The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-07-26

y + "
"Say LtSle," he SdicJ, "dO you remember
Jim CttmmtngST'
his men while he started off alone
down that stretch of open ground.
Craig Thompson saw him leave his
horse and go TO the center of the
ground, where, after marking the point
of beginning, he began to pace the dis
lance for the contestants to run.
1.-The foolw muttered the old ranch
man. IF / haven't lost all my judg-
ment, this is just the chance that Jim
Cummings will take"
Nothing occurred, however, until
Lisle had paced the $50 yards and fac
ed about TO return. Then, up at the
head of the line, a horseman was seen
to detach himself from the surrounding
group, spur his horse into a gallop and
dash at full speed straight toward the
solitary figure in the center of the tour
nament ground. He was bending well
forward in his saddle, his right arm
was raised above him, coiling and
twisting like a long and sinewy SER
pent was the loop of his terrible lasso,
more feared on the plains as a weapon
of offense than all other known nipple
ments Of warfare.
Lisle saw and recognized him in
stantly, and if he had not the loud
shout that went up from the spectators
would sufficiently have warned him,
for there was not a man there who
] N Of n n
act An old grudge was to be settled.
A long standing feud was TO come TO
an end one way or another. a duel to
the death was to be fought in their
presence, and, although everybody
could see that the advantage was I'M
fairly on one side and that the man on
the ground was practically at the mer-
cy of the other, that was regarded as
his own fault, one that he should not
have committed while an enemy was
near Mt hand, one with which they
could not and would not interfere.
Many Of them We're aware Of the Incl
dent of the shooting affair between
Cummings and Isle Maxwell, and
now they were to witness the final act.
The "code Of the plains" permitted the
man attacked in such a manner to
make use of any weapon at his COM
mand, and the unerring craftsmanship
of the youth was familiar to every man
there. Every one expected TO see him
pull his revolver and curtail hostilities
with a single shot.
At the instant when Lisle discovered
that he was an object of attack he
glanced toward the spot where he had
left his father. He saw him start for
ward as if TO run TO his assistance, and
he saw Craig Thompson, who had
FASTENED 10 his side as if he antici-
pated the move, seize him around the
body and hold him firmly, and he could
imagine what the ranchman said, al
though Of course he could not hear il.
keep back, Dick; keep back The
kid'll be enough for him, and besides
the boys would put a rope around you
before you had gone n dozen steps"
That was what he did say, and after
ward he retained his grasp upon Rich
ard Maxwell's arm, fearful Of what he
might do in the excitement that was to
come.
Isle smiled, well pleased. He real
lied thoroughly the danger Of his posi-
ton, but he was not afraid. As he
turned his eyes back again toward his
antagonist he drew his revolver and
raised it. but as he glanced along the
barrel he saw that if he fired there was
imminent danger that the bullet might
pass through or beyond its objective
point and injure one of the spectators
who formed the group around his ia
Their. He thrust ii back again into his
belt and drew his knife, smiling when
he heard a cheer go up from the crowd
in admiration of his GOODNESS and BRAY
cry. Then, planting his feet wide
apart, he waited.
He knew that If that fatal loop once
settled around his shoulders he would
be dragged down to certain and horri-
bic death. Cummings knew ii, too,
and so did the men who looked on.
There was hideous grin Of exulta-
ton on the face of the horseman while
he rode slowly toward his intended vic
tim. There was no need for haste.
The lad could not escape. The loop Of
the mounted mans rawhide lasso coil
ed and twisted, writhed and Kissed
above and around his head as he adj
vanced 10 the attack, and Lisle stood
with appraised knife awaiting him.
Twice Cummings rode all the way
around him, toying with the lasso and
jeering in an ecstasy Of fury, circling
TO the left and decreasing the radius
with each turn. playing with his in
teUied victim, and as he circled Lisle
continued to face him, never taking his
eyes from the hand that held the rope.
Then Cummings perceptibly increas-
ed the speed OF his horse, describing