The Coolidge examiner., 1934-07-06

down Paul or Eddie.
Inside the clubhouse the music
had stopped and the orchestra
header vas hawllng something
'trnueh a megaphone. Adrian dis
tinSulshed the word ~luiermls-
sion and tore Of his mask.
Ile sat for long ,ime wonder.
Ing whether or not he should 80
back hardly daring 70 trus; him
self for fear ~ what be might DO
should be come face 70 face with
the little man who had lrod on his
toes
Presently. however. BE- stood ~
and ihrew away his cigarette
II was all foollshness. this obses-
sion ~ hls
!, was The result of hroodlng.
There wasn't any excuse for n
man ~ his Intelligence 20 lei a
ihlnz Ike that get the best ~ him.
lie wns going back in there. seek
ouf The Chsnese-costumed runt and
shake bis hand and tell him what
q swell gay be was,
Hereafter. be was going 70 force
himself 70 ike little men.
In route back 20 the clubhouse
door Adrian remembered that Tom
Harrison. who was six feet one inch
tail and whom Adrian liked. was
dragging an ouf-ot.town girl to to
nights bali
Two days preyious Tom had
said: Adrian. I wauf you 20 meet
Bei,ina. She's fne girl Youn
Ike her After we uumask. you
look as up and III give you
break"
Adrian remembered these words
now and told himself tha; as soon
as be had located the little runi
he'd look MP Tom and the girl
But as the thing turned out be
found Tom and ibe Elrl first
They we're standing just inside
the clubhouse door. and when
Adrian looked into the girls eyes.
be suddenly felt weak aud peculiar
inside
She was much more than an or
dinary girl fu fact. she was sr-
aciiy the type Of glrl that Adrian
had dreamed of meeting all bis life.
lie was sure of that, even before he
spoke 10 her.
Tom espled him and bsckoned
and took the girl BY the arm and
led her toward him.
And IN that moment Adrian knew
a warm feeling OF comradeship To-
ward Tom.
A man In a million. Good old
Tom-
Adrian had Just opened his
mouth 10 speak when suddenly be
WAS SEIZED from behind.
lie whlrled around 10 stare down
into strange face. a dark CON-
plexloned. anger-nlied face: face
that fairly wrlfhed with pent up
fury.
And before Adrian had time 20
gather In what II was nil about he
was struck forclbly on the chin.
lie rebounded and--colilded with
the wall.
Fierce anger welled up inside of
Adrian. anger augmented by hum!l.
lation.
For the man who had struck him
was the little runt Of the Chinese
costume. and the girl. the girl who
was everything that Adrian had
ever dreamed about. was standing
there laughing because II must
have struck her as funny TO see
the little runt slap biz six.foot two
Adrian against the wall.
Wei. II had come.
This was the supreme moment.
the moment when Adrian could
punch a little man In the nose and
feel justified.
He came away from the wall and
struck out bllndly: struck empty
air.
Something hard smacked against
his chin.
lie rebounded again. blinked.
The little runt was standing
close.
4 hate big guys" he was say
Ing. Hate 'em. They give me a
pain. Especially big guys Ike you
who toss US little fellows around
and act so superior about II. I've
been wanting to do this for a long
time"
II can't be said that Adrian
didn't try 10 defend himself. But
all his efforts seemed useless.
The little runt In the Chinese
costume was lightning. One, two.
three. Adrian's face was a punch
Ing bag. one-two. Blood spurted
from his nose Men shouted. wom-
en- screamed.
And then suddenly IL was over.
Adrian lay on the floor. bruised
and bloody mess.
He was only partly conscious.
but conscious enough to realize
what had happened. conscious
4. a.