Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-10-21
CHAPTER VIII
Fight

Cor pleading.
It was not long before Bud Tarko
appeared.
mot guilty, your honor" came the
voice Of the tall, bedraggled young
man. and with that Bart went forward.
IF you please, your honor, Mr.
Tarko's attorney Is on the way here
from Cheyenne" he announced, land,
simply as d citizen, would like to ask
permission of the court to have this
case set for at least m1hth from to-
day. as Mr.. Tarko's attorney will have
10 famlliarlze himself with all the de-
tails"
The district attorney nodded.
TITS agreeable with me, your honor"
The date Of trial was set. Bart
again faced the court.
81 ana ready, your honor, to furnish
a cash bond"
Fifteen minutes later, the dilapidated
Tarko beside him, Bart again was on
the road 10 Bellalne. A mile and he
turned TO his companion.
bud, I'm going to let you out at the
discovery well. / want you to visit
every camp and outfit and find every
American Legion man In the oil dis
trict What's more, want you to
argue with that man until he gives you
his solemn promise to meet at the
alkall fiat, just west of town, at nine
o'clock tonight. Do you get me?'
"DO II It's memorized. What'u I
tell 'em is dolng?"
"Action-and plenty Of It."
Accordingly Bart let Tarko Off at
the oil fields and went on. At the en-
trance to the main street he leaned
over the wheel suddenly at the sight
Of a crowd on the corner. A second
more and he had swerved the machine
90 the curb, shut off the engine and
was rushing forward. He had heard
The jeering tones Of a man-then the
1rightened cry Of girl-the voice of
Anita Franniston.
In a doorway lounged Bull" Fran
nIs.on, plainly drunk, while, at the
curbing, Anita was struggling vainly
90 evade the caresses of a mantle
gambler Bart had arrested the day be-
fore He too was drunk-almost as
drunk as the shouting, roaring Bull"
who egged him on from the doorway.
Old Jim, begging piteously with his
drunken brute of a master for some
evidence Of human cOmmiseration, was
uuheeded. About them the crowd
laughed and jeered as the gambler
continued his lurching efforts to force
Che lips Of Anita Franniston to his.
And With that, Bart Rogers swept for
ward.
lie tore the gambler away from
Anita.
Let go Of that girlr" 1t was "Bull"
franniston, weaving forward now, his
right hand fumbling In the direction of
a hip pocket.
from one side, where Old Jim was
scrambIing forward. "Bartl Look
Quit He's got a gun!"
But halfway to his pocket Frannis-
cons hand halted, and he whirled in
Irenzied fashion as the thin, suddenly
supersttong Old Jim lunged toward
aim, with both thin hands, grasping his
aeary wrist. A great fist drew back,
and the black eyes of the hulking
beast seemed to pull together in a
sDosm of anger.
Let go therer' he ordered, and
struck wildly at the lodging, twisting
form Of the old man. Let go there!"
"lll not let gol" Old Jim was
screaming now, with a sort Of fierce
terror, "Tll not! It's my flesh and
blood, Bull and l amt going to stand
II any longer! You amt going to hurt
Aer and you amt going to hurt him
Drop that gun! Drop that gun,
say s."
Let go!" The big voice Numbered
Inc command and again the heavy,
free fist Of the man swished through
tae air. to catch the older man on the
sue " the head, to stun him momen-
aT'y and to send him staggering,
While the gunhand again swung up
ward.
Then a shot tore its way into the
SIDEWALK as Old Jim once more leaped
TO the attack and grasped the wrist Of
The Iarger man. A third shot, fourth
and then a shrek
The teeth of Old jim clamped on the
Wrist, and the blood began to splatter
on the sidewalk. The gun had dropped
rom the deadened grasp of Bull
franniston, while Jim leaped and
seized it, then, whirling, swung 1t high
and brought the butt crashing down
upon the forehead of the being he
Mated and feared.
lurching second-then Bull
dropped, while the crowd, frightened
now milled for safety.
f< I've done it" came in a strange
ironing voice. 1--WE done it-he'll get
NE now But IL can't help IT," He
"oRed toward Bart Rogers, who had
WIhe1 after assisting the weakened
anita into the car. and in his eyes was