The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-09-29
CHAPTER xI.
The Fight ID thu peflL

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Keith could have restrained himself
no longer. Whatever her past might
be. this woman appealed to him
strangely; he could not believe evil
Of heri he would have died II need
be In her defense, But as 1t was. the
ugly boast of Hawlsy gave confidence
In the final outcome Of this struggle In
the dark, even a possibility Of escape
for them al, The gambler. assured Of
being confronted merely by a trail
and not overscrupulous woman. had
vventured there alone; had stationed
his men beyond sound; had doubtleea
instructed them to ignore any notSo
Of struggle which they might overhear
within. It was these very arrange
ments for evil which now afforded op
,portunity, and Keith crept forward.
alert and ready, his teeth .clenched.
hts hands bare for contest. Even IL
though he surprised his antagonist, q
was going to be a light tor 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 1t was snow OF 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 IN IN
slant there was no further sound; NO
evidence Of movement IN the room.
Hawley, puzzled by the silence. was
listening intently IN IN endeayor e
thus locate the girl through some
rustling, some slight motion. A kniie'
knocked from the table, perhaps. -
she slipped softly past, fell clatterinG
to the floor, and the gambler leaped
instantly forward. Keith's grip closed
like iron on his cropping arm, while -
shot one fst out toward whers the
mans head should BE-. The blow
glanced, yet drove the fellow bae1-
ward, stumbling against the table, ~
Keith closed In, graphing fee t.
throat. The other startled by0
unexpected attack, and scarcely Uok
king even yet the nature Of his -
t~agonist, struggled blindly to escape
the fingers .clawing 1t him, and nunG
one hand down Il the knife in hin
belt. Warned by the movement, IL
assailant drove his head into the ga
bler's chest, sending him crashins =
the floor, falling himself heavily upo
the PROSTATE body. Hawley gave -
terance to one cry, half throttlsA =
his throat, and then the two grapple1
fercely, 30 intsrlocksd together . =
make weapons useless. Whoever ~
assailant might b, the gambler ~
fully aware by now that he wAa beano
crushed in the grasp Of . nghting M
and exerted every wrestler'a IT.
every ounce Of strength, to break NJ
Twice he struggled to his knees. enr
to be crowded backward by relentlea
power; ono he hurled Keith SID
ways. but the plainsman's musClN
stinened into stssl. and he gradually
regained his position. Neither dr.
release q grip In order to strike
blow: neither had sufficient brsee'
left with which to utter . sound. Thel
were fghting for life. ailsntly. -
perately, like Wild bsaets. VII >
thought but to injurs the ether. u
gamblers teeth sank ints Ke1t1f1 aS1
and the latter in return jammed q
mans head hack onto theJ)anSQ
foor .yiciously. PerspiEations htreA1ee
from their bodies, thsir anoers cfutel
ing. their limbs lwrappea SogeE11!
their muscles strained 10 the ufmos