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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 22, 1922)
THE NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE Big 44 niicmnacieoait Coouriahr bu William MacLeod CHAPTER XI Continual Followed a long silence. Durond was resolved to wult until his enemy grew restless and betrayed himself. The delny became u test of moral stamina. The contest was not one of grit, hut of that unlluwed nerve which la so much tho result of perfect physi cal Utness. Clny'8 years of clean life on the desert counted heavily now. lie was master of himself, though his mouth was dry as a whisper and there were goose quills on his flcflh. But Durand, used to the fetid ut mosphere of barrooms and to the soft living of the great city, found his nerve beginning to crack under the strain. What kind of a man was his enemy to He there In the black silence nnd not once give sign of where ho was, In spite of crashing bullets? Was It possible that he could have killed tho fellow nt the first shot? Tho com fort of this thought whispered hope In the ear of tho ex-prlze-llghter. A chair crashed wildly. Durand fired again nnd yet again, his nerves giving way to a pnnlc that carried him to swift action. He could not havo stood another moment without scream Ing. There came the faint sound of a hand groping on tho wall, and Imme diately after a flood of light filled tho room. Clay stood by the door. Ills revol ver covered the crouching gang lender. His eyes were hard and pitiless. "Try nnother shot," he advised Iron ically. Jorry did. A harmless click was all tho result he got. Ho knew now that the cowman had tempted him to waste I1I3 Inst shots nt a bit of furniture flung across the room. "You'll lell me what you did with Kitty Mason," said Clay In his low, persuasive volco, just aB though thoro had been no Intermission of flying but lots since "he hnd mentioned tho girl before. "You can't' kill me, when I haven't a loaded gun," Durand answered be tween dry Hps. Tho other man nodded an admission of Uiat point. "That's an ndvantago you've got of me. You could kill me If I didn't have n gun, because you'ro a jrollow woK. But I can't kill you. That's right. But I can beat h 11 out of you, and I'm sure goln' todo It" I pPnll.'a "Yinnn u.tintt mimiWa m "xniirs encap, wnen you'vo got a loaded six-gun In your list," Jeered Jerry. , With a lllrt of his hand Clay tossed tho revolver to the top of a book-case, out of easy reach of a man standing on the floor. Ho ripped open tho but tons of Ills overcoat and slipped out of It, then moved forward with elastic ! step. "It's you or mo rand." I now, Jorry Du- Ttie prize-fighter gnvo a snort of de risive triumph. "You d n fool I 111 eat you alive." "Mcbbeso. I reokou my system can nsslmUnto any whalln you'ro llnblo to hnnd me. Go to It." Durand hnd tho licnvy shoulders nnd swelling muscles thut como from years of training for tho ring. Llko most pugilists out of active service lie hnd taken on flesh. But tho extra weight ! was not fat, for Jerry kept always In good condition. Ho held his leader ship partly at least because of his physical prowess. No tough in New York would willingly have met him In u rough-und-tuniblo fight. 'The younger man was more slightly built. He was a Hermes rather than a Hercules. His muscles flowed. They did not bulge. But when ho moved It whs with tho lltheness of n pnnther. The long lines of shoulder nnd loin lind tho flow of tigerish grace. Tho clear eyes Jn the brown face told of n soul Indoniltablo in n perfectly synchronized body. Durand lushed out with a swinging loft nil the weight of his body behind tho blow. Clny stepped back, shot a hard straight right to tho cheek and ducked tho counter. Jerry rushed him, flailing nt,lils foo blow on blow, Intend ing to wear him out by Bheor hard hammering. Ho butted with tils