Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-04

Clay's newly shined boots and the
lower six inches Of his trousers.
Look out what you're doing!" pro-
tested the man from Arizona.
II tink you better look where
you're going!'' retorted the one from
Sweden. He was a heavy-set, mus
cular man with a sullen, obstinate
face. y
my shoes and trousers are sop.
ping wet. I believe you did it on
Think SO? Val. yust one teng I
lax to tell you. 1 got no time for
DIN fule talk" ,
The westerner started on his way
There was no use having a row with
a sulky janitor.
But the Swede misunderstood his
purpose. At Clay'sI first step forward
he jerked round the nozzle and let
n range-rider have it with full force.
Clay was swept back to the wall
by the heavy pressure of water that
played over him. The stream moved
swiftly up and down him from head
to foot till it had drenched every
inch of the perfect f1fty-fve dollar
suit. He drowned fathoms deep in a
Niagara Falls. He came to life again
to find himself the choking center of
a world food.
he gave a strangled whoop and
charged straight at the man behind
the hose. The two >clinched. While
they struggled, the writing hose
slapped back and forth between them
like an agitated snake. { Clay had one
advantage. He was wet through any
how. 1t did not matter how much
of the deluge struck him. The jan
itor fought to keep dry, and he had
not a chance ON earth to succeed.
For n hundred and s~eventy-hve
pounds Of Arizona zone and muscle,
toughened by years of hard work in
sun and wind. had clamped itself
upon him. The nozzle twisted to-
ward the j%anitor. He ducked, went
down and was instantly submerged.
When he tried to rise, the stream beat
him back. He struggled halfway up.
slipped. got again to his feet and came
down sitting with a hard bump when
his legs skated from under him.
A smothered Vat t'ell!" rose out Of
the waters. The janitor could not
understand what was happening to
him. He did not know that he was
being treated to a new form of the
water cure.
Before his dull brain had func-
toned to action an iron grip had him
by h back of the neck. He was
jerked to his feet and propelled for
ward to the curb. Every inch of the
way the heavy stream from the noz-
zle broke on his a and neck. 1t
p%aralyzed his resistance, Jared him
so that he could not gather himself
a hltchlng post. garroted him, and
swung the hose around the post in
such a way as to encircle the feet Of
the man.
The c~owpuncher drew the. hose
tight, slipped h nozzle through the
iron ring, and caught the flapping
arms of the man to his body. With
the def skill ola trained roper, Clay
swung the rubber pipe round the body
it close to the post and knotting it
securely behind. The Swede strug-
bled, but his furious rage awaited him
nothing. When Clay stepped back
to inspect his job. he knew he was
looking at one that had been done
thoroughly.
Il keel you. by d-n, eff you don't
turn me loose!" roared the big man
in a rage. ,s
The ~range-rider grinned gayly at
him. He was having the time of his
young life. He did not even regret
his fifty-five-dollar suit.
"Life's just loaded to the hooks with
disappointment. Ollie" he explained,
and his voice was full of genial sym
! PdSAJ. Ill UeL d uOlldF MEX you'd
7 sure like to beat me on the head
with a two-by-four. Blu: 1 don't
reckon you'll ever get that fond wish
gratified., We're not liable to meet
up with each other again pronto. To-
day we're here and tomorrow we're
at Yuma. Arizona, say. for life is short
n darned feetin', as the poet fell
low says"
He waved a hand jauntily and
turned to go. But he changed his
mind. His eye had fallen on a young
woman standing at q French window
of the house opposite. She was beck
oning to him imperiously.
The young woman disappeared as
he crossed the street. but in a few
moments the door opened, and she
stood there waiting for him. Clay
stared. He had never before seen a
girl dressed like this. She was in
riding boots. breeches and coat! Her
eyes dilated while she looked at him.
"Wyoming?' she asked.
Arizona" he answered.
AN one: Knew it the moment I
stood aside to let him pass.
+ That hall. with its tapestried walls,
its polished floors. and oriental rugs,
was reminiscent of the movies" to
Clay. Nowhere else had he seen a
home so stamped with the mark of
ample "a
Come in," she ordered again, a lit
tie sharply.
He came in and she closed the door.
I'm sopping wet. I'll drip all over
the door"
What are you going to do? You'll
be arrested. you know" She stood
straight n slim as a boy, and the
frank d~irectness of her gaze had a
boys sexless Inconsistencies.
There came TO them from outside
tap-tap-tap-tap of a policeman's
night stick rafting on the curbstone.
He's calling help"
II al explain how it happened"
mo. He wouldn't understand.
They'd find you guilty"
To a man-servant standing in the
background the young woman spoke.
Jenkins. have Nora clean up the
floor and the steps outside. And re-
member don't want the police to
know this gentleman is here"
"Yes, miss"
"come!" said the girl to her guest.
Clay followed his hostess to the
but he went protesting, though with
a chuckle of mirth. He sure ruined
my clothes a heap. amt At to be
seen."
The suit he had been so proud Of
was shrinking SO hat his arms and
legs stuck out like sitnposts. The
color had run and left the goods q
peculiar bili~ous-looking overall blue.
b lit a gas-log in a small library
den.
Jus a minute, please"
h stepped briskly from the room.
In her manner was a crisp decision,
In her poise a. trim gallantry that
won him instantly. ~ 1
"Ill bet she'd dosto ride with" he.
told himself in a current western
idiom.
When she came back, It was TO