Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-05-05

~TsHs
The Men Rushed Him. He Fought
Back With Clean, Hard Blows.
Jared him to the heel. In that instant
of time before his knees began tc
sag beneath him his brain flashed the
news that Durand had struck him on
the chin with brass knuckles. He
crumpled up and went down, still alive
to what was going on, but unable to
move in his own defense Weakly he
| tried to protect his face and sides
from the kicks Of heavy boot. Then
he fioated balloon-lilze in space and
vanished into unconsciousness.
Clay drifted back to a world in
which the machinery of his body
creaked. He turned his head, and a
racking pain shot down his neck. He
moved a leg, and every muscle in it
ached. From head to foot he was
sore.
| Voices somewhere in space, detached
| from any personal ownership, f1oated
vaguely to him. Presently these re-
solved themselves into words and SEN
tenceS.
"We're not to make a pinch, Tim,
That's the word he gave me before he
left. This is wan av Jerry's private
little wars and he don't want judge
askin' a lot of unnecessary questions,
y understand"
Mother av Moses, If this herman
from HIS Hinges hadn't the luck
av the Irish, there'd be questions
a-plenty asked. He'd be ready for the
morgue this blissed minute. Jerry's
q murderin' divvle. When l breeze in
/ find him croal1in' this lad proper and
he acts like a crazy man when l stand
him and Gorilla Dave off till yuh
come a-runnin'. At that they may have
given the bye more than he can carry.
Maybe it'll be roses and nice black
carriage for him yet"
Clay opened his eyes, flexed his arm
muscles, and groaned. He caressed
tenderly his aching ribs.
"Some wreck" he gasped weakly.
'They didn't do a thing to me-out
side of beatin' me up-and stompin' on
me-and runnin' a steam roller-over
the dear departed"
"Whose fault will that be? Don't
yuh know better than to start a fight
with a rigimentT" demanded the SER
geant of police severely.
"That wasn't a fight. 1t was a
waltz" The faint, unconquered smile
Of brown Arizona broke through the
blood and bruises of the face. 1.-The
fight began when Jerry Durand and
his friend rushed me-and it ended
when Jerry landed on me with brass
knucks. After that l was a football"
Inc words came in gasps. Every breath
was drawn in pain.
WED ought to pinch yuh," the SER
Think yuh can come to New York
and pull your small town stuff on US?
Well show youse. If yuh wasn't al
falfa green I'd give yuh a ride" The
officer dropped his grumbling com
plant to a whisper. ''Whisht, bye.
knows. Beat it out of town. Get
where the long arm of-of a friend Of
ours-can't reach yuh. He's a re-
vingeful inemy if ever there was wan"
"You mean that Durand-"
'I'm not namin' names," the officer
interrupted doggedly. I'm tellin' yub
somethin' for your good. Take it or
leave it."
"Thanks, I'll leave it. This is a free
country, and no man livin' can drive
me away" answered Clay promptly.
"Ouch, I'm sore. Give me a lift. SER
geant"
They helped the COW puncher to his
feet. He took limping step or two
Every move was torture to his out
ragged flesh.
"Can you get me a taxi? That Is
If you're sure you don't want me ir
yore calaboose," the range-rider said
leaning against the wall.
"We'li let yuh go this time"
"Much obliged-to Mr. Jerry Du
rand. Tell him for me that maybe ri
meet up with him again some time
and hand him my thanks personal fol
this first-class wallopin'." From the
bruised, bleeding face there beamet
again the smile indomitabe, the gl'i"
still gay and winning. Physically re
had been badly bes;en but in spirit
he was still the man on horseback.
Presently he eased himself into
taxi as comfortably as he cerId.
"Home,. James," he said jauntily.
"Where?" asked the driver.
"The nearest hospital" explainsc'
Clay. I'm goin' to let the doctors
worry over me for a while Much
Ahli0ad tn hnth nf Von ,eentlemen