White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-01-29
of such lively ferocity that it drew
howl Of pain from Paul Tache and a
shrill little scream from Toinette.

of such lively ferocity that it drew a
howl Of pain from Paul Tache and
shrill little scream from Toinette.
Jeems heard the scream, but it held
no significance for him now. His
dreams were gone, and Toinette, her
presence close to him. her eyes upon
the battle just as he had imagined in
the thrill Of his mental visionings,
was forgotten in the more vital depths
of his interest in the flesh and blood
of Paul. In the first attack, his fin
gers clutched like small iron claws in
the folds of Tache's cravat and coat,
and the rending Of cloth, splitting
asunder of gorgeous material almost
to the others waist, was evidence Of
the strength behind his assault. He
followed this with fury Of scratch
ing and tearing and both went down
in the melee. When they rose, Paul
heaving himself up with an effort
which flung Jeeps from him, they
were such sight Of muck and stain
that Toinette forgot her precious
dress and covered her eyes in horror.
But she was looking again in an in
slant, for the spectacle fascinated even
as it appalled, her. Jeems had landed
on his feet with d fist loaded with
mud, and this he projected with an
aim so accurate that half of Pauls
face was obliterated by it, and as he,
leapt with a roar Of rage at his
smaller assailant, he was such shock
ing contrast to his usual immaculate
self that Toinette nearly ceased to
breathe. Then she saw and heard
what her feminine eyes and instincts
could not understand or keep proper
count Of, mad twisting and tumbling
of bodies, painting breaths, grunts, and
finally a clearly audible curse from
Paul Tache With that sound Jeems
flew backward and landed on his back.
He was up almost before he had
struck, and with his head ducked low
like a rams In charge, he hurled
himself at Tache. This individual,
having cleared his eyes sufficiently to
perceive the blindness Of the others
rush, stepped aside and swungya4well-
directed blow which again sent 8Jeems
down into the muck. His hand filled
itself with this sticky substance a Sec
ond time, and as he returned to battle
he let it fly at Paul. Protiting by ex-
perience, Paul lodged skillfully, and
the volley passed over his head,
spreading in it's flight, and fell in it's
communicating virulence upon Toinette.
She saw her raiment spotted and de-
filed, and such sudden fury rose in
her that she sprang upon. Jeems as
he clawed and kicked in a clinch with
Paul, and sassailed him with all the
strength and bitterness of her small
fists and biting tongue.
Jeems had seen the tragedy of the
misdirected mud and he knew that
Toinette's hands and not Paul's were
pulling viciously at his hair. There Is
hurt which bears with it sting Of
satisfaction, and this emotion pressed
upon Jeems as he fought desperately
in front and felt himself attacked
treacherously from behind. For Paul
was accountable for the mishap to
Toinette. Had the other not lodged
in a cowardly fashion, allowing the
stuff to pass on to her, the thing
would not have happened. It did not
take more than a few seconds for the
inspiration Of this thought with it's ap-
parent justice and truth to fire him
with a determination beside which his
former resolution sank to insignif-
canoe. He was nc longer fighting for
Toinette's approval, but against her,
against Paul Tache, against all the
world. Toinette, pulling at his hair,
beating at his back, had raised his
struggle to epic heights. The strength
Of martyrdom filed his lean arms and
body, and he fought with a renewed
ferceness that made his heavier but
softer antagonist give way before the
punishment, and both went down to
earth again. Toinette fell with them,
her long skirt impeding the activity Of
their legs, her big hat hanging like a
sunshade over, her face, her beauti-
fully made curls tangled and spotted
with mud. her hands beating angrily
at whichever Of the two CHANGED to
come in her way.
(To BE CoNTINUED.)