head nnd knee, used every foul trick ho had learned lu hia rotten trudo of prize fighting. Actlvo ns n wild cat, tho Arlr.onun slde-stcppod, scored a loft on the oyo, ducked again and fought back the furious attack. , Tho gangmnn camo out of tho rally winded, pcrploxcd and disturbed. His check was bleeding, ono oyo was In dlstrefls, and ho hud hardly touched his ngtlo opponent. Ho rushed again. Nothing but his temper, the luck of self-control that made him sao red nnd had onco put hlru at the mercy of n first-class ring general with stamina and a punch, hadjeept Jerry out of a world cham pionship. Ho. had everything claa needed, 'but ho was Uio victim of Ids own passion. It betrayed him now. Ills fighting wns that of a wild cavo noon, bllud, furious, damaging. Ho - Town ('His bund by - a.r ir In HHOffiH Kustrations by njj II 1 Rauift uuov uwuy mo ni'juinu uiiu ma sjkiii In order to destroy the man he tinted, no rained blows on him fought with head and knee nnd list, was on top of him every moment, controlled by ono dominating purpose to make that dancing figure take the dust. Clay was cool, quite master of him self. Before the light had gone three minutes he knew thut, barring a chance blow, some foul play, or a bit of bad luck, he would win. He wns covering up, lotting the pugilist wear himself out, and taking only the pun ishment he must. But he wns getting home some heavy body blows that wero playing the mischief with Jerry's wind. The New Yorker, pufllug like n sea Hon, came out of n rally winded and spent. Instantly Clay took the of fensive. He was a trained boxer ns well ns a fighter, and he had been tnnght how to make every ounco of his weight count. Hipping in a body blow as u feint, he brought down Durand's guard. A straight left crashed home between the eyes and a heavy solar plexus shook the man to tho heels. Durand tried to close with him. An uppcrcut Jolted him back. He plunged forward again. They grappled, knock ing over chairs ns they threshed across the room. When they went down Clay was underneath, but as they struck the floor ho whirled and landed on top. Tho mnn below fought furiously to regain his feet Clay's arm worked like n piston rod with short-nrm Jolts against tho battered face. Gasping for breath, Durand suddenly collapsed. Clay got to tils feet and waited for him to rise. Ills enemy rolled over and groaned. "Had enough?" demanded the west erner. No answer came, except the heavy, Irregular breathing of the man on tho floor, who wns clawing for air In his lungs. "I'll nsk you onco more where Kitty Mason Is. And you'll tell mo unless you want mo to begin on you all oyer again." The beaten pugilist sat up, leaning against tho wall. He felt ashamed and disgraced by his defeat Life for him had lost Its savor, for he had met his master. "She got awny." "How?" i. "They turned her loose, to duck the bulls," enmo Uie slow, sullen answer. "Whore?" "In Centrnl park." Probably this was tho truth, Clay reflected. He could take the man's word or not as ho pleased. There was no way to disprove It now. He recovered his revolver, throw the automatic out of the window and walkcd to tno u00r "Joe's tied up In a back room," he said over his shoulder. Thirty seconds later Clay stepped Into tho street. He wnlkcd across to a subway station and took nn uptown train. Men looked at him curiously. His face was bruised and bleeding, his clothes dlshovcled, his hat torn. Clay grinned and thought of tho old nnswer: They'd ought to see tho other man." One young fellow, apparently a col lege boy, who had looked upon the Ho Threw Away Hl Science and His Skill In Order to Destroy the Man He Hated. wlno when It wus red, wns moved t como over and offer condolence. "Say, I don't want to butt In or any. thing, but ho didn't do a thing to you. did ho?" "I hit tho edgo of a door In the dark," explained Clay solemnly. "That