St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-26

and over they would topple upon the
heads of those nearest. 1t was a great
sight to see him standing alone with
a smile on his face and the light of bat
tie in his eye, coolly meeting his as.
sailants with those terrific, lightning
like blows. In fifteen minutes my work
was done.
what next?" l asked. "How do we
get out?"
"How is the door," he replied
l looked through the portfolio and
said:
"a crowd of men waiting"
"Well have to make a dash for it,
fancy" he replied cheerfully, though
his face was covered with blood and
his breath was coming in short gasps
Get down the bars and be ready"
But even as he spoke a chair hurled
from below caught him on the arm,
and before he could recover a man had
cleared the barricade and was upon
him like tiger. 1t was Idaho Jack.
"Hold the barricade" Graeme called
out as they both went down.
l sprang to his place, but l had not
much hope of holding it long. l had
the heavy oak bar of the door in my
hands, and, swinging it round my head,
l made the crowd give back for few
moments.
Meantime Graeme had shaken off his
enemy, who was circling about him
upon his tiptoes, with a long knife in
his hand, waiting for a chance to
spring.
Il have been waiting for this for
some time, Mr.. Graeme," he said, smil-
ing.
Eyes" replied Graeme, "ever since |
spoiled your cutthroat game in Frisco.
How is the little one?" he added sar-
castically.
Idaho's face lost its smile and became
distorted with fury as he replied, spit
ting out his words
"She-is-where you will be before
am done with you"
"Ah, you murdered her too! You'll
hang some beautiful day, Idaho" said
Graeme as Idaho sprang upon him.
Graeme lodged his blow and caught
his forearm with his left hand and held
up high the murderOus knife. Back
and forward they swayed over the
floor slippery with whisky, the knife
held high in the air. l wondered why
Graeme did not strike, and then saw
his right hand hung limp from the
wrist. The men were Crowding upon
the barricade. was in despair.
Graeme's strength was going fast.
With yell of eXultant fury Idaho
threw himself with all his weight upon
Graeme who could only cling to him.
They swayed together toward me, but
as they fell | brought down my bar
upon the appraised hand and sent the
knife flying across the room. Idaho's
howl of rage and pain was mingled
with a shout from below, and there,
dashing the crowd to right and left, !
came old Nelson, followed by Abe, San
dy, Baptiste, Shaw and others. As
they reached the barrcade it crashed !
down and, carrying me with it, pinned
me fast.
Looking out between the barrels, /
saw what froze my heart with horror.
In the fall Graeme had wound his /
arms about his enemy and held him
in a grip so deadly that he could not
strike, but Graemes strength was fail
ing and when | looked | saw that Ida
no was slowly dragging both across
the slippery floor to where the knife
lay. Nearer and nearer his outstretch-
ed fingers came to the knife. In vain
yelled and struggled. My voice was
ost in the awful din, and the barri-
'ade held me fast Above me, stand
ng on a barrel head, was Baptiste
Yelling like demon. In vain | called
o him. My fingers could just reach
lis foot, and he needed not at all nv
ouch. Slowly Idaho was dragging his
Utmost unconscious victim toward the
Knife. His fingers were touching the
)lade point when, under sudden in
piration, pulled out my penknife.
'pened it with my teeth and drove the
blade into Baptistes foot With a
'loodcurdling yell he sprang down and
began dancing round in his rage, peer
ng among the barrels.
Look. Look!' was calling in ago
~ and pointing. For heavens sake.
oOk, Baptistew
The fingers had closed upon the knife,
ne knife was already high in the air.
Vhen, with Shrek, Baptiste cleared
he room at bound, and before the
nlfe could fall the little Frenchman's
oot had caught the uplifted wrist and
ent the knife flying to the wall.
linen there was great rushing
ound as Of wind through the forest.
nd the lights went out. When |
woke, ! found myself lying with nv
cad on Graeme's knees and Baptiste
snow on my face. AS |
)oked up Graeme leaned over, and,
Milling down into my eyes, he said:
Good boy! 1t was great fight, and |
re put it up we'll" And then he whis- {
cred, u owe you my life, my boy" S
Ills words thrilled my heart through I
nd through, for | loved him as onlv $
zen can love men, but 1 only answer +
i:
II could not keep them back" S
1T was we'll donaD no cold nh