St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-29
THRILLING NARRATIVE


the face of the cliff behind him, and
crouched behind rock with his cooked
rifle across his knees, The man must
climb over the ledge; there would be a
bare, level rock between them-the
Lewallen would be at his mercy-and
Rome. with straining ears, waited.
There was FOOTBALL on the other side
of the ledge: soft clink of metal
against stone. The LeWallen was climb
ing slowly-slowly. Rome could hear
his heavy breathing. A grimy hand
slipped over the sharp comb of the
ledge; another appeared, clenched
about Winchester-then the slouched
hat. and under it the dark, crafty face
of young Jasper. Rome sat like the
stone before him. with half smile on
his lips. Jasper peered about with the
sly caution of a fox, and his face grew
puzzled and chagrined as he looked at
the cliffs above him.
stop thar!"
He was drawing himself over the
ledge, and the low, stern voice startled
him. as knife might have done, thrust
breast. Rome rose upright against the
cliff, with his resolute face against the
stock of Winchester.
''Drap tibet gun!"
The order was given along StetSon's
barrel, and the weapon was dropped.
the steel ringing on the stone floor.
Rome lowered his gun to theshollow of
his arm, and the two young leaders
faced each other for the first time in
the life of either.
'Seem kinder s'prised to see me"
said the Stetson, grimly. ''Have We got
a pistol?"
Young Jasper glared at him in help
less ferocity.
"Naw!''
"Knife?''
He drew long-bladed penknife from
his pocket and tossed it at Rome's feet.
Move over tharw
The LeWallen took his stand against
the cliff. Rome picked up the fallen rifle
and leaned it against the ledge.
Now. JAS Lewallen, thar's nobody
left in this leetle trouble 'cept you'n
me, m eff one of US was dead | reckon
T. other could live hyar, m thar'd be-
peace in the mountins. thought o.
tibet when l he'd We at the eend o. this
Winchester. l reckon you would "a
shot me dead eff ned poked my head
over a rock as keerless as YOU" That
is just what he would have done, and
Jasper did not answer. 'Ive swore to
kill We, too" added Rome, tapping his
gun; "Tve got cross fer We hyar."
The Lewallen was no coward. Outcry
or resistance was useless. The StetSon
meant to taunt him,tO make death more
bitter; for Jasper expected death. and
he Sullenly waited for it against the cliff
you've been a-banterin' me long
time, now, 'Iowin' as how We air the
better man o. the two; M Eve got a
notion o. givin' we a chance to prove
yer tall talk. Hit IS not our way to kill
a man in cold blood. m don't want to
kill We anyways eff kin hep it. Seem
s'prised ag'in? Reckon we don't be
lieve me? don't wonder when think
o. my own dad, m all the meanness yer
folks have done mine; but I've got a
good reason fer not KILN ye-ef l kin
hep it. Ye don't know what it is. M
veil never know; but Pll give We a
chance now for yer life eff yell sw'ar
on stack o. Bibles as high as tibet tree
thar tibet yell leave these mount'ins eff
whoopS We, IN never come back ag'in
as long as We live. Pn leave. eff We
! whoops me. Now, whut do ye say?
VIII We sw'ar?"
81 reckon l will, SEEM as Pve got
to-" was the surly reply.
X
The two sprang for each other. 1t was
like the struggle of primeval men who
had not vet learned the use Of clubs.
For all instant both stood close like two
wild beasts, crouched for spring. and
circling about TO get at each others
throats. with mouths set, eyes watching
ewes, and hands twitching uervously.
Young Jasper leaped first. and the
Stetson, wary Of closing with him,
shrank back. There were few quick.
heavy blows, and the Lewallen was
beaten away with blood at his lips.
Then each knew the advantage
of the other. The Stetson's reach
was longer; the Lewallen was shorter
and heavier, and again he closed in.
Again Rome sen. out his long arm. A
turn of Jasper'I head let the heavy fist
pass over his shoulder. The force OF
the blow drove Rome forward; the two
cinched. and Jasper's arms frightened
about the StetsOn's waist. With a quick
gasp for breath, Rome loOsed his hold,
and. bending his enemy's head back
with one hand, rained blow after blow
i'll mis- face with the ether. One terrible
stroke on the jaw. and Jasper's arms
were loosed; the two fell apart, the one
stunned, the other GREATNESS. One
daZed moment, and for third time the
Lewallen came on.
Rome had been fighting man; now
lie faced demon. jasper'S browS stood
out like bristles, aud the eyes under
them were red and fierce, like mad
bulls. Again Rnme's blows fell, but
again the Lewalien reached him. and
this time he got his face under the Stet-
SONS chin, and the heavy fist fell upon
the back of his head and upon his neck,
as, upon wood and leather. Again Rome
had To gasp for breath. and again the
two were ficrcely locked-their corded
arms as tense as SerpentS. Around
and around they whirled, straining,
tripping. breaking the silence only
stamping OF feet. Jasper firm on the
rock. and Rone's agility saving him
from being lifted in the air and tossed
from the cliff. There was no pause for
rest. 1t was q struggle to tire end, aud
a auick one; and under stress of eX.
element the figure at the pine tree
mad risen to his knee jumping even tC
his feet in plain view, when the
sGIurt, powerful arms OF the Lewallen
began at last to draw the StetSon closer
| syiil, and to bend him bac kward. The
| :Stetson was giving way at last. The
| Lewsllen'S vindctive face grew
bIa"ker. and his white te't showed
| between bis snarling lips. as he fastened
one leg behind his eneiny's, and, witt
| chin against his shoulder. bent hin
slowly, slowly back. The two Drcathet
III short, painful gasps; t:leir swullel
| muscles trembled under the strain a
| win ague. Back DacK-the Strtsoi
was falling; he seemed almost dnwn
when-the trick IS an old whrlln!
| with the quicknesS OF llaht, he fel
| heavily on ius oppunen, and canght hin
| by the throat with bOth 1a IDS.
i "Nougn?' he asked hoarsely. 1t wa
| the first word uttered.
The only answer was Il fierce struggle
Rome felt the Lewalleii's teeth sinkin
in his arm. and his fingers tightene,
| like twisting STEEL til Jasper eaugh
his breath as though strangling t