door must havo had several edges." The youth " '. flat ndmlsslonT "I've got an edge on myself, sort of." "Not really?" murmured Clny po litely. "Surest thing you know. Sny, was It a good scrap?" "I'd hate to mix In a better one." "Wish I'd been there." Tho student fumbled for a card. "Didn't catch your name?" Clny hnd no Intention of giving his name Just now to any casual stranger. Ho laughed nnd hummed the chorus of an old range ditty. CHAPTER XIII Johnnie Comes Into His Own. When Clny shot off ut. n tangent from the car and censed to function as a passenger, Johnnie mndc nn effort to descend nnd Join his friend, but nt rendy the tnxl wns traveling at a speed that made this dangerous. He leaned out of the open door nnd shout ed to the driver. "Sny, iemme out, doggono you, I wnntta get out right here." The chauffeur paid not the least at tention to him. no skidded round n corner, grazing tho curb, and put his loot on the accelerator. Tho car Jumped forward, sweeping down the wot street, now and again skidding dnngerously. It swung into Fourth avenuq, slowing to tnko the curve. At tho widest sweep of tho arc Johnnie stopped down. His feet slid from un der him nnd he rolled to the curb across tho wet asphalt. Slowly he got up and tested himself for broken bones. He was sure ho hnd dislocated a few hips nnd It took him some time to persuade himself he was all right, excopt for sorao bruises. But Johnnlo, free, had no Idea what to do. He was as helpless as Johnnie Imprisoned in the flying cab. Of what Clay's plan had been he had not the remotest Idea. Yet he could not go home nnd do nothing. Ho must keep searching. But where? One thing stuck In his mind. His friend had mentioned that he would like to get a chance to call the police to find out whether Kitty had been rescued. He was anxious on that point himself. At tho first cigar store he stopped and was put on the wire with headquar ters. He learned that a car supposed to be the one wanted had been driven Into Central park by the police a fow minutes earlier. Johnnie's mind carried him on a straight Hue to the simplest decision, ne ran across to Fifth avenue and climbed Into a bus going uptown. At the Seventy-second street entrance Johnnlo left the bus and plunged Into tho park. The impish gods who de light In turning upside down the best laid plans of mice and men wero work ing overtime tonight They nrranged It that a girl cowering among the wot bushes bordering an unfrequented path heard the "HI yl yl" of Arizo na and gave a iaint cry for help. That cull reached Johnnie and brought him on the run. A mun beside the girl Jumped up with a 'snarl, gun In hand. But the Itunt had caught n sight of Kitty. A file of fixed bayonets could not have ke.pt him frem trying to res cue her. He dived through the brush like a football tackier. A gun barked. Tho little mnn did not even know it Ho and t'-e thug went down together, rolled over, clnwed furiously at each other, and got to their feet simultaneously. But the cowpuncher held the gun now. The crook glared at him for u moment, and bolted for the snfety of the bushes In wild flight. Johnnie fired once, then forgot all about the private little war he had Btarted. For his arms wore full of a sobbing Kitty, who clung to him while sho wept nnd talked and exclaimed all in n breath. "I knew you'd come, Johnnie. I knew you would you or Clay. They left me hero with him while they got away from the police. . . . Oh, I've been so scared. I didn't know I thought " " 'S nil right. 