The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-10-30

sonal. you're actin foolish. Amt you
skeered of gittin' hurt?" :.
Use mixin' business with pleasure"
asserted Florian. AN ev'y time I see
you, the pleasure gifts mo- profound"
Miss Morgan started to speak, but
Florian noticed two things: First, that
she did not finish her sentence, ana
second, that she was staring over DIS
shoulder with an expression OF terror.
Eustace Todd was approaching under
full steam and 1t was apparent 10 tne
ringsiders that he had decided to be-
come drastic. THAT little Teller" mur.
INJURED a dusky gentleman at the next
cident."
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Todd was
uncompromisingly angry. He resented
the ridiculous role he was playing, and
in addition thereto he now was ex-
%periencing a definite pang Of jealousy.
That he should be thus publicly al
fronted, that his very own girl should
be molested in this club, that he should
be laughed at: Those were c1rcum-
stances intolerable.
For F1orian the universe suddenly
exploded. He knew a brief astronomical
moment as the fist of MI. Todd cares
sed his left ear. He Sprawled on h
floor, was jerked to his feet, flattened
again-and otherwise scientifically
m~;anhandled. From a great distance
Florian fancied that he heard several
spectators scream, n he even mag
ined that Clarissa Morgan was plead
ing with Eustace to desist.
The next thing F1orian knew he was
struggling back to consciousness in the
Lenox avenue gutter, which was now
becoming a familiar habitat. Folks
crowded about his PROSTATE figure.
Through the pain he found a moment
to reflect that this particular eight
even specialized briefly as to whether
the catastrophe which had befallen
him was totally unexpected by Willie
Grunt.
There was a murmur of onlookers,
then a quiet which was pierced by the
shrek of an ambulance siren. Florian
was showed inside, and remained con-
scious only long enough to ask the at
"Is this a hearse?"
mo. Ambulance"
Then I amt dead?"
The attendant was r~eassuring. He
said, mot yet"
Later, at the hospital, Mr.. Slappey
emerged from a world of anesthetics to
a consciousness Of bandages and pain.
He also saw a vision at his bedside: the
chocolate creamy figure of Miss Clar-
issa Morgan, long cloak over her Choir
us costume, eyes filled with COMPASSION,
soft hand holding F1orian's.
Something had happened to Miss
Morgan. Here wal gallantry of a new
order. She bent over Mr.. Slappey and
said, gently, "You sho' is a foolish
hero"
Meanwhile Mr.. and Mrs. Grunt were
in conference with a shrewd and will
ing lawyer. They explained the situa-
ton and struck thoroughly illegal bar
gain with him under the terms of which
they were to share his contingent fee
in the prosecution of a lawsuit against
the Hi Feller. It was a long and acri-
monious conference, and almost two
hours passed before the Grunts and
the attorney were conducted into the
antiseptic ward where Florian lay.
There they received q shock, for not
only did Mr.. Slappey and Miss Clarissa
Morgan give evidence Of having become
fast friends, but three other persons
were present. There stood Mr.. Vivian
Becker, slender and worried proprietor
Of the Hi Teller; a definitely sheepish
looking Eustace Todd, and a man who
was introduced to the Grunts as the
attorney for the Hi Teller.
Sensing that matters were not work.
ing out precisely as planned, Mr.. Grunt
plunged ahead, and exhorted Florian
to sue the Hi Teller, but Mr.. Slappey
waved a limp and languid hand.
"Mistuh Becker heah-he heard all
about me gittin' beat up an th'owed
out an on account of me bein' a
puny man, he come right down an set