The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-06


Gray was the first to regain his
feet but his shirt had be en- TORI half
off and he tasted blood upon hix lips.
He had met strong mer IN hiS ti'ne.
but never had he felt such Il rock
like mass of bone and muscle as nov
He lodged an awkward swinging
blow from the giant aad sent bin
Keeling. Buddy fetched up against
the solid wall with crash, for ray
had centered every pound "s lis
weight behind the runch. but the
coln,rymap rebound.d like thing
of rubber and again they chncheI.
StraininE with each otker they
ricocheted against tables and CHAINS,
and only the fact that much o: the
furniture was padded, and the floor
thickly carpeted, prevented the
sound of their struggle from alalm-
ing the occupants of the halls and
the lobby.
Buddy's face had hsen hamnt ercd
to pulp, but Gray vas Groaftng;
he could breathe only trom &c top
Of hia lungs, and 'he bones Of bis
left hand had been teles coped
Agonizing pains ran clear 10 his
shoulder, and the hanl itself was
well-night useless.
1t was an extraordinary combat;
certainly the walls Of this luxurious
suite had never look ed .iown urnn a
scene so strange as this fight be-
tween friends. How long it con-
tinued. neither maj knew-not
great while, surely, measured by the
clock; but an lntermnakle time as
they gagged it. Nor could Calvin
Gray afterward recall just low il
came to an end. He vaguely re-
membered Buddy Briskow weaving
loo ely, rocking forward upon un-
certain legs, blindly cropping tr him
the memory was like that a. Il
figure seen dimly through mist of
dreams--then he remembered call
ing up his last reserve of failing
vigOr. Even as he launched the
blow he knew it was a knockout.
The colossus fell, lay motionless.
1t was moment or two before
Gray could summon strength to lend
succor. then he righted an armchair
and dragged Buddy into it. He
| reeled as he made for the bathroom,
for he was desperately sick; as he
wet towel, meanwhile clinging dir
lilly To the faucet, his reflection
leered forth from the mirror-a bat
tered. repulsive countenance, shock
ingly unlike his own.
He was gently mopping young
Briskow's face when the latter re-
vived. Buddy's eyes were wild, he
did not recognize tnis unpleasant
stranger until familiar voice is
| sued from the shapeless lips.
you'll be all right in u few min
utes, my lad"
| Briskow lifted his head; he tried
to rise, but fell hack Imply, for as
yet his body refused to obey his will.
"YOu-licked me-" he declared
| family. Licked ME good, didn't
you?"
Buddy! Oh, Buddy" 1t was "a
yearning cry; Gray's streaked
swollen features were grotesauely
contorted. you wonk be mad
with me, will you?"
want to fight any more?"
The victor groaned. my God.sno!
i You nearly killed me-"
This time Buddy managed to gain
his feet. "Then reckon rll-go to
bed. feel purity rotten"
Gray laughed aloud, in has deem
relief. "Righto! And after I've
phoned for a doctor, if you don't
mind, III crawl in with YOU"
CHAPTER XXI
Margie Fult0n's Son
On the morning after the fight
Mallow knocked at Gray's door,
then in answer to an indistNct and
irritable command to be gone, he
made himself known.
ats me, Governor. And I've rot
Exhibit A."
"Really?" came the startled query.
There was stir from within. the
lock snapped and the door opened.
i've got little friend here that /
want you to" Mallow paused in.
side the threshold, his mouth fell
open, he stared in frank amazement.
Sweet spirits of niter!" he gasped
What happened to you?"
II was playing tag in the hall NTH
some other old men, and one of them
struck me-"
you've been hit with a safe, or
something" Mallow declared. "Evi-
dences of some blunt instrument. as
! the newspapers say; maybe a pair
of chain longs"
Blunt and heavy, yes. Buddy
Briskow and had an argument"
THAT big bum? Did he lay it on
you like that? Say, he's got the
markings of champ"
"Pride impels me to state that he
got the worst of it. He is scarcely
presentable, while"
your side wons'
lit did, Now where is the boy?"
Hes outside" Without shifting
his astonished gaze, Mallow raised
his voice and cried, "Hey Bennie!"
The door opened, trim, diminutive
figure entered. "Bennie, nit my
friend Colonel Gray"
CONTINUED in Our Next Isahe)