Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13


sacrifice when the pressure had become more
than she could bear. OF his own belief I'm heI
honesty and the desperate plight to which the
shortening of her vagrant father had brought
her.
A first the shippers face was duly stubborn
But when old Salmon saw the linss OF
conflict begin to FORM he reiterated his faith
In Dawnie
At last it came. what old Salmon had hoped
for and feared The shippers mouth set in
grim line. He swung his feet from the
bunk.
This is the truth-the truth, sairnon?"
so help me God. laddieI"
The skipper poured himself liberal dram
OF the fiery ccgnac. He was weak and shaking
and he downed a second glass.
wait here" he ordered .TI1is isn't your
r1ix-an' it wouldn't DO you any good"
Old Salmon caught up the duck gun and
proffered it. But Capt. Matt came Of that clear
line Of barehanded battlers that knows only
the efficacy of smashing fists He was neither
gunman nor knife wielder
Capt. Matt was outside, striding toward the
lighted, yellow front of the This-Is-It dance
hail. Old Salmon followed with the gun as
fast as his trembling limbs would permit
He was yards behind che skanp$F when he
saw the tan figure loom IN the dziace han dOdrS
way. Saw him standing there's sWaYiIlg slightiy
: nom tbs hips and then saw him disappear
inside: 81 - 8 s; =.
Before old salmon was closss5 enough to see
what had happsnedss the first crash came.
When he reacfzea The door one OF Long Toms
bcuncers was crawling away. The man who
had stabbed the skipper was facing him. The
ready blackjack was in the bouncer's hand.
He swung It in vicious circle and old Salmon
groaned. But the, 1.-THE body Of Capt Matt
bent suddenly forward and the shotted leather
vnvfNac floA
out as his mighty shoulders bowed, and when
he Strengthened the huge body OF the bcuncer
went flying over his head The man struck
with a smashing tllssd.
Others OF Long Toms hirelings rushed the
skipper. Old Salmon's duck gum reared. The
scattering shot indicted no mortal wounds, but
the peppering, brought forth Wild yells Of pain.
The women went scurrying away. Old SAL
mon saw Dawnie at table near the rear Of the
office. In that Office 1t was reported was .
trapdcor through which many missing sailors
had vanished into the Churning sea water
below y
Dawnic had not seen Capt Matt enter Per-
haps she thought the disturbance one Of the
almos. hourly hraw;s. -
Long Tom himself came around the end Of
the bar. entering his Office. Capt. Matt was
standing Little uneertahaly. his eyes sweeping
the room He saw Dawnie and started toward
her. ~ H
Long Tom came uaeK INTO the doorway o.
his Office. He held q. pistol and he moved to
raise it, Old salmon heard Dawnie scream
and saw her pusis over tine table and throw
herself matly into the line Of fire. Her hands
clutched ct Long Toms face.
Long Tom caught ,shes girl. threw her behind
him. fired once Is sslEp9er and then was
forced toGtg ssation TO Dawnie, who
was claRiAg as hts fhtDatx
The hiilles Mi Them Long non. and
the gtf swefe Swallowed up IN the daEIzpess Of
the office Old a3aan1on iookea back 20 the
skipper. 81 Capt Matt was the center Of a
madly milling thrSflg :. - 4 ss-
The shippers long arms failed about ana.
man went down each TING his lists anaae con-
tact. Hslt surely slowly. tine skipper was be-
ing crushed By the weight OF nun1hers. Then
old Salmon fired the other barrel OF his duck
gun. A ruddy flame leaped up and ran
along the floor. Women screamed and SHrae of
the men Eaade tneEectral efforts. 70 stamp out
the blaze.ts ,..SSsslss
Old Sa.rn3a herd rush OF feet In the
plank street behind him. !. Sliouting, curstnx
men hurled themselves througheth doorway.
sailors fIcsn ftss Eselspsah:: They had just re-
ceived word that their skipper was in a jam.
They had come 70 find out the facts At that
moment Capt. Matt was slogging desperately
through the black lacking gauntlet Of dance hall
bouncerSs 49, x%Sx :
The sailors flung themselves into the midst.
of the Selapcee half habatues. One saw the
flames n IL gave him. an idea. He threw q
chair at another swinging lamp. Within half
minute the furnishings Of Tnis-Is-It were
being splintered under the ruthless hands OF.
the Heispeth crew.
But the efites ufass swift and before the sailors
had circietf The haH the hlaze was lespmg to-
ward the walls ss3sssss So IS ~ ~ 1879
Old Salmon had one more glimpse Of the
rear of the hail. He saw DAwnie come from
the door OF Long Toms once alone Then