Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15

to me-wife or sweetheart"
you didn't really think"-
"Think HI! thought so then, and
! think 30 now. She denied it, but
"And you knew her so we'll too.
guess you've had some bad nights
yourself, Bennett, with that always on
your mind
II swore I'd have
land 30 you put her blood on my
head and made me on outlaw" After
an instant. "Why did you tell me this.
anyhow
OTIS our last talk, and I wanted you
to know how well my hate worked"
"Well, 1 guess that's ALL" said Gale.
So far they had watched each other
with unwaverlng, unbllnking eyes.
stralnlng at the leash and taut In every
nerve. Now, however, the traders
fingers frightened on the knife handle,
and his knuckles whtcned with the
grip, at which Stark's right hand
swept to his waist, and simultaneous
ly Gale lunged across the table. His
blade flickered in the light, and n gun
spoke-once. twice. again and again.
A cry arose outside the cabin; then
some heavy thing crashed In through
the door, bringing light with 1t, for
with his first leap Gale had carried
the lamp and the table with him, and
the two had cllnched In the dark
Burrell had waited an instant too
long. for the mems voices had held so
stendy, their words had been so vital,
that the finish found him unprepared;
but. thrusting the lantern into Poleon's
hand, he had backed of pace and
hurled himself Mt the door. lie fell to
his knees inside ana IN instant later
found himself wrestling for his life
between two raging beasts. The lieu
tenant knew Doret must have entered,
too. though he could not see him, for
the lantern shed siclly gloom over
the chaos. He was locked desperately
with John Gale. who flung him about
and handled him like a child. fighting
like an old gray wolf hoary with years
and terrible in his rage. Only for the
lanterns light Gale would doubtless
have sheathed his weapon In his new
assailant. but the more fiercely the
trader struggled the more tenaciously
the soldier chung. AS 1t was, Gale car
ried the lieutenant with him and
struck over his head at Stark.
Poleon had leaped into the room at
Burrell's heels to receive the impact Of
a heavy body hurled backward into his
arms as II by some irresistible force
He seized 1t and tore It away from the
thing that pressed after and bore down
upon 1t with the ferocity of wild
beast. He saw Gale reach over the
lieutenant's head and swing his arm
saw the knife blade bury itself in what
he held, then saw 1t rip away and felt
q hot stream squirt into his face. Do
ret glimpsed Burreli rising from his
knees, his arms about the traders
waist. and the next instant the CON-
batants were dragged apart.
The lieutenant wrenched the drip.
ping blade from Gales hand. 1t no
longer cleaned. but was warm and
slippery in bis fingers. Poleon held
Stark's gun. which was empty and
smoking.
The fight had not lasted a minute.
and vet what terrible havoc had been
wrought! The gambler was drenched
with his own blood, which gushed
from him. black in the yellow flicker
and so plentifully that the Frenchman
was befouled 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 Burrell 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 griZzled
muzzle like the fangs Of some wild
animal.
Bennett, or Stark, as the others
knew him. lunged about with his cap
tor, trying to get at his enemy and
crying curses on them all, but he was
like 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 as 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 his command.
"Come away" he shouted. But the
words sounded foolishly fat and
ipane.
Then Stark spoke intelligibly for the
first time.
"Arrest him! You've got to believe
what told you now, Burrell." He
poured forth a stream Of unspeakable
profanity. smitten by the bitter knowl
edge of his first and only defeat
You'll hang. Gaylord! I'll see your
neck stretched" To PoleOn he painted
excitedly: II followed him for fifteen
years, Doret. He killed my wifep'
Oats ID lie" said the French
| man.
mo, 1t Isn't. He's under indictment
for 1t back In California. He shot her
down In cold blood, then ran of 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 Burrcll turn
| = ~.