'S all right, UT girl. Don't you cry, Kitty. Mo 'n' Clay won't lot 'em hurt you none. Wo sure won't" Sho nestled closer, and Johnnie's heart lost a beat. He had become aware of a dull puln in the shoulder and of something wet trickling down his shoulder. But what Is one little bullet In your geography when the sweotest girl In tho world Is In your arms? "I ain't notliln' but a hammered down UT haysed of a cowpuncher," he told her, his voice trembling, 'W you'ro awful pretty nn' an' " A flag of color fluttered to her soft checks. Tho silken Inshcs fell shyly. "I think you're fine and dandy, tho bravest mnn that ever was." "Do you flguro you could ? I I I don't rockon you could ever " Ho stopped, abashed. To him this creature of soft curves was of heaven sent charm. All the beauty and vital ity of her youth cnll'cd to him, It seemed to Johnnlo that Cod spoke through her. Which Is another way of saying that ho was In love with her. Sho made a rustling Uttlo stir In his nrms nnd lifted a flushed face very tender and appealing. In tho darkness her Hps slowly turned to his. Johnnlo cboso that inopportune mo ment to get sick at tho stomach. "I I'm goln' to faint," ho an nounced, and did. When ho returned to his love-story Johnnie's head wns In Kitty's lap and a mounted policeman was in the fore ground of tho scene. His face wan wet from tho mist of 'fine rain falling, "Don't move. Some ono went for a car," she whispered, bending over him o thut flying tendrils of her hair brushed his cheek. w,Are you badly hurt?" He snorted. "I'm n false alarm. Nothln n-tall. He Jes' creased me." ; "You're so brave," she cried, ad i mirlngly. I Ho had never been told Oils before. 1 Ho suspected It wns not true, but to , hear her sny It wns mnnnn to his hun , gry soul. i The cab stopped nt ttio liotiso of a doctor and the shoulder was dressed , The doctor mndo ono pnrdonnble mls Ijnke. j "Get your wife to give you this I sleeping powder If you And you can't ! Bleep," he said. ; "Y'betcha," answered Johnnie cheer fully. Kitty looked nt htm reproachfully and blushed. She scolded him nbout It nfter they readied the apartment wlicro they lived. Her new fiance defended himself. "He's only n day or two prema-chure, honey. It wasn't hnrdly worth while exphilnln'," he clnlmed. "A day or two. Oh, Johnnie 1" "Sure. I ain't gonna wnlt. Wha's the mnttcr with tomorrow?" "I haven't any clothes mnde," she evaded, nnd added by way of diver sion. "I always liked that klndn gold en down on your cheeks." "The stores are full of 'eta. An' we ain't tulkln' about my whiskers not right now." "You're n nice old thing," sho whis pered, flashing into unexpected dim ples, nnd sho rewarded him for .his nlceness In a wny he thought alto gether desirable. A crisp, strong step sounded out side. The door opened nnd Clny came Into tho room. He looked at Kitty. "Thank heaven, you're safe," he said. "Johnnie rescued me," sho cried. "He got shot in the shoulder." Tho men looked nt each other. "Bad, Johnnie?" "Nope. A plumb li'l scratch. Wha's the matter with you?" A gleam of humor flitted Into the eyes of the cattleman. "I ran Into a door." "Say, Clay," Johnnie burst out, "I betcha can't guess." His friend laughed In umbiable de rision. "Oh, you kids In the woods. I knew It soon ns I opened the door." He walked up to the girl and took her hand. "You got a good man, Kitty. I'm wlshin' you nil the Joy In the world." Her eyes flashed softly. "Don't I know I've got u good man, nnd I'm going to be happier than I deserve." Tim Muldoon, In his shirt-sleeves, wns busy over a lute breakfast when his mother opened the door of the flat to let In Clay Lindsay. The policeman took one look at the damaged face and forgot the plate of ham and eggs that had Just been put before him. rtYuh've been nt It ngalnl" he cried, his Irish eyes lighting up with antici patory enjoyment "I had a little set-to with friend Jerry last night." the westerner ex plained. "Another? What's the trouble now?" 