Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-23

of both were bleeding, and each spat
red now and then Their clothing had
been torn away to the belt. and the!
magnificent Wet bodies gloWed i'm the
morning sunlight Dale had seriously
damaged his soft hands; they felt rs
though they were filed with sliycrs of
steel. But still he fought on doggedly,
detcrminedly DESPERATELY minute aft
er minute.
Those on the two banks watched II
all with suppressed excitement. Babe
Ltllcrord stood in the. edge of the
water. with her hands claSpod below
her throat. her face was pale. John
Moreland who had Witnessed many
other great fights. himself n fighting
man. had never before beheld such IA
contest Of strength and endurance rs
this: Bill Dale had won John More
lands heart for all time 10 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
waters above.
Then the watchers saw Adam Ball
lunge at his man. saw Dale stumble
ont of sheer weakness. saw Balls
mighty blood-sireakcd arms close
about the beautiful white body and
hug il close TO his great and hairy
chest. A moment and Ball was bend.
inc Dale slowly backward and down
ward more by reason of weight than
of strength; another moment and Ball
was about 10 sink the brown head un-
der the surface
Babe Iittleford gave smothered
cry. John Morelaud stepped toward
the water and shouted hoarscly:
Don't Sc drowned him Adam Fl
We do. ven answer 10 me-,
Dale had gathered himself for last
move He slipped downward suddenly
immersing himself completely and
shot one arm around Balls thigh
then, by great effort he rose with
the giant and overthrow him, and
staggered free
Balls hairy face came to the surface
first. Dale fought back the pain OF
the water in his lungs. and The pair
as of sharp and Jagged slivers of steel
in his hands. and struck madly. hall
blindly. at the hateful face. lie kept
it down, but it wouldn't go under the
/. water completely &c.,.
Adam Ball began TO drift as though
lifelcss down the stream. Bill Dale
followed still Sighting weakly, choking
as he breathed. But soon he ceased
to strike. Tic saw. instead of the beast.
like face, flashes as of distant summer
lightning. and red blotchcs against a
thick hlacknesS. The blotchcs faded
and all became dark to him; he
pitched forward. gasping. and began
10 drift down the stream with the
vanquishcd Ball.
Babe Litteford was standing i'm the
water TO her knees. When Dale sue
cumbed 10 utter exhaustion, she start
ed toward him. 10 save him from
drowning. She felt strangely drawn
toward the big. white. clean man who
had whipped the Goliath she had al
ways dreaded. But she had gone only
a few yards toward the center Of the
river when John Moreland and Sam
Heck reached the unconscious figures
Heck dragged Ball 10 the Littlefort
bank and left him lying there. fac,
downward, ON the sand. Morcland hall
carried, half dragged Bin Dale to tn,
other bank. Babe Littleford wadet
out. She paid absolutely no attention
TO the worsted bully. She stood in
tently watching the limp form of Dale
rs he dead. John MorcIand?" she
called TREMENDOUSLY.
No, Babe. Moreland answered, ri,
voice NOT unkind; che amt anyways
nigh dead"