The Tucson citizen., 1902-05-22

| %3
Say, LtSte, he said, "do pou remember
Jim CummingS7n
his men while he started off alone
down that stretch of open ground.
Craig Thompson saw him leave his
horse and go 10 the center of the
ground. where, after marking the point
OF beginning, he began TO pace the dis.
tance for the contestants to run.
"The FOOL" muttered the old ranch
man. III haven't lost all my Judg,
ment, this Is just the chance that Jim
Cummings will take"
Nothing occurred, however, until
Lisie had paced the 100 yards and fac
ed about TO return. Then, up at the
head OF the line. horseman was seen
to detach himself from the surrounding
| group. spur his horse into gailop and
dash at fun 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 long and sinewy ser
| pent was the loop OF his terrible lasso.
more feared on the plains as weapon
OF offense than all other known imple-
| ments of warfare,
| IIsle saw and recognized him In
stantly. and II he had not the loud
shout that went up from the spectators
would sufficiently have warned him.
stRs
| did not know the meaning Of such an
| act An old grudge was TO be settled.
| A long standing feud was t0 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 nn-
| fairly on one side and that the man on
| the ground was practically AT the mer-
cy Of the other. that was regarded az
bis own fault. one that he should not
| have committed while an enemy was
near at hand. one With which they
| could not aad would not Interfere.
| Many OF them were aware Of the incl
dent OF the shooting affair between
Cummings and Lisle Maxwell, and
now they were TO witness the final act.
The ''code Of the plains" permitted the
man attacked In such 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
null his revolver and curtafi hostilities
with a single shot.
Al the instant when Iisle 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 10 run to his assistance. ant
| he saw Craig Thompson. who had
hastened to his side as IL he antlei-
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 II.
Keep back. Dick: keep back! The
kidn be enough for him. and besides
the boys would put rope around you
before you had gone q dozen steps
That was what be did say. aud after
ward he retained his grasp upon Rich
ard Maxwelrs arm. fearful OF what ne
might do In the excitement that was TO
come.
Lisle smiled, well pleased. lie real
lied thoroughly the danger OF his posi-
ton, but he was not afraid. AS ne
turned his eyes back again toward MS
antagonist he drew his revolver ana
raised 1t, but as he glanced along the
barrel he saw that IL 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 ms IA
ther. He thrust 1t back again into ms
belt and drew his knife. smiling wheil
he heard cheer go up from the crowd
IN admiration OF his coolness and brav'
cry. Then. planting his feet wide
apart, he waited.
He knew that IL that fatal loop once
settled around his shoulders he woniu
be dragged down to certain and horri
BILE death. Cummings knew II, 100
and SO did the men who looked on.
There was q hideous grin OF exuita'
ton on the race or fne horseHiah "niS
he rode slowly toward his intended vie
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 Missed
above and around his head as he ad
vanced TO the attack, and Lisle STOOD
with upraised knife awaiting him.
Twice Cummings rode all the way
around him, toying with the lasso ana
ieering in an ecstasy OF fury, clrcllne
to the left and decreasing the radius
with each turn. playing with his IN
.ondod victim. and as he circled Lisle
continued to face him, never taking hi
ewes from the hand that held the rope
Then Cummings perceptibly increas
ed the speed of his horse descriphni