'You heard nhout the girl nbducted In an auto from the Bronx?" "Oh-huh! Was Jerry In that?' "Ho was. I'll tell you the whole story, Tim." "Meet my mother first. Mother Mr. Lindsay. Yuh've' heard me talk nv him." ' Mrs. Muldoon's blue Irish eyes twinkled. She was a plump and am ple woman, and her handshake was firm and strong. "I have that. Tim thinks yuh a wonder, Mr. Lindsay." Clny told the story of his encounter with Durand on the train and of his subsequent meetings with him at tho "You Bate Him! I can ee It In Your Eye!" Cried Muldoon, Pounding the Table So That the Dishes Jumped, Sea Siren and on tho night of the poker party. He made elisions and emendations that removed tho bed room sceno from tho tale. "So that's when yuh met Annlo Mil llkan," Tim said. "I was wonderln' how yuh knew her." "That's when I met her. She's one flno girl, Tim, a suro-enough thorough bred. She hns fought agnlnst heavy odds all her life to. keep good and hon est. And she's done It." "She has that," ngrecil Mrs. Mul doon, heartily. "Annlo Is a good girl. I always liked her." "I'd bet my Inst chip on Annie. Bo last night I went straight to her. Sho wouldn't throw down Sllra'' Jim, but sho gave mo an address. I went there and met Durand." "With his gang?" asked Tim. "No; I waited till they had gone. I locked myself, In n room alone with him. He took eight shots at mo In the dark and then we mixed." "You bntc him I I can see It In your eye!" cried Muldoon, pounding tho table so that tho dishes Jumped. "You'll have to ask him about that" Clay passed to more Important facts. "When I reached home Kitty was there. They had dropped tier In the park to make a safe getiiwny." "That's good." "But Tim when Annlo Milllknn gave me the address where Jerry Du rand was, the driver of my tnxl saw her. The mnn wns 'Slim' Jim." Muldoon sat up, n serious look on his fuce. "Man, yuh split the beans that time. How'd you ever comu to do It? They'll take It out on Annie, the dogs." The eyes of tho policeman blazed. "Unlcso wo stand by her. First we've got to get her away from there to some decent placo where she'll be safe." Mrs. Muldoon spoke up. "And that's easy. She'll just take our spare bedroom and welcome. Sure the girl needs a mother nnd n home. An' I don't doubt that she'll pay her way." "Then that's settled. Will you see Annlo, Tim? Or shall I?" "We'll both see her. But there's another thing. Will she be safe hero?" "I'm goln" to have n talk with 'Slim' Jim and try to throw a scare into him. I'll report to you what ho says." They took a trolley to the lodging house where Annie lived. The girl looked pale and tired. Clay guessed she had slept little. The mem ory of "Slim" Jim's snarling face had stood out In the darkness at the foot of her bed. "Is this a pinch?" she asked Tim, with a pert little tilt to her chin. "Yuh can call It that, Annie. Moth er wants yuh to come and stay with us. You're not safe here. That gang will make yuh pay somehow for what yuh did." "And If your mother took mo In they'd make her pay. You'd maybe lose your Job." "I'd find another. I'm thlnkln of qulttln', anyhow." "I don't think they'd get Tim," put In Clay. "I'm goln' to see Collins and have a talk with him." "You can't salve Jim with soft soap." "Did I mention soft soap?" "I heard some one most killed Jerry Durand last night," said Annie abrupt ly, staring nt Lindsay's bruised face. "Was it you?" "Yes," snid the Arizonan simply. "Did you get the girl?" "They dropped her to save them- selves. My friend found her with a man and took herefrom him." "I hope you did up Jerry right I" dried Annie, a vindictive flash In her dark eyes. "I haven't called him up this mo'n In' to see how he's feelln'," said Clay whimsically. "Miss Annie, we're wor ried some about .you. Mrs. Muldoon is right anxious for us to get you to come and .stay awhile with her. She's honln' to have a ,ilT girl to mother. Don't you reckon you can go?" "I I wish yuh'd come, Annie," blurted out Tim, looking down his nose. "I'm nn alley cat you're offerin' to take In nnd feed, TJm Muldoon she charged suspiciously. "Yulire the girl my mother