Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-06-30


waist, and the next instant the COM
batants were dragged apart.
The lieutenant wrenched the drip
ping blade from Gales hand. 1t no
longer cleaned. but was warm and
slippery in his fingers. Poleon held
Stark's gun, which was empty and
smoking.
The fight had not lasted minute,
and yet what terrible havoc had been
wrought! The gambler was drenchcd
with his own blood. which gushed
from him, black in the yellow flicker
and so plentifully that the Frenchman
was befoulcd with it, while Gale, too,
was horribly stained, but whether
from his own or his enemy's veins it
was hard to tell The trader paid no
heed to himself nor to the intruders,
allowing Burrel to push him back
against the wall, the breath wheeling
in and out of his lungs, his eyes fas-
tened on Stark.
Il got you. Bennett!' he cried
hoarsely. 'Your magic is no good"
His teeth showed through his grlzzled
muzzle like the fangs of some wild
animal.
knew him, lunged about with his cap
tor, trying to get Mt his enemy and
crying curses on them all, but he was
like n child in Poleon's arms. Grad
ually he weakened, and suddenly re-
sistance died out of him.
"Come away from here" the lieuten-
ant ordered Gale.
But the old man did not hear and
gathered himself us If to resume the
battle with his bare hands, whereupon
the soldier, finding himself shaking
like frightened child and growing
physically weak at what he saw,
doubted his ability to prevent the en-
counter and repeated bis command.
"Come awayw he shouted. But the
words sounded foolishly fiat and
inane.
Then Stark spoke intelliglbly for the
first time.
ARREST him! You've got to believe
what l told you now, Burrcll' lie
poured forth n stream of unspeakable
profanity, smitten by the bitter knowl.
edge of his first ard only defeat
You'll hang, Gaylord! III see your
neck stretched!" To Poleon he painted
excitedly: 81 followed him for fifteen
years. Doret. He killed my wife!"
Oats ID liew said the French.
man.
mo, 1t Isn't. He's under indictment
for it back in California. He shot her
down in cold blood, then ran off with
my kid. That's her he calls Necia.
She's mine. Amt right, lieutenant"
AT this final desperate effort TO fix
the crime upon his rival Burrell turn
ed on him with loathing.
Its no use, Stark We heard you
say she killed herself. We were stand
ing outside the door, both of us, and
got it from your own lips"
Until this moment the man had
stood on his own feet, but now he
began to sag, seeing which Poleon
supported him to the bed, where he
sank weakly, collapslng in every joint
and muscle.
"It's job" he snarled. you put
this up, you three, and came here to
gang me-" An unnatural shudder con-
vulsed him as his wounds bit at him,
and then he Jared up yiciously. But
I'll beat you all. I've got the girl.
I've got her."
"Necia." cried Burrell, suddenly re-
membering, for this ARRAY had driven
all else from his mind.
Stark crouched on the edge Of his
bunk. a CHASTITY gray grinning thing.
One weapon still remained to him, and
he used it.
Eyes, I've got my daughter"
where is she?" demanded the trad
or hoarsely. "Where's my girl:"
The gambler chuckled An agony
seized him till he hiccoughed and stran-
gled. Then; rs the spell passed. he
laughed again.
"She's got you in her head like the
mother had, but III drive 1t out. I'll
treat her like did her."
Gale uttered terrible cry and
moved upon him, but Burrell Shout
dered the trader aside, himself pos
sessed by cold fury that intensified
his strength tenfold.
stop 1t, Gale. Let me attend to
this. I'll make him tell"
"oh. will you" Knocked the girls
father.
"Where is sheY
Meme Of your ID busincssr Again
he was seized with paroxysm that
left him shivcring and his lips color
less The blankets were soaked and
soggy with blood, and his feet rested
in a red pool
Ben Stark" said the tortured lover,
you're Il sick man. and youth be gone
in half an hour at this rate. Won't
you do one decent thing before You
die?"
Bah! Pm all right"
IN get you n doctor II you'll tell
US where she is. If you don't I'll--let
you die. For Gods sake, man, speak
up"
The wounded man strove to rise, but
could not, then considered for a mo-
ment before he said:
81 sent her away"
"Where?'
"Up river Oh that freightcr that left
last night. She'll go out by Skagway,
ard I'll join her later. where l can
have her to myself. She's forty miles
up river now and getting farther every
minute. oh. you can't catch herr
The three men stared at one another
blankly.
"Why did she go2" said Gale DULY.
Because | told her who she was
and who you are; because she thinks
you killed her mother; because she
was glad to get away" Now that he
was grown too weak to inilct violent
pain the man lied malevolcntly, gloat-
ing over what he saw in the traders
face.
Never mind, old man; I'll bring her
back" said Burrell and laid comfort
ing hand on Gales shoulder, for the
fact that she was safe, the fact of
knowing something. relieved him i'm
mensely, but Stark's next words plung-