Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-06-06

CLOSED IN Death-Grapple.
to thrust a rife muzzle close to his
enemy's head and then pull the trig-
ger.
But to do this required a long wait
and extreme caution. His enemy sure
" had campfire behind a ledge, and
shelter as well The smoke had seemed
to rise out OF a ledge. but certainly
could not, and so-still unaware OF
McGuire's position, yet sure that he
was amid these lodges, and near a
shelter-Pete grasped his rifle and
crept ashore.
IL was too early to surprise his
enemy-time TO fall asleep must be
allowed. Yet so eager was the half
breed TO deal death TO him, that he
must needs come here 20 wait No
chances must be taken when he did
crawl up 10 his victim, for a false step
or the rattle OF a loose stone. or his
form outlined against the stsrlit sky
as he crawled over ledge. might mean
death 10 him instead OF Mcclure. And
so. crouchinE safely in a dark nook
above the landing. Pete waited.
watched and listened.
One hour passGd-it seemed two
and then the halt-oreed crept stealth
lily Sp to where the smoke had been
seen. Not by strides. or even steps.
but as a panther would. lifting one
foot and feeling where Il would rest
and then another. and all the while
listening and advancing again.
IL was McGuire's habit. while stay
ing here, 20 look az the weather pros
poets each night, and also TO obtain a
drink OF cool water before going 70
sleep.
often when the evenings were not
too cold, he would sit by the lake
shore for a half.hour smoking and
watching its starlit or moon glittering
surface, and listening 20 the calls OF
night providers.
In spite OF being an outlaw, devoid
OF moral nature. and one who preyed
upon his fellow-man he was not with
out sentiment. and the wild grandeur
or these enclosing mountains. and the
sense OF security they gave, were
pleasant 70 him. His life had been a
harsh and brutal one He had dealt
In mans lust and love OF liquor He
measured all humankind by his own
standard OF right and wrong. and be-
, heved that he must rob others or they
would rob him He had followed that
belief implicitly from the start. and
would so long as he lived. lie felt
that every mans hand was against
him. and no reproaches Of conscience
had resulted from his cold-blooded kill
Z ing Of an onicer. Never once did the
/ thought return OF the few years when
a woman's hand sought his in tender
ness. nor any sense OF the unspeak-
: able horror he had decreed for his own
child.
So vile a wretch seemed unht for
/ Gods green earth: and yet the silence
OF night beside this lake. and the stars
mirrored on its motonless surface.
soothed and satisfied him.
He had now and then another i'm
! pulse-to some day take his savings
of many years. secreted here, and 60
TO some other country, assume another
name. and lead different life.
And now. while an unsupported
enemy was waiting for him to enter a
sleep that should know no waking, he
left his cave and seated himself on q
shelf-like projection close TO the lake
which was deep here and the ledge
shore a sheer face rising some ten feet
above the water.
One hour or more this strange com
pound OF brute and man sat there con
templating the stars. and then he sud
denly detected q sound-only a faiRi
one. the mere click OF one pebble
striking another.
He arose and listened.
Soon another soft, crushing sound
reached him. Some animal creeping
along In the passage between the
lodges. he thought.
He stepped quickly TO the end OF the
shelf. On that instant a crouchins
form rose upward and confronted him
He had one moment only, bat
enough to see a tall man q step be
low him, the next a fash of splitting
fire. singing pain In one shoulder
and this human panther leapsd upon
I Mcclure,
! But life was sweet, even to Mcclure
and as he grasped and struck at thiI
enemy in blind instinct OF self-pres
ervation as both closed IN n deaf
grapple, one instant OF awful agon
came to him as a knife entered hi
heart yell of mingled hate an
deadly fear. as two bodies writhed o
the narrow shelf. plunging sound, a
both struck the water below-and the
silence.
Death and vengeance were claspe
In one eternal embrace.
CHAPTER XVI.
For two months life at Birch Cam
much reSenbled that of q xvood.h,,c