The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-08-31
THE GUNMAKER
OF MOSCOW.
80
BY
SYLyANUS COBB, JR.
i[coSTINuED.l

money be your Object
Stop interrupted the villain.
"Iou can't argue us out of il in that
way. You've got to die, and the
sooner you 60 the sooner you'll get
over it. You won't suffer bit if
you don't go to kicking up fuss.
There, now. If you hadn't bothered
me 'twould have been all over by
this time"
Oh, what would Ruric have given
at that moment for the use of one OF
his armsl But that was beyond
praying for. Yet he had his feet.
He said nothing more, but he allow
ed the man to come within a few
yards of him, and then he prepared
for the only means of defense he
had. The huge club was raised, and
at that moment Ruric saw that the
other man also had a club. He
l knew then that they had been con-
cealed there until now.
"Hark" uttered the second vii
lain just as his companion had rails
ed his club. "What noise is that ?"
81 suppose they're coming to see
if we've finished the job" returned
the other, "and. by the saints, we
ought to have done it ere this. But
they shall find it donep
The ponderous club was raised
again, and, with a quick, decisive
movement, the man advanced. Ru-
ric made a movement Of the body as
though he would bow his head for
the stroke. Every nerve and muscle
Of his frame was set for the trial.
and for the instant his heart stood
still. Quick as thought his body
bent-his right knee was brought
almost to his chin--and then, with
all the force he could command, he
planted his foot in the pit of the
assassin's stomach. The effect was
electrical. The wretch bent like
broken stick and sank down without
single sign Of life.
The second man uttered an oath
and sprang forward with uplifted
club, but Ruric easily lodged the
blow, and then, as the thought for
the first time flashed upon his mind,
he darted to where the lantern stood
and overturned it. He had noticed
an open passage close at hand which
seemed TO lead to some sort Of
dressing room, and, guided by his
memory alone, for it was now dark
as Erebus there, he glided swiftly
into it. When he Knocked ovcr the
lantern, he had upset column and
all, and just as he reached the pas
sage he heard q heavy fall, and he
knew that his enemy had stumbled
over the fallen column. lie heard
the curses, loud and deep, which
dropped from the lips of the baflied
man as he picked himself up, and in
a moment more he was edited by a
conversation between the two, for
villain No. had revived, though
the tone Of his voice plainly indicat-
ed that he had severe pain still
lingering with him.
Michael, Michaelw groaned No.
l, and as he spoke Ruric could hear
him scrambing up on his feet.
Iii, Oriel" returned No. ?.
slave you dropped him?'
"Now cried Michael, with curse
which we do not choose to tram
scribe. "He's perfect devil~
"But where's the lantern"
Gle put it out
'But You ought to have knocked
him down, you clown"
$50 had YOU"
'Me? Why, he kicked me over"
"Well, he lodged by me and kick
ed over the lantern"
"But where is he now?"
Hes gone. Hark! Ha, / guess
they've caught him. Don't you
hear?'
Eyes; they've caught somebody"
"And Of course it's him. He went
that way. Let's 90 and find"-
He did not finish the sentence, for
at that moment voice came up in
thunder tones, and it said
"Ruricl Ruricp
"Good Godp' gasped villain No. /.
what is that 2"
'Ruricl Ruricp
'fBy the living gods, that is not
from any Of our menp uttered the
second ruffian. ella, they are com
ing this wayw
'Ruricl Ruricw
'"There is but one place." return
ed Oriel. "Here in the little draw
ing room. Come, let's find it. Oh,
curses on that gunmaker's head! IL
he be not the very devil, then he's a
bound partner Of his. Have you
found the entrance, Michael 2"