The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1911-09-29

euuo ioCdlo LILO SHI tuHOu6u pOHO
rustling. some slight motion. A knife,
knocked from the table. perhaps. as
she slipped softly past. fell Gathering
to the floor, and the gambler leaped
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 the
throat. The other. startled by the
unexpected attack, and scarcely real.
izing even yet the nature Of his IN.
tagQnist, struggled blindly to escape
the fingers clawing at him. and flung
n 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: failing 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 i~nterlocked together as to
make weapons useless. Whoever the
assailant might be, the gambler was
fully aware by that he was being
crushed in the grasp Of a 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.
UoVo HIT Tho r1o{nopoc rr,onloa
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 whoh to utter a sound. They
were fighting for life, silently. des.
perately, likls wild beasts, with no
thought but to injure the other. The
gamblers teeth sank into Keith's arm,
and the latter In return damned the
mans head back onts, the p%uncheon
floor viciously. Precipitation streamed
from their bodies. their fingers clutch.
ing. their limbs wrapped together.
their muscles strained to the utmost
Keith had forgotten thu girl. the 40
gro, everything, dominated by the one
passion to conquer. He was swept BY
a storm of hatred, q desire 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 a faint outline Of the
mans face. The sight added flame
to his mad passion. yet he could do
nothing except to cling to him. jab-
bling his fingers into the straining
throat.
The negro ended the affair In his
own way. clawing blindly at the CON
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.
certain only that Hawley was no
longer struggling. For an instant all
was blank, a mist Of black vapor: then
q realisation 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. 1.-THE fel.
low b ooly stunned; we must tie and
gag him. Is that you. Nebi Where II
the Eirlf"
II am here. Captain Keith" and he
heard the soft rustic of her dress
across the room. What Is It l may
dor"
"A coil Of rope. or some straps. with
a piece Of cloth; anything You can
lay hands on"
She was some moments at Il, con
fused by the darkness. and Hawley
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. vt
made no effort to break away.
"You-you frightened me q little"
she confessed. This has all happen
ed SO quickly l hardly realize yet Just
what has occurred"
(TO BU CONTINJJEDA