The Columbus journal., 1907-09-11

faS1ptoa would KIN him II he needed
to do % but he nkewise realised that
he Was not likely to nre until he had
gained the information he was seeh.
ing. II he only knew how much infoF.
nation the other possessed It would
be easy enough. Az he did not, -
must Weld his weapon blindiy.
You're makin' . devf q . fus6
over little q nothin,." hs growled.
. tone Of disgusG II amt
never he'd 70 quarrel With 70. except
in' fer the Way 70 managed ter skin
me at the table bout two years ago.
I don't give two scFeeches IN he'll for
Who you are; IN besides. I reckon yoa
amt the only ex-coovict arranging D.
kota either fer the matter o that. No
more does Murphy. We amt NO
bloomin' detectives. an We amt buck
In in no business o yourn: ye kin Just
bet your sweet life On thet."
where II Murphy. then3 I wish 10
zee the fellow"
Il told you he'd gone. Maybe he
didn't git away till this mornin', but
he's gone now al right. What in
thunder do ye want O him? reckon
I kin tell ye an that Murphy knows"
For . breathless moment neither
spoke. Hampton lingering his gun ner-
vously. his eyes lingering On that brur
tal face.
"Slavin," he said at last. his voice
hard. metallic. I've figured It out.
and I do know you now. you lying
brute. You are the fellow who Sw0re
you saw me throw away the gun that
did the shooting. and that afterwards
you picked Il up"
There vas the spirit Of murder In
his eyes. and the gambler covered
hack before them, trembling like .
child.
I'll only swore to tho last part.
Captain" he muttered, his voice
scarcely audible. IL never said !
saW you throw"
"And swore," went On Hampton.
that I would kin 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 Meth.
er speak nor think. fascinated by
those remorseless eyes, which seemed
to burn their way down into his very
soul.
mo! Wen. then. I will sive you. 10.
day, Just one chance to nve-ooe. you
dog-one. Don't move IN eyelash!
Tell me honestly Why you have been
trying to get word with the girl, and
you shall 90 out from here living. Lie
to me about II. and am going to
kin you where you ut. - would .
mad dog. You know me-. 6lavin-now
speakl"
So intensely stin was II. 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 scaflold 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
ssther 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. I had
to do IT."
'Why?"
Il had to. ten you. oh. you devil
you flend! I'm not the one you're af
ter-it's Murphy"
Fur Q 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 frst
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 % q rat might have made. and
Hampton glanced aside apprehensive
n. In that single second Slavin VA
upon him, grasping his pistol-arm at
the wrist, and striving with hairy
hand to get death-grip about hia
throat. Twice Hampton's left drove
straiGht out into that red. sloat1nl
face. and then the giants crushing
weight bore him backward. He fought
savagely. silently. his slender nSure
IKE steel, but Slavin got his grip u
hast. and with giant strength began tc
cr,,nch HE victim within his Vi0e-like
arms. There was . moment Of %
perhuman strain, their breathing
nero sobs Of exhaustion. Then Slavin
slipped, and Hampton succeeded In
wriggiing partially free from his death
grip. Il Was scarcely IN instant yet
Il served; for as he bent aside. swing
his burly opponent with him. someone
struck Q vicious blow at his hack: but
the descending knife. missing ita
marx. sunk instead deep into Slav1n'a
breast
Hampton saw the fash Of blade. Z
portion Of an arm. and thea the
clutching fingers Of Slavin swept him
down. He reached out blindly - he
fen. hi hand closing about the Dc
serted knife.hilt The two crashed
down together upon the 1ooe. the
force q the fan driving the blad<
homo to The gamblers heart
CHAPTER Xxx.
Tho Cohorts oS Judge Lynch.
Hamptoa staggered blindly to hil
feet. looking down On the m0tionlesl
body. For . moment the room ap
peared to swim before his eyes. and
he clutehod at the overturned table
foe support. Then, - his senses -
turned. ~ perceivOd The figures q Z