The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-21


1t made me think OF Geordie's regret
over the "sinfu' waste" The bottles
took longer. and. CHANGING up now and
then. saw that Greene was being
hard pressed. Men would leap, two
and three at a time. upon the barricade.
and Graeme's arms would shoot out
and over they would topple upon the
heads of those ncarcst. Ii was a great
sight 10 see him standing alone. with
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 nextY, asked. How DO we
get out?"
How is the doorT' he replied.
looked through the portfolio and
said:
"a crowd OF men waiting"
"We'Il have 10 make a dash for II,
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 man had
cleared the barricade and was upon
him like tiger. 1t was Idaho Jack.
Hold the barricadew Graeme called
out as they both went down.
| sprang TO his place, but | had not
much hope OF holding ii long had
the heavy oak bar Of the door In my
hands, and, swinging II round my head.
made the crowd give back for few
moments.
Meantime Graeme had shaken or his
enemy. who was circling about him
upon his tiptoes. with a long knife in
his hand waiting for a chance TO
spring. +s-- .,--~.is
II have been waiting for this for
some time, Mr.. Graeme," he said, smil-
Ing.
EYES," replied Greene. lever since !
spoiled your cutthroat game In Frisco.
How is the little one?" he added sar-
castically.
Idahos 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 | 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 I'm despair
Graeme's strength wns going fast.
With a 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 upraised 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 barricade 1t crashed
down and, carrying me with 1t. pinned
me fast.
Looking ont between the barrels,
saw what frozc my heart with horror
In the fall Graemc had wound his
arms about his enemy and held him
In grip SO deadly that he could not
strike. but Graemc's strength was fail.
ing and when looked saw that Ida.
no was slowly dragging both across
the slippery floor to wheie the knife
lay. Nearer ana nearer his outstretch.
cd fingers came to the knife In vain
yelled ana struggled. Ny voice was
lost IN he awful din. and the barri-
cado held rue fast. Above me. stand
ing on barrol head. was Baptiste,
yelling like demon In vain called
TO him Ny fingers could Just reach
his foot and he needed not az all my
touch. Slowly Idaho was dragging his
almost unconscious victim toward the
knife. His fingers were touching the
blade point when. under a sudden IN
SEPARATION, pulled out my nenl,nife
opened II with my teeth md drove the
blade into Baptstcs foot with
blo0dcurdling yell he sprunp down and
began dancing round IN his rage. peer
ing among the barrels.
Look Look was calling in ago
ny and pointing. For heavens sake.
look. Bapt.ster
The fingers had closed upon the knife,
the knife was already high IN the air.
when. with shrek, Baptiste cleared
the room az n bound, and before the
knife could fall the little Frenchman's
boot had caught the uplifted wrist and
sent the knife dying to the wall
Then there was a great rushing
sound as OF wind through the forest,
and the lights went out When
awoke, found myself lying with my
head on Graeme's knees and Baptiste
sprinkllng snow on my face As |