Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-11-29

"Slayin," he said at last, bis voice
hard, metallic. I've figured II out,
and l do know you now, you lying
brute. You are the fellow who swore
you saw me throw away the gun that
did the shooting. and that afterwards
you picked 1t up"
There was the spirit of murder In
his eyes, and the gambler covered
back before them, trembling like a
child.
Il only swore to the last part,
Captain" he muttered, his voice
scarcely audible. II never said !
saw you throw"
And swore," went on Hampton,
that ! would kill you on sight. You
lying whelp, are you ready to die?"
Slavin's face was drawn and gray,
the perspiration standing in beads
upon his forehead, but he could neith-
er speak nor think, fascinated by
those remorseless eyes, which seemed
to burn their way down into his very
soul.
NO? Well, then, will give you, to-
day, just one chance to live-one, you
dog-one. Don't move an eyelash!
Tell me honestly why you have been
trying to get word with the girl, and
you shall go out from here living. Lie
to me about it, and l am going to
kill you where you sit, as | would
mad dog. You know me, Slavin-now
speak,"
So intensely still was It, Hampton
could distinguish the faint ticking Of
the watch in his pocket, the hiss Of
the breath between the giants clinch-
ed teeth. No wretch dragged shrek.
ing to the scaffold could have formed
more pitiful sight, but there was no
mercy in the eyes Of the man watch.
ing him..
Speak, you cringing hound!"
Slavin gripped his great hands to-
gether convulsively, his throat swell.
ing beneath its read beard. He knew
there was no way Of escape. IL
had to do It! Ny God, Captain, had
to do IT,"
"Why%
II had to, tell you. Oh, you devil,
you f1end! I'm not the one you're az
ter-it's Murphy"
For a single moment Hampton star
ed at the cringing figure. Then sud-
denly he rose to his feet In decision.
Stand up! Lift up your hands first,
you fool. Now unbuckle your gun
belt with your left hand-your left,
said! Drop It on the floor"
There was an unusual sound behind,
such as a rat might have made, and
Hampton glanced aside apprehensive-
ly. In that single second Slavin was
upon him, grasping his pistol-arm at
the wrist, and striving with hairy
hand to get death-grip about his
throat. Twice Hampton's left drove
straight out into that red, gloating
face, and then the giants crushing
weight bore him backward. He fought
savagely, silently, his slender figure
like steel, but Slavin got his grip at
last, and with giant strength began to
crunch his victim within his vise-like
arms. There was a moment Of su.
perhuman strain, their breathing
mere sobs Of exhaustion. Then Slavin
slipped, and Hampton succeeded in
wriggling PARTIALLY free from his death
grip. 1t was scarcely an instant, yet
1t served; for as he bent aside, swing.
his burly opponent with him, someone
struck vicious blow at his back; but
the descending knife, missing its
mark. sunk instead deep into Slavin's
breast.
Hampton saw the fash of a blade, a
portion Of an arm, and then the
clutching fingers of Slavin swept him
down. He reached out blindly as he
fell, his hand closing about the de
serted knife-hilt. The two crashed
down together upon the floor, the
force Of the fall driving the blade
home to the gamblers heart.
Ito be Continued.)