Part 32 (1/2)

With which apparently irrelevant reer tramp and struck the fellow a quick, sharp blow in the face

Instantly the fellow's corip upon the beard of the now yelling bully and continued to rain blow after blow upon head and face

Billy Byrne was an interested spectator He enjoyed a good fight as he enjoyed little else; but presently when the first tras of his chastiser and dragging hiround, and the second tramp seized a heavy stick and ran forward to dash the ht it ti forward he called aloud as he cah stuff like that with this here sweet singer

Can it! Can it!” as the second tramp raised his stick to strike the now prostrate camper

As he spoke Billy Byrne broke into a run, and as the stick fell he reached thea blow to the tra backward to the river's bried backward into the shalloater

Then Billy seized the other attacker by the shoulder and dragged hi stiff?” he inquired

Theat Billy as he did so; but a sudden punch, such a punch as Billy Byrne had once handed the surprised Harlem Hurricane, reht he ht have harbored to do the newcomer bodily injury, and with it removed all else from the man's mind, teround, the camper rose to his feet

”Some wallop you have concealed in your sleeve, my friend,” he said; ”place it there!” and he extended a slender, shapely hand

Billy took it and shook it

”It don't get under the ribs like those verses of yours, though, bo,” he returned

”It seeuy's thick skull,”

replied the poetical one, ”and it's a cinch et there”

The tramp who had plumbed the depths of the creek's foot of water and two feet of softashore

”Whadda YOU want now?” inquired Billy Byrne ”A piece o' soap?”

”I'll get youse yet,” spluttered the et it,” admonished Billy, ”an' hit the trail” He pointed toward the railroad right of way ”An' you, too, John L,” he added turning to the other victi up

”Hike!”

Mu the tashed shuffled away, and were presently lost to view along the vanishi+ng track

The solitary camper had returned to his culinary effort, as unruffled and unconcerned, apparently, as though naught had occurred to disturb his peaceful solitude

”Sit down,” he said after aup at Billy, ”and have a bite to eat with me Take that leather easy chair The Louis Quatorze is too sed for coly toward the sward beside the fire