Evening star., 1924-03-30


1t seemed at first that this hope
would be unfulfilled, but later it war
realized in d manner that left moth
ing to be desired. just as dusk was
deepening the shadows a Nerna
Heights car halted in the middle Of
the block and the conductor alighted
for Il conference with the law.
II got this guy Kennedy on board
he complained. Hes been lappiu
up liquid dynamite, and he won't pay
his fare. He's got u club the size of
Your own, and
The saints be praised" said Off
Ger Foley. Here. hold my cap
In all the turbulent history Of Yer
nal Heights and the Forty Strong
Gang there was never such a two
man battle as that, IL began then
and there, in the middle of the car
tracks, and If you accept the testi-
mony Of such men as Pete Rizzoli,
Gus Schuman and George the Greek,
it lasted for one hour and ended on
the top OF Seaview Hill, ten blocks
away. Each man lost his club in the
first two minutes and depended there
after on sheer physical strength.
Eight times Foley knocked his man
down, but before he could get his
handouts unlocked Kennedy had re-
versed the tables.
Man TO man" pleaded the gang
leader. Don't use your gun
'ru not" gaSped Foley. Keep
your friends off. No gun, but I'll
nut the bracelets on"
From block to block the news
spread that Kennedy and the cop
were fighting it out for control of
the district. Men and boys sprinted
for the scene, gathering up clubs and
cobblestones as they ran.
Keep back" snarled Kennedy.
Leave us alone"
He wrenched savagely al a picket
fence and swung an improvised blud-
geon at Foleys head. The latter
ducked and countered with a terrific
right to the jaw.
The gang leader backed of and Fc-
ley followed, fumbling at his hand
cuffs. Up Sanchez they went, with
the mob following at respectful
distance. The Jack of Clubs, forty
pounds lighter than his opponent. was
bleeding profusely, but he was fore
ing the battle. Gradually the tenn
per of the spectators began to change
What mattered it if one idol was
crumbling 50 long as another was
coming up? They realized that Foley
could have used his gun. could have
summoned help with his police whis
tie Instead he was putting on, al
by himself. the greatest show they
had ever seen. The yeIls of encour-
agement for Kennedy became punctu-
ated with advice to Foley:
Go on, you cop" Alta boy.
Jack" You got him, you dumbbelI.
Sit on him..
But Foley didn't have hinl-not
quite yet. Spike Kennedy made one
last effort and dragged himself up
the back stairs of the Yernal Heights
Athletic Club, with the Jack of Clubs
hanging to him like a leech. It was
at this jUncture that an automobile
flashed up. bringing Capt Malloy ard
eight members of the riot squad,
summoned by q telephone messaga
from a hysterical owner of a ia,
across the way. They were just IT,
time to sec the denouement. The
Jack of Clubs and Spike Kennedy,
locked in each others arms came
rolling down twenty steps into the
midst of the admiring asse mblagc.
When Capt. Malloy crushed his waH
to the ringside he saw that no a
sistance was needed, for. the leader
of the Forty Strong Gang was wear
ing the bracelets of officer Foley.
rTtI ,f h IA
feet and saluted his superior
Captain, I've carried out orders
Now, with your permission, I'm go
ing to take 'em off,
He bent down, unIocke ed the cuffs
and helped the dazed Spike kennedT
TO his feet. Then he faced the inter
ested citizens of Vernal Heights.
They stared at him open -mouthed.
uncertain what was coming
Boys" said he, "ain't we all had
enough f1tin' for a little while?
There's a girl coming out of the hos
pital tomorrow. I'd like to marry
her and settle down in the district.
If Spike and me shake hands and
call it quits. how bout the rest of
your
There were yells OF "An rfght
here from leading citizens but the
members of the Forty Strong Gang
looked for inspiration to their dis
comfited leader. Kennedys puffed lips
parted in Il philosophic grin.
@Sure!" he grunted. 'Tll answer
for 'em. Do we dance at his
| weddin'?"
And the answer they gave him,
deep throated and emphatic, marked
| the beginning of q new era on vernal
| Heights.