Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-03-27
do y'u know Prof. Caleb Hopkinsr

"Neyer heard OF hlm,"--she hest
iated; finally added-"but you might
90 on through and ask Bill"
"Who's Bill?"
"Oh. friend OF mIne--bounces bar
out front"
The man studied her. In his eyes
there walked hardness that the Flat
woods had learned 10 know.
"Aiiss--Doll Baker"--it cost him A..
effort to hold his voice even and calm
Tin right sorry Z say I'm doubtin'
y'u."
Doubling mer' A tang Of hardness
slid Into her well-nodulated tones !;
she nared up straight In her chair.
"Whai do You meanr
II mean z search this house"
The woman sprane up.
search III housed"
That's what I'm Amin & do" the
woodsman went on evenly. rising and
glancing about him.
The woman caught small cord that
| daDgled behind the door In reach of
her hand and gave II vicious Jerk. II
must have been bell cord that led TO
somewhere outside, for Immediately
heavy steps sounded along the porch
| that connected the house with the sa-
loon and man dashed in at the door.
"Blll, you'll hat T. ten 10 'im"--she
jerked half clenched hand toward
the woodsman-'threatens Z raid tn
flint rr gal he thinks Is here"
so this was Bill-the "bouncer." lie
looked the part--broad-backed. thick
set. heavy jowled. little pig eyes and
short cropped, reddish hair. He raised
his arm. pointed stubby foreiinger to
the door and uttered the one word:
Cit"
ner of man Il was standing there and
coolly measuring him through mar
rowed eyes, he probably would have
studied a long time before making his
next move.
"rhe devil y'u won't" he snarled.
crouching and beginning to creep and
circle.
Don't hurt EN-" the woman eau
toned. "he amt nothin' but list raw
country jake"
Almost with the word Bill sprang,
aiming blow that would have caved
In the side of a house--only II didn't
land.
The fact was instantly apparent
that he was not resourceful fighter,
but placed his main reliance In his
ponderous strengthened so. he was
a dangerous man.
In flash he wheeled and struck
again. This time Jack parted the
blow. instead OF side-stepping, and shot
across one In returns light uppercut
to the chin that Jared Bill's head back
and drew from him snarl and curse.
Tie came back with q whlrlwind Of
labs and swings.
Jack stepped right into the whlrl-
wind. well knowing that others OF
Bits Tx might come any moment, and
spared for an opening with such be-
wildering speed and cleverness that
Bin raised his guard to cover his face.
Jack shot across q vicious body blow.
Bill dropped his left. Instantly Jacks
tremendous right swung on the ex'
posed jaw. BIZ grunted. tottereds'
looked dazed. The right swung again
on the same spot-clean from the hip
and, Bin pitched against the wall
like bundle of dirty rags.
With u curse. horrible upon a won.
ans lips. Doll Baker ran to where he
lay and bent over him.
She had hardly reached him before
the woodsman was darling about the
house and peeping into pantry and
closets. There was no basement. He
made sure of that, and sprang to the
stairs. The woman tried TO drag him
back. he fiung her OF and dashed up
the steps.
Every place where q girl could have
been concealed was explored. but Doll
Baker had told the truth--that much
OF Il. at least. Texie was not there.
When he hurried down. BIN and the
woman were both gone. He was jus,
stepping from the stair door. wary and
alert for a surprise OF some sort, when
there came a clatter OF feet running
across the porch
lie dashed through the house to the
door by which he had entered. Just
as he wenched Il open they rushed
into the room behind him--four Of
them. Bin In the lead.
But. his purpose accomplished, Jack
sprang outside and. with tantalizing
deliberation. took his way toward the
street. Bin thrust his battered face
out NJ the door, scowled and swore,
but none Of the four ventured TO fol-
low, like the alley rats they were. not
daring to chase their prey into the
open.
Through q number OF streets and
side-streets In the neighborhood Of
Rrickbat alley. Jack warhope searched
for Brownie. lie even made Inquiries
AZ all the livery and feed stables In
the vicinity, but failed TO ind any
trace of her.
A thought suddenly came 20 him
he frowned hard; muttered some very
uncomplimentary things about himself
that u hadn't occurred to him before
the old tollgate keeper ten miles out
on the River road. he had been there
more years than Jack had lived and
knew everybody from the Flatwoods.