Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-10-18

thus locate the girl through sonls
rustling. some slight motion. 4 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
Ike iron on his cropping arm, while he
shot one fist out towa-& where the
mans head should be. The blow
glanced, yet drove the fellow sAck-
ward, stumbling against the table. ard
Keith closed In. graphing for the
throat. The other. startled by the
unexpected attack. and scarcely real
lZing even yet the nature OF his an
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
Dier'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
hight De, lHb yam Wab
FULLY aware by now 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
ways, but the plainsman's muscles
stlHened into steel. and he gradually
reSained his position. Neither dared
release grip in order to strike
blow; neither had sufficient breath
left with which to utter a sound. They
were fighting for life. silently. des-
perately. like wild beasts, with I'D
thought but to injure the other. The
gamblers teeth sank into Keith's arm,
and the latter in return jammed 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 ne
gro, everything. dominated by the one
passion to conquer. He was swept by
storm of hatred. desire to kill In
N.>'A hNA 10 OIL htBiC tHc lWO Hdu TOll-
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 him, jab-
bling his fingers into the straining
throat
The negro ended the affair in 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.
certain only that Hawley was no
longer struggling. For an instant all
was blank, mist OF black vapor; then
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 and
gag him. Is that you. Neb? Where Is
the grip
81 am here. Captain Keith" and he
heard the soft rustic of her dress
across the room. What is It | may
do7"
"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. yet
made no effort to break away.
"You-you frightened me n little
she confessed. This has all happen,
ed so quickly | hardly realize yet lust
what has occurred"
CTO BE CONTINUED