loves." He choked on the impulsive avowal he had almost made and finished the sen tence awkwardly. The girl's face softened. Inside, she was' a river of tenderness flowing townrd tho Irishman. "I'll go to your molher, Tim, If she really wants me," she said almost in a murmur. "You're shoutln' now, Miss Annie," said Clay, smiling. "She sure wants you. I'll tilt the trail to have that talk with Jim Collins." He found "Sllra" Jim at his stand. That flashily dressed young crook eyed him with a dogged and wary defiance. He had just come from a call at tho bedside of Jerry Durand and he felt a healthy respect for tho man who couWl do what this light-stepping young fellow had done to the cham pion rough-houser of New York. The story Jerry had told was of an assault from behind with a club, but this Col lins did not ncccpt at par. There were too many bruises on his sides and cuts on his face to be accounted for In any way except by a hard toe-to-too light "Mo'nln', Mr. Collins. I left you In n hurry last night nnd forgot to pay my bill. What's the damage?" asked Clay In his gently ironic drawl. "Slim" Jim growled something tho meaning of which was drowned In an oath. "You say it wns u free ride? Much obliged. That's sure fair enough," Clay went on easily. "Well, 1 didn't come to talk to you about that. I've got other business with you this mo'n ln'." Tho chauffeur looked at him sullen ly and silently. Suppose we get inside the cab. where we cun talk comfortnbly," Clay proposed. "Slim" Jim stepped into the cab nnd sat down. Clny followed him, clQslng tho door. "nnvo you seen Jerry Durand this sunuy mo'nln'?" asked Lindsay, with surface amiability. "Wofs It to yon?" demanded Col lins. "Not a thing. Nothln' n-tall," agreed Clny. "But it may bo scrmethln' to you. I'm klnda wonderln' whether I'll have to do to you what I did to him." TO BH CONTINUED When in North Platte CONG AND SEE US Hotel Palace Palace Cafe PalaceBazaar Everything first class and prices reasonable. Opposite Union Pacific Station. Pit. E. C. LYNCH Eye Ear Noso and Throat Glauses fitted nccuxatoly Over Dixon's Storo ' NORTH PLATTE J. S. TWINEM. M. D. (Homeopath) Medicine and Surgery Hospital Fadlltios NORTH PLATTE, NEBR. Office Phono 183 Residence 283 W. T. PRITCIIARD Graduate Yctcrlnarlnn Ex-Govornmont Veterinarian and ex asslstant deputy State Veterinarian. Hospital 315 South Vine Street Phones. Hospital 633 Residence 633 Dlt. REDFIELD ' Physician, Obstetrician, Surgeon X.Bay Calls promptly answered Night or Day Phonos. Offlco 642 Residence G76 JOHN S. SIMMS, M. B. Special Attention Given to Surgery McDonald Bank Building Office Phone 83 Residence 38 DR. J. It, McKIRAHAN Practice Limited to Diseaso of Women and Surgory Over Rexall Drug Storo Phonos: Offico 127 Residence 656 Office 340 House 723J DR. W. I. SHAFFER Osteopath Physician Over tho Oasis North Platto TVM. WALDORF Tinner Makes or Repairs anything made of Tin or Sheet Metal. 510 Locust Under General Hospital ED KIERIG Auctioneer For dates and terms call at First National Bank North Platto, Nob. DR. HAROLD FENNER Osteopath Over Hlrschfeld's Offico Phone 333 Res. Phono 1020 DR. M. B. STATES Chiropractor Rooms 5. 6, 7 Building & Loan Bldg. Offico Phono 70 Res. Phono 1242 Offico Phono 241 Res. Phono 217 L. C. DROST Osteopathic Physician North Platto, Nebraska. Knights of' Columbus Building. OTIS R. FLATT, M. D. Physician and Surgeon X-Ray DlagnoBS and Troamont Over Union Stato Bank Office Phono 29GW Houso Phono 2U6R GEO. B. DENT Physician nnd Surgeon Special Attention Given to Surgery and Obstetrics Offico: Building & Loan Building Phones: Office 130 Residence 115 DR. L. A. SNAVELY Dentist X-Ray Diagnosis Oxygen and Gas Anesthesia for Extractions. Over Union Stato Bank Phono 296. DERRYBERRY & FORBES Llccnsod Etubaliners Undertakers nnd Fnneral Directors Day Phono 41 Night Phono Black 588 0 1 1
