The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-01-15

dust beneath his mattress, and van
ished into the night, leaving q three
bellied wooden god grinning ON the
shelf over his bunk.
Up at the Golden Gulch mill, by the
light of a single incandescent, Thorn
ton was engaged at an assay. He
chose to work secretly, as the speci-
mems being tested were remarkably
rich. and until the interests he repre-
sented were better informed, he did
not wish for any publicity. Then, too.
certain wealthy investors would be
down the following month, and he
was anxious to lay before them pal
pable evidence of the richness of the
Golden Gulch claims.
With fortunes golden chariot rolling
nearer and nearer every hour, and
each successful days work bringing
him one step closer to Her. natures
cali to food and sleep had again and
again been disregarded, but not until
the fine young fellow actually stag
gered at his labor did he realize that
it was long past midnight and he was
dizzy and exhausted.
Suddenly some seventh sense
something finer than the licensed
sixth sense, an intuition as subtle as
indehnable. informed him that he was
being watched. Somewhere there "a
a face peering at him!
Giving no sign Of this discovery, but
yawning drowsily, he brought his hand
up until it came in contact with the in
/. candescent's key. Another moment
and he had shut of the light that ex-
posed the rich samples of ore and
sprang aside. alert and angry.
This movement changed instant
death into terrific battle. Out of the
darkness there sprang upon him the
huge form of Chew Lung, the giant
Chinaman, and a red silver of fame
pierced his shoulder ere he could
grasp the hand that clutched a mur-
derous dirk.
One touch OF the yellow skin had
Informed Thornton of his assailant's
identity, and the young fellow knew
that the odds of battle were heavily
against him, He was outmatched In
body and weapon, an exhausted man
of slender build pitted against an
armed giant; yet against his gross
adversary his finer fiber might prove
as steel against iron.
A moment he fumbled helplessly, al
the Chinaman crushed him back with
sheer weight, then, freeing his right
arm, he swung for the yellow stomach.
The short, hooked jolt loosened the
giants hold N the knife. which fell
to the floor and was kicked out Of
reach in the struggle that succeeded.
and Thornton attempted to follow up
the blow by selling his antagonist
with a trick hold.
In vain! His reach was inadequate
against the others huge bulk, and he
realized that his only chance for life
was to keep from being thrown and
his neck or back broken.
1t vas pitch. dark in the room, and
as the combataats fought desperately
the furniture and paraphernalia were
overturned and smashed, and the rich
samples Of ore were scattered under
foot.
Suddenly Thornton was aware that
be-eath the Chinaman's blouse there
was a bread band OF some substance
as hard as steel. His hands had again
and again come into contact with it,
and now it flashed over him that his
assailant wore a shirt of mail, which
extended around his body beneath his
arms to his stomach.
Back and forth, across the room and
against the shelved walls, the unequal
fight continued, till Thornton felt him.
self growing desperately weak. when
TO the crushing horror OF the giant as
sassin in his shirt Of mail was added
the knowledge that the Chinaman had
recovered the dirk.
Howard Thornton felt that things
were pretty much the DEVILS way,
when suddenly there came to him one
wild. uplifting hope. and 2 young girls