The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-05


keep ner from nm-to prevent ncr
using her dirk lie tried not to hur1
her. But what with the spirits he had
drunk before the attack, what with ths
excitement of the attack itself and the
sudden unlcashlng of the brute In him
Nh instant before, The whole affair grew
dim and hazy ia his mind. He ceased
to see things in their proportion His
new found strength gloried in match
ing itself with another strength that
was it's equal He fought with Moran
not as he would fight either woman or
man or with anything human, for the
matter OF that lie fought with her as
against some imprrsonal force that it
was incumbent upon him to conquer
that ii was imperative he should CON
qucr if he wished 10 live When she
struck he struck blow for blow, force
for force, his strength against hers,
glorying in that strange contest, though
lie never once forgot that this last en-
envy was the girl he loved. 1t was not
Moran whom he fought. 1t was her
force, her determination, her will, her
splendid independence, that he set him
self to conquer
Already She had dropped or flung
away the dirk, and their battle had be-
come an issue of sheer physical strength
between them. Ii was a question now
as to who should mastcr the ether.
Twice She had fought YAilbur to his
knees, the heel Of her hand upon his
face, bis head thrust back between his
shoulders, ana twice liz had wrenchod
away, rising to His feet again, painting
bleeding even. but with his teeth set
aud all his resolution at the sticking
point. once he saw his chance and
planted his knuckles squarely between
her eyes where her frown was knotted
hard, hoping TO stun her and end the
fight once ana for all But the blow
did not seem to affect her in the least.
BY this time he saw that her bersorker
rage had worked itself clear rs fer
mentng wine clears itself and that she
knew now With whom she was fight
ing, and lie seemed now to understand
the incomprehensible and to sympa-
thize with her joy in measuring her
strength against his, and yet he knew
that the combat was deadly serious and
that more than life was at stake. Mo-
ran despised a weakliug.
For an instant, rs they fell apart, she
stood OF, breathing hard and rolling
up her sleeve. Then, rs she started
forward again, Wilbur met her half
way, caught her round the neck and
under the arm gripping her left wrist
with his right hand behind her. Then,
exertlng every ounce of strength he
yet retained, lie thrust her down ana
from him until at length, using his hip
as pivot, he swung her off her feet,
threw her fairly on her back and held
her so. one knee upon her chest, his
hands closed viseliGe on her wrists.
Then suddenly Moran gaze up, re-
ldAluS III Ms ~ dSp al III q A>'-oil'1' "ANt
to his great surprise, suddenly smiled.
"IIoh, mate" she exclaimed. "That
was tough one, but I'm beaten
you're stronger than l thought for
Wilbur released her and rose TO his
feet,
"Here," she continued, give me your
hand I'm MS weak as q Kitten AS
Wilbur helped her to her feet she put
her hand 70 her forehead, where his
knuc.les had left their mark, anu
frowned at him. but not i'll naturally,
Next time you 90 that" she said,
"use a rock or a Delaying pin, or some
thing that won't hurt-not your fist,
mate" She looked nj him admiringly,
"What two listed brawny dray horse
it isl | told you | was stronger than
most men, didn't1? But I'm the weak
or Of us two. and that's fact. You've
beaten, mattel admit it. You've con
querod me, and" she continued, smil
ing again ana shaking him by the
shoulder, "and, mate, do you know, /
love you for it,
Ito lie continued