The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1922-06-09

bone like that again."
The companions of the poet rushed
forward to protest at the m~anhandlint
If their leader. Those in the real
jammed the front ones close to Clay
and his captive. The cow punchel
gently but strongly pushed them back
Don't get on the prod" he advised
In his genial drawl. 1.-The poet he's got
an important engagement right now
A kind of scuffle developed. The pro
prietor increased it by his h~ysterical
efforts to prevent any trouble. Men
Joined themselves to the noisy group
of which Clay was the smiling center
Ihe excitement increased. Distant
corners Of the room became h refuge
Of the women. Some n struck at the
COW puncher over the heads of those
about him. The mass of closely packed
human beings showed a convulsive ac-
tivity. 1t became suddenly the most
popular indoor sport at the Sea Siren
10 slay this barbarian from the desert
who had interfered with the amuse-
ments of Bohemia.
But Clay took a lot of Staying. In
the rOugh-and-tumble life of the out
door West he had learned how to look
out for his own hand. The copper
hair Of his strong lean head rose above
the tangle of the melee like the bro
midic Helmet of Navarro. A reckless
light of mirth dubbed in his dare
devil eyes. The very number of the
opponents who interfered with each
other trying to get at him was a guar
antee Of safety. The blows showered
at him lacked steam and were badly
timed as to distance.
The pack rolled acros the room,
tipped over q table, and deluged an
artist and his affinity with hot choco-
late before they could escape from the
avalanche. Chairs went over like
ninepins. Stands collapsed. Men grunt-
ed and shouted advice. Girls screamed.
The Sea Siren was being wrecked by q
cyclone from the bad lands.
Arms threshed wildly to and fro. The
local point of their destination was the
figure at the center of the disturbance.
Most Of the blows found other marks.
Four or five men could have demol-
ished Clay. Fifteen or twenty found IL
q tough job because they interfered
with each other at every turn. They
were packed too close for hard hitting.
Clay was not fighting but wrestling.
He used his arms to push with rather
than to strike blows that counted.
The ArizOnan could not afterward
at exactly what stage Of the
proceedings the face of Jerry Durand
impinged itself on his consciousness.
Once, when the swirl Of the crowd
flung him close to the door, he caught
q glimpse Of it, tight-lipped and wolf
eyed, turned to him with relentless
The gang leader was taking
part in the fight.
The crowd parted. Out of the pack
a pair of strong arms and lean broad
shoulders plowed a way for a some
what damaged face that still carried
q debonair smile. With pantheriSh
lithenesS the ArizOnan ducked a
swinging blow. A moment, and ne was
taking the three steps that led
to the street.
Into his lebOring lungs he drew de-
liciously the soft breath of the night.
It cooled the fever Of his hammered
face, was like an icy bath to his hot
body. A little dizzy from the blows
had been rained ON him, he stood
for a moment uncertain which way to
90:
Then again he became aware of
.urand. The man was not alone. He
had with him a hulking rufian whose
heavy, hunched shoulders told Of
strength. There was a hint of the
in the way the long arms hung
from the shoulders as he
eaned forward. Both of the men were
watching the cow puncher as steadily
IS alley cats do a house finch.
"H-l's going to pop in about three
seconds" announced Clay to himself.
Silently, without lifting their eyes
rom their victim for an instant, the
men moved apart TO take him on
10th sides He clung to the wall. fore
a frontal attack. The laughte, had
'one out Of his eyes now. They had
lardened to pinpoints. This time it
vas no amateur ~horseplay. he was
for his life. No need to tell
LAY Lindsay that the New York
meant to leave him as good
dead.
The men rushed him. He fought
Jack with clean, hard blows. Jerry
,Ored in like a wild bull. Clay caught
lin off his balance, using a short arm
Olt which had back of it all that
wenty-three years of clean outdoors
could give. The gangster hit
he pavement hard.
He got up furious and charged again.
'he Arizonan, busy with the other
nan, tried to sidestep. An uppercut
AIRED him to the heel. In hat instant
( time before his knees began to
eu hoDoath him his brain flashed the