Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-29

his men beyond sound; had doubtless
instructed them to ignore any noise
of struggle which they might overhear
within. 1t was these very arrange.
ments for evii which now Afforded op.
portunity. and Keith crept forward,
alert and ready, his teeth clenched.
his hands bare for contest. Even al
though he surprised his antagonist, It
was going to be night for life; he
know "Blaok Bart" broad. d.shoul ID cred,
quick a. n cat, accustomed to every
form of physical exercise. desperate
and tricky. using either knife or gun
rsoklsssiy. Yet It was now or never
for all Of them. and the plainsman felt
no mercy. experienced no rsluctanos.
He reached the table. and straight
ened up, silent. sIpectant. For An In
slant there was no further sound: no
evidence OF movement In the room.
Hawley. puzzled by the silence. WAS
listening intently In an endeAvor to
thus locate tho girl through some
rustling. some slight motion. A knife.
knocked from the table. perhaps. ~
she slipped softly past. fell clRttering
TO the floor. and tho gambler lesped
instantly forward. Keith's grip closed
like iron on his cropping arm. while he
shot one fist out toward where the
mans head should be. The blow
glanced, yet drove the fellow back
ward. stumbling against the table, and
Keith closed In. graphing for tho
throat, The other, startled by the
unexpected attack, and scarcely real
king even yet the nature OF his an
the fingers clawing at him. and flung
one hand down to the knife In his
belt. Warned by the movement, the
assailant drove bis head into the gam
blers chest. sending him crashing to
the floor, falling himself heavily upon
the PROSTATE body. Hawley gave ut.
terance to one cry, half throttled in
his throat. and then the two grappied
fercely. SO interlocked together as to
make weapons useless. Whoever the
assailant might be, the gambler was
fully aware by now that he was being
crushed In the grasp OF fightins man.
and ererted every wrestler's trick,
every ounce OF strength, to break free.
Twice he struggled to his knees. only
to be crowded backward by relentless
power; once he hurled Keith side
ways, but the plainsman's muscles
stiffened into steel, aHd he gradually
regained his position. Neither dared
release a grip In order to strike q
blow: neither bad sufficient breath
left with which to utter a sound. They
were fighting for life, silently, des-
perately, liks wild beasts, with no
thought but to inture the other, The
gamblers teeth sank into Keith's arm.
and the latter In return 1ammsd the
mans head back onto tho puncheon
floor yiciously Precipitation streamed
from their bodies. their fingers clutch
ing. their limbs wrapped together.
their muscles strained to the utmost
Keith had forgotten the girl, the ne
gro. everything, dominated by the one
passion to conquer. He was swept by
4 storm of hatred. a desire to kill. In
their fierce struggle the two had roll
ed close to the fire place. and In the
uuli etOW Vi lHe dsluB GILL ucib, uc
could perceive faint outline of the
mans face. The sight added flame
to his mad passion. yet he could dc
nothing excbpt to cling to him. jab
bins his fingers into tho straining
throat
The negro ended the affair In his
own way, clswtng blindly At tho com
batants In the darkness. and finally
determining which was the enemy, hs
struck the gambler with the stock OF
his gun. laying him out unconscious
Keith. grasping the table. hauled him
self to his feet. gasping for breath
certain only that Hawley was nc
longer struggling. For an instant all
was blank q mist of black vapor; then
= realization of their aitustton cams
back In sudden flood of rsmem branos
Even yet he could see nothing. but
felt the motionless figuro at his feet
Quick" he urged. the instant he
could make himself speak The fel