The St. Johns herald., 1922-01-05

almost at the same instant, splitting out a curse as he reached back for his gun.
 You. hey! How the h-l did you get down here"
 But I was quicker, the move ready, gripping the wrist, and twisting the arm back until the torture caused him to drop the weapon, as we struggled back across the width of the hall We were both weapOnIess, relying only on the efficacy of bare hands, but he turned into a savage. a dangerous fighter who cared only to disable his opponent in any way possible. It was like battling with a wild cat, infuri- ated, crazed with hate and fear. And for the moment the fellow had me, driving me back against the rail, help less before the ferceness of his assault.
 Some one was coming. I could hear voice, and flying steps on the stairs then a wOman's scream somewhere above. broke away, getting a grip on his throat, and feeling my feet firm on the floor. He could see what 1 couldn't, and found voice in spite of my throttling.
 Its that d-d skunk, Severn. got out. Hit him, IvanI Smash in, I've 1 got the guy-quick nOw!" whirled with him, ducking my own head behind his shoulder, gaining as i f-,iiI So caapblurEed~ glimpse Of Wal drOn as he swung full at me with what looked like the leg of a chair. Harris caught the full force of the blow just over his eyes and the power of 1t. added to the swirl of my arms. sent him hurtilng along the rounded rail, headlOng down the stairs. Wal drOn stood paralyzed, stunned, his hands still on the club. his eyes follow ing that flying figure. With all my strength drove fist fiat to his face, and. as he reeled, stumbling backward, endeavoring to retain his feet, l sprang past, and raced down the steps. The body lay at the bottom motionless huddled up in such fashion as to block the door. Without a doubt but that the man was dead, I thrust the form to one side. leaped through the opening, and crashed the door behind me.
 turned to. the left, afraid of the bright lights, and the street-cars, and plunged into the depths of the alley. 1 may have gone mile, twisting and turning before I came to what evidently was a small hotel. Here I encountered a cab, an old horse cab, the driver half asleep inside. An old time cabby was not liable to care who his fare might be so long as he was we'll paid. Encouraged by this re- fiectiOn, stepped over to the curb.
 Engaged, my man?" He came to life in an instant, tumbling out of his comfortable quarters to face me.
 "NO sir. never heard you comIn', sir. Bin a bit quiet about here to- night"
 He stopped, as though just noticing my appearance under the dim street l lights.
 Yer bin hurt, sirT" he asked solicit Ously. Yer coats all tore, and there's some blood on yer face"
 "A small fight that's all, in a saloon over west. Any place around here where I could wash upT
 Sure; right fin yere; there aIn't nobody around to bother I'll show you"
 He opened a little side-dOor, and I followed down a narrow hallway to small washroom, flung off my coat, and filled basin with water. The cabby turned up the light, and watched me curiOusly. He was evidently de- lighted to have some one to companion with at this weird hour of the morn ing.
 "They got yer one good 'un, any how" he remarked. Teller whut struck yer must've he'd ring on ter make thet gash."
 There were two of them" I ans- wered, spluttering through the water was using literally. T may have hurt one of the fellows, so you keep stiIl-will you?"
 "Me! ShuckS, I don't talk about my fares none. Thet ain't business. picked one up night before last down by the west-side docks, who'd been in some kind of a fracas-any- how. he wus sure scared half ter death. Looked like a foreigner, an was draggin' grip Tong with him. Got of at Jersey ferry, I reckon"