The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1923-03-01
By JOHN PALMER


He stood in the shebeen, blinking at
the girl on the stage. He had never
seen her before, and, as he swayeo
and peered and blinked something
seemed wrong somehow.
She was not like any Of the other
women of the dance hall. Not more
than twenty-three, he would have
said. Her pale brown hair, braided in
two long tresses. hung down her back.
Her slight figure moved in the dance;
what she sang could not be distin-
guished in the uproar.
But it was the look on her face,
half-frightened, half-defiant, and who'll
! ly innocent that arrested him. What
! was she doing in Big Pete's saloon?
"Hello, Bob - shouted a miner,
slapping him on the back. whats
yours?"
"Tm not drinking" he responded
sullenly, turning his back.
The other looked after him and
grinned. Guess even Bob the Soak's
had as much as he can stand for" he
said TO Big Pete. "New gel, eh?''
Some gel, amt shew responded
Big Pete with wink. "Bit shy, but
she'll get used to it. They all do"
He cackled. Say, would va believe
1t. when / was down in Montreal | an
swered her advertisement for show
stuff and kidded her into thinking /
had regular theater up here. Lor',
what fools women arei'
Bob amt drinking"
Big Pete growled. "Say, HensOn's
going to kick that Teller out of his
camp" he said "Dont do nothing but
drink, he says"
"Who is he? S0rter gentleman,
pears to me-
'Oh, one of them New York guys
gone wrong, ! guess" answered Big
Pete carelessly. Got a cabin some
where up north--made pile trapping
and blew in every cent here before
summer come. Suthin' wrong with
him somewhere"
Bob. watching the girl on the stage,
felt things that he had sworn never
to feel again. 1t was true he mad
once been gentleman; there had
been a woman who trieked him-lord,
what fool he had been!
The girl had finished dancing and
was making her way timidly from the
platform toward the back door OF Big
Pete's. A miner stretched out an arm
ike a steers haunch, barring her way.
Bob knew him; he was Black Cardi-
gan, the bully Of the mining camp.
Black Cardigan was just now inebriat-
ed to the point Of affability.
Hello, my dear; here's a knee for
YOU" he said.
"Oh, please let me CO." said the
girl, looking about her In terror.
Black Cardigan laughed and pulled
her into his lap. The miners grinned.
They were good-hearted fellows, but
what had she come to Pete's saloon
for?
The girl struggled vainly in Black
Cardigan's arms. Bob strobe forward
LET her 90 ~ he commanded tersely.
Black Cardigan looked at him in
surprise. The miners set up shout.
1t was amusing to see Bob the Soak,
despised OF all the camp, setting up
as champion.
Black Cardigan released the girl,
stood up slowly, and drove his fist
into Bobs face with force that sent
him Keeling to the floor.
Instantly Bob was on his feet again.
All trace Of the liquor had gone from
his brain. He remembered that at
college he had been the amateur
heavyweight champion. 1t was long
since he had remembered. AS Black
Cardigan's sneering face was thrust
forward he dealt him blow that set |
the blood flowing
In almost an instant ring was |
cleared, tables were dung aside. They |
faced each other. Bob knew that one |
sweep of the others powerful arm
could stretch him senseless. But Black |
Cardigan had only strength. He |
rushed in with heavy body blow, was
flung back, half-stunned, came on |
again. They clinched, broke away.
Bob, standing up under fearful short |
arm punishment, watched for his
chance. His right shot to the giants
jaw.
Black Cardigan, with surprised
look in his eyes, toppled to the floor
and lay there.
Amid stupefied silence Bob walked
quietly through the back door. Out
side crouched the girl of the dance
hail. They faced each other.
'Will you Gomez" asked Bob gently.
"Where?" she cried Historically.
"0h, help me! Take me away! Eve
no one. nowhere"
"Will you trust me?" he asked.
She looked at him, then placed her
hand upon his arm. And without an.
other word they started through the
shining summer night northward, to-