Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-11-03
By REX BEACH
coprRicHr 1909 BY

Greatly relieved. Boyd was about TO
go on. when sharp cry. like signal,
came In the woman's voice. cry
which turned 70 a genuine wall of dis
tress The listener heard a mans voice
cursing In answer. and then the sound
OF n scufile, followed nj length by
choking cry. that brought him bound.
ing into the building He ran forward.
recklessly. but before he had covered
half the distance her collided violently
with n piece Of machinery and went
sprawlng 10 the floor glance up
ward revealed the dim outlines Of
topper" and showed him farther
down the building. silhouetted briefly
against the lesser darkness OF the win
dows. two struggling figures As he
regained his footing, something rushed
past him man or animal he could not
tell which. for Us feet made no more
sound upon the floor than those ~
wolf dog Then. as he bOlted forward
he heard n man cry ont. and found
himself In the midst OF turmoil. His
hands encountered human body, and
lie seized IL, only to be hurled aside rs
IL with n giants strength Again he
cllnched with a mans form, and bore
it 10 the floor, cursing AT the darkness
and reaching for its throat His an
tagonist raised his voice in wild
clamor, while Boyd braced himself for
another assault from those huge hands
he had met a moment before. But IL
did not come instead he heard a cry
from the woman, an answer IN a deep
er voice and then swift, pattering
footsteps growing fainter Meanwhile
the man with whom he was locked
was lighting desperately. with hands
and feet and teeth. shouting hoarsely
Other footsteps sounded now, this
time approaching. then AZ the door
lantern dared watchmau came run
ming down between the Lies OF ma
chinery. followed 10y othei figures half
revealed
Boyd had pinned his antagonist
against the cold sides Of retort at
last and with fingers clutched about
his throat was beating his head vio-
lently against the iron when by the
lanterns glcam he caught one glimpse
of the fat. purple face In front Of him
and loosed his hold with a startled ex-
clamation Released from the grip
that had nearly made an end ~ him.
willis Marsh staggered 20 his feet.
The man was wounded badly
wounded, as he saw by the red stream
which gushed down over his breast
Marsh leveled trembling finger ~
Boyd and cried Historically:
There he is. men. lie tried 10 rinr
der me. lin hurt. III have him
arrested"
The seriousness Of the accusation
struck the young man on The instant
lie turned upon the group
II didn't do that heard q light
going on aud ran IN here"
Hes n liar" the wounded man IN
terrupted shriily Hes stabbed nae.
Seer lie tried 70 strip the Shirt from
his wounds. then fell 20 chatTering and
shaking. 20 God, I'm hurt. lie
staggered 10 packing case and sank
upon II. weakly fumbling at his sod
den shoulder
"A didn't do that" repeated Boyd.
n don't know who stabbed him
didn't"
."rhen who did, some one dc
manded.
what are you doing in here? You'd
a killed him in minute" said the
man with the lantern.
wen tx you for this third voice
threatened
Listen" BOYD said In tone TO
make them pause. There has been
a mistake here. was passing the