The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-06-16

oath and the sound Of a struggle.
Tom cast one quick look about him.
No one was in sight and the next in
slant he had pulled off his gloves and
darted up the passageway at full speed.
The darkness was intense for short
distance, but after a few yards he
emerged into a small open space in the
midst of which the three men were
writing and twisting in desperate
struggles. Tom was unable to dsiin-
guish one from another, but as he
reached the spot one man tore himself
free and shouted:
"Helpl Police Stand back or I'll
shoot"
The rest Of his threat was drowned
by heavy blow from a blackjack
which knocked the weapon from his
hand.
"stop!" cried Tom, springing to-
ward the assailant.
He was too late, for second blow
stretched the stranger senseless and
bleeding on the snow, and with an angry
suarl the robber turned just as Toms
right fist shot out with tremendous
force.
Down went the man like a stricken
OK and Tom grappled with the other
with a shout of triumph. His blood was
up, and, lifting his smaller opponent
bodily from the ground, he shook him
as a mastiff would a terrier.
Hands off" painted the helpless
man, fercely. Curse you, what are
you trying TO do?"
lie was not long in doubt for Tom
hurled him against the side of a stone
building with such force that he fell in
an inert heap and lay motionless.
Tom turned to see what had become
of the taller man. but atthat instant he
felt a sharp pain in his side and a strong
hand seized him by the throat and bent
him backwards, while hoarse voice
Missed in his ear:
Take that for your pains, you med
ding fool"
with a desperate effort he twisted
himself free from his assaiiaut. spring
ing aside barely in time to escape an
other iunge of the murGerous knife he
had just cole
Again the fellow lunged viciousiy at
| him. but Tom caught his wrist, and a
desperate struggle ensued. Although
much the stronger man, Tom found it
no easy task to avoid the blade, and the
two swayed back and forth over the
snow, the man trying to free his hand
for decisive stroke, and Tom bending
all his efforts to prevent il. Soon, how
ever, his iron grip began to tell, and he
felt his enemy's muscles relax. Putting
all his strength into a supreme effort,
he wrenched the knife free, exclaim-
ing:
i've got you now, you murderer, and
! don't leave you till you are behind the
bars"
But even in the moment Of his victory
be felt cold ring of steel pressed
against his ear, and these ominous
words sounded behind him:
Hold up your hands, mister, or
you're dead man! Quick, say, or I'll
shoot"
Ii was a moment of fearful peril.
There was murder in the mans tones.
and Tom felt il. lie released his grasp
slowly and the larger man pushed him
suddenly backward, crying:
shoot him, you IDIOT"
His action saved Toms life, for the
other man pressed the trigger at the
same instant, the bullet passing a foot
in front of the young mans face, and
fiatteninG against the wall at his side
! Tom still retained the knife. and wit h
quick slash he struck the hand which
held the revolver causing the owner "a
drop il, with yell of pain, and dash of
toward the street at full speed, followed
! 10y his companion, who had evidently no
! desire 10 face Tom alone
As the men disappeared he turned, to
find the stranger he had rescued groar-