The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-09-21

his hands bare for contest. Even al
though he surprised his antagonist, 1t
was going to be fight for life; he
knew Black Bart" broad-shouldered,
quick as a cat, accustomed to every
form of physical exercise, desperate
and tricky, using either knife or gun
recklessly. Yet it was now or never
for all of them, and the plainsman felt
no mercy, experienced no reluctance.
He reached the table, and straight.
ened up, silent, expectant. 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 Rn endeavor to
thus locate the giYl through some
rustling, some slight motion. A knife,
knocked from the Gable, perhaps, as
she slipped softly past, fell gathering
to the floor, and the gambler leaped
instantly forward. Keiths 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 the
throat. The other, startled by the
unexpected attack, and scarcely real
tagonist, struggled blindly to escape
the fingers clawing at him, and flung
one hand down to the knife in his
belt. Warned by the movement, the
assailant drove his head into the gam
bler's 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 grappled
fiercely, 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 fighting man,
and exerted 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, and he gradually
regained his position. Neither dared
release a grip in order to strike
blow; neither had sufficient breath
left with which to utter sound. They
were fighting for life, silently, des'
perately, like wild beasts, with no
thought but to injure the other The
gamblers teeth sank Toto Keith's arm,
and the latter in return damned the
mans head back onto the puncheon
floor viciously. 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 me-
gro, everything, dominated by the one
passion to conquer He was swept by
a storm Of hatred d~sire to kill. In
their fierce struggle the two had roll
ed close to the fire place, and in the
dull glow of the dying embers, he
could perceive faint outline of the
mans face. The sight added flame
to his mad passion, yet he could do
nothing except to cling to hi1n. jab'
bling his fingers into the strsining
throat.
The negro ended the affair III his
own way, clawing blindly at the com
batants in the darkness, and finally
determining which was the enemy, he
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
ce.*nin only that Hawley was nc
longor struggling. For an instant al
was Afank, mist of black vapor; ther
realization of their situation came
back in sudden flood of remembrance
Even yet he could see nothing, but
felt the motionless figure at his feet.
Quick" he urged, the instant he
could make himself speak. "The fel
low is only stunned; we must tie ant
gag him. Is that you, Neb? Where IL
he gir,t"'
II am here. Captain Keith" and he
heard the soft rustic of her dress
across the room. What is it | may
do?"
"A coil of rope. or some straps, with
piece of cloth; anything you car
lay hands on"
She was some moments at 1t, con
fused by the darkness, and Hawle,
moved slightly, his labored breathing
growing plainly perceptible. Keith
heard her cropping toward him, and
held out his hands. She started as he
thus unexpectedly touched her. ye
made no effort to break away.
"You-you frightened me little,
she confessed. This has all happen
ed so quickly l hard," realize yet JUS
what has occurred"
(TO BE CONTlNu;kDA