a little and restoring the l nerves to his muscular control He i broke loose with a curse and swung | feebly, uncertainty, at the nearest | of his prosecutors. Carey and Craig | ducked to rush and grapple with ! thought of. Miss Silvestre and "reaI | men" floating in his brain, drew back l his sledge hammer right fist and | smashed it into the face of young i Harry pitched back through the door as if a dozen hands had thrown | him. The three turned and made l straight for Jac like three little boys ] returning to their mother for praise | due to V.rtuOus act after day of 1 naughtiness and spankings. The wo- | men around the hall were silent. The | men applauded the nurmurs. It was l the custom to applaud Maurie Cor don.
 But when the three reached Jac. 1 she sat white of face and st1H or eye.
 ''This don't happen often," began I Carry.
 T never see anything like 1t be-
 fore" added Craig: | Anyway" said Maurie compIacent- 1 iy. i've taught him lesson.'' X hard voice sounded at his shoul- i der. He turned to stare into the 1 furious eyes of Carrigan. There was nothing bulky about the latter. but now. with his lean, almost ugly face l white with anger and hls cleaning eyes, he seemed strangely dangerous. CHAPTER VIII The Three Musketeers. | lesson yourself.'' Maurie stepped back. Whats eatin' you?' he frowned You hit him when he couldn't
 There was no mistaking it. He
 meant meant fight It shone in his eyes. till he seemed crouch1ng to spring l like some beast of prey.
 .'PleaseH' cried Jac. and stepped in l between them ''shus up and sit dowml" said Car rigan.
 And he pointed with a stern arm.
 Ss By srend God 0ash sharPed fq dne DaHe Sa carev 1 won can't talk to girls like that,
 Then come outside with me an 1 I'll take to man. You too, Gordon. | yoII--''
 A thrilling cry from many women
 made them all turn In the door | "Go-don!" he called "Git down
 an crawl like t1he dirty dog you ara." I There was aro'tfler rash of light on
 sreel, It was che proprietor who had 1 drawn but he did Tot attempt 10
 draw bead on Harry During. His l SUr cracSed: there was a clrpg of
 iron and crash of e!asr as tho pig gasoline lamp went nut: tiss hall xss
 a3"ded with A ssno:-daik And >*:th tT-t1 Rr1e . SJ, -tarto5 For tfe 6oor but who could find tho door t- that chaos of strug-
 g1ing bodies and swinging shadows? :? l Through the wizdnws came the faint light Of the early dawn | Iac: orfad t|arrigan.
 ltur tai! Ben Craig was already be-
 'T.eave it to me:'' he said reassur- iinEly
 You didn't make no mistake when
 you picked ne out I'll show you that the mountain-Ciesert's got ono
 real man to make up for a lot of coy otes!"
 ''wa1t"' she pleaded. i "JacH' called Carrigan again.
 Don't. trust to no one but me- | said Craig.
 ...Then get ne out of this mob.' 1 Follow me"
 ',I will if I can.''
 lie picked her up and Iunsed for ward through the crowd
 Drop her!" commanded eEe voice or Carrigan.
 1 "NCic for ten like you" l He released Jac to turn and fignt |, 4 fist cracked home against his face and he swung furously. They grap 1 pied, and Craig felt as if he were fi@GtiTg a steel automaton. The mus cles Iris hand fell upon were rigid The fists on his head and ribs beat l tattoo Dave Carey had found Jac. l Thank God!" he cried. 'I thought | We're | you throUEh!'
 1 Like Craig, he picked her up. 1 I'll take you home If youu go ! with me-
 1 Anywhere out Of this crowd!" l ".-ac!"
 l 'Kerer
 l A hand caught Carey bv the shout | drr and jerked him around In the ] dim IiEht he SAW tlha con4-uIsad face