ip on the right leg of the policeman.

4434 suddenly released his hold on the man's neck, whipped out his
revolver and fired it in the air. He would have used the signal for
help generally available at such a time, striking the night stick upon
the pavement, but the thick snow would have muffled the resonant alarm.

"Beat it, Annie, and git de gang!" cried out Jimmie as he scrambled to
his feet. The woman sped away obediently, as Officer 4434 closed in
again upon his prisoner. The gangster covered the retreat of the woman
by grappling the policeman with arms and legs.

The two fell to the pavement, and writhed in their struggle on the snow.

Jimmie, like many of the gang men, was a local pugilist of no mean
ability. His short stature was equalized in fighting odds by a
tremendous bull strength. 4434, in his heavy overcoat, and with the
storm hood over his head and neck was somewhat handicapped. Even as
they struggled, the efforts of the nimble Annie bore fruit. In
surprisingly brief time a dozen men had rushed out from the neighboring
saloon, and were giving the doughty policeman more trouble than he
could handle.

Suddenly they ran, however, for down the street came two speeding
figures in the familiar blue coats. One of the officers was shrilly
blowing his whistle for reinforcements. He knew what to expect in a
gang battle and was taking no chances.

Maguire, who had just come on to relieve 4434, lived up to his duty
most practically by catching the leg of the battling Jimmie, and giving
it a wrestling twist which threw the tough with a thud on the pavement,
clear of his antagonist.

4434 rose to his feet stiffly, as his rescuers dragged Jimmie to a
standing position.

"Well, Burke, 'tis a pleasant little party you do be having,"
volunteered Maguire. "Sure, and you've been rassling with Jimmie the
Monk. Was he trying to pick yer pockets?"

"Naw, I wasn't doin' nawthin', an' I'm goin' ter git that rookie broke
fer assaultin' me. I'm goin' ter write a letter to the Mayor!" growled
Jimmie.

Officer Burke laughed a bit ruefully.

He mopped some blood off his face, from the nail scratches of Jimmie's
lady associate, and then turned toward the two officers.

"He didn't pick my pockets--it was just the old story, of beating up
his woman, trying to get the money she made on the street to-night.
When I tried to help her they both turned on me."

"Faith, Burke, I thought you had more horse sense," re