Chicago (Ill.) -- Fiction; College graduates -- Fiction; Gangsters -- Fiction
Torrance had stood for a moment with an arm still around the girl; but
as Murray rose to his feet he pushed her gently behind him, and then as
the man was upon him Jimmy ducked easily under the other's clumsy left
and swung a heavy right hook to his jaw. As Murray staggered to the
impact of the blow Jimmy reached him again quickly and easily with a
left to the nose, from which a crimson burst spattered over the waiter
and his victim. Murray went backward and would have fallen but for the
fact he came in contact with one of his friends, and then he was at
Jimmy again.
By this time waiters and patrons were crowding forward from all parts of
the room, and Feinheimer, shrieking at the top of his voice, was
endeavoring to worm his fat, toadlike body through the cordon of excited
spectators. The proprietor reached the scene of carnage just in time to
see Jimmy plant a lovely left on the point of Murray's jaw.
The big man tottered drunkenly for an instant, his knees sagged, and, as
Jimmy stood in readiness for any eventuality, the other crashed heavily
to the floor.
Towering above the others in the room suddenly came a big young fellow
shouldering his way through the crowd, a young man in the uniform of a
chauffeur. Elizabeth saw him before he discovered her.
"Oh David!" she cried. "Quick! Quick! Take us out of here!"
As the chauffeur reached her side and took in the scene he jerked his
head toward Jimmy. "Did any one hurt you miss?"
"No, no!" she cried. "This man was very kind. Just get us out of here,
David, as quickly as you can." And, turning to Jimmy: "How can I ever
repay you? If it hadn't been for you--oh, I hate to think what would
have happened. Come out to the car and give David your name and address,
and I will send you something tomorrow."
"Oh, that's all right," said Jimmy. "You just get out of here as quick
as you can. If the police happened to look in now you might be held as a
witness."
"How utterly horrible!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "Come, David! Come,
Harriet!" David making a way for her, she started for the door.
Harriet paused long enough to extend her hand to Jimmy. "It was
wonderfully brave of you," she said. "We could never do enough to repay
you. My name is Harriet Holden," and she gave him an address on Lake
Shore Drive. "If you will come Monday morning about ten o'clock," she
said, "I am sure that there is something we can do for you. If you want
a better position," she half suggested, "I know my father could help,
although he must never know about this to-night."
"Thanks," said Jimmy, smiling. "It's awfully good of you, but you must
hurry now. There goes your friend."
Feinheimer stood as one dazed, looking down at the bulk of his friend
and associate.
"Mein Gott!" he cried. "What kind of a place you think I run, young
man?" He turned angrily on Jimmy. "What you think I hire you for? To
beat up my best customer?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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