Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-12-16

| ly but not unequally. matched. foI
! while the doctor was short, thi sk- SCI
and muscular. but clumsy and awk-
ward like bear. David was tall and
slim. but 1.-the and sinewy as a pan
ther. Locked In each others arms
they seemed like single hideous mon :
ster In some sort OF convulsion. AS II
was impossible for them In this dead
ly embrace to strike, they wrestled
rather than fought, and bit with teeth
and tore with hands with equal feroc-
ity.
At the instant when the two infuri
ated men seized each other In this
deadly grip, Pepeeta tainted. while the
terrified mare backed the buggy into
the bushes by the roadside. Romeo,
snorting and paving the ground.
snuued at them Il moment as Is pro-
loundly concerned at their strange
maneuVers then turning away. began
TO crop the rich blue grass in entire
indifference to the results of this mad
quarrel between two foolish men.
The combatants surged and swayed
back and forth along the dusty road,
tripping and stumbling in vain efforts
Their danger lent them strength, and
their hatred skill. At last, after pro-
tracted efforts, they fell and rolled
over and over. now one on top now the
other Suddenly and as IL by single
impulse changing their tactics, their
right hands unclasped and began to
feel for the others throat. A sudden
slip of David's hold permitted the doc
tor to turn him over. and sprawling
across his breast he pinioned him to
the earth. His great hand stole to-
ward yhe throat of his PROSTATE foe
and fastened upon it with the grip OF
an iron vise
The beautiful face turned pale, then
grew purple. This would have been
the last moment in the life of the Qua
ker had not his right hand, convulsive-
ly clawing the road, touched a piece OF
broken rock. 1t was as If a life e-line
had swung up against the hand Of a
drowning man. The exhausted youth
untwisted the grip of the iron hand,
hung off the heavy body, mounted up
on 1t. crowded the great head with its
matted hair and staring eyes down in
to the dust. seized the stone with his
right hand. raised it, and struck.
The effect of the blow was two fold
-paralyzing the brain of the smitten
and the arm of the smiter. Across the
low forehead of the quack it left
great gaping wound like a bloody
mouth. A death-like pallor spread it
self over his countenance, the lids
dropped back and left the eyes ST ring
hideously up into the face above them
Davids arm, spasmodically uplifted
for a second blow, was suspended in
air. He did not move for long time;
and when at length his scattered
senses began to return he threw down
the stone, rose to his feet and exclaim-
ed in accents of terror, Il have killed
him."
He could not overcome the fascna-
ton of the lifeless face and wide star
ing eyes. They drew him towards
them; he stopped down and felt for the
pulse. which was imperceptible; laid
his hand upon the heart, but could not
feel it beati he raised an arm, and 1t
fell back limp and lifeless.
Suddenly one elemental passion gave
place to another. Horror had displaced
anger and now in its turn gave way
to the instinct of self preservation. He
looked toward the carriage and saw
that Pepeeta had fallen into a swoon.
Perhaps she has not seen what has
he said to himself and a
cunning smile lit up his pale face
STOPPING down. he seized the loath-
some object lying there in the dust Of
the road and dra gged 1t off into the
thick shrubery. Stumbling along, he
came to a hollow made by the roots
of an upturned tree Into this he !
flung the thing, hastily covered 1t with |
moss and leaves, and stood staring |
stupdly at the rude .sepulchre He ex-
perienced a momentary feeling OF re-
lief that the hideous object was out |
of sight; but the consciousness of his |
guilt and his danger soon surged back |
upon him like a food. In such mo-
ments the mind works wildly, like a |
clock with a broken spring, but some
times with an astonishing accuracy
and wisdom.
Ito be continued>