The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-05-10

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 n fist put 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 an
tagonist. 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, falling himself heavily upon
the PROSTATE body. Hawley gave ut
erance TO M cry. half throttled in
his throat, and then the two grappled
iercely, so i~ntertocked 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 a fighting man,
and exerted every wrestler's trick.
every ounce OF strength, to break free.
Twice he struggled to his knees, oaly
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 a
blow; neither had sufficient breath
left with which to utter a sound. They
were fighting for life, silently, des-
perately. like wild beasts, with no
thought but TO injure the other. The
teeth sank into Keith's arm,
and the latter In return damned the
mans head back onto the puncheon
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 n
passion to conquer. He was swept by
a storm Of hatred, a desire to kill. In
their fierce struggle the two had ron.
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
10 hfo mod naoCfnn wat b. nnv1A ia
nothing except to cling to him, jab-
bling his fingers into the strainins
throat.
The negro ended the affair in his
wi way. clawtng blindly at the con-
batants tn the darkness. and finally,
determining which was the enemy, he
struck the gambler with the stock q
his gun. laying him out unconscious.
Keith, graspfng the table. hauled him
self to his feet. gasptng for breath,
certain only that Hawiey was no
longer struggling. For an instant al
was blank. q mist of black vapor; thea
realisation Of their situation cams
back In sudden flood OF remembrance.
GVCu y0t no Co0iu BOG uOIAAn8, WI
felt the motionless figure at his feet
Quick" he urged, the instant hs
could make himself speak. The fsl
low u only stunned: We must tie anA
gag him. Is that you. Neb? Where -
the girl?"
II am here. Captain Keith" and no
heard the soft rustic Of her dress
across the room. What IL II I may
dor"
"A coil Of rope, or some straps. with
q piece of cloth; anything you car
lay hands on"
She was some moments at 1t, con
fused by the darkness. and HawIey
slightly. his labofed breathing
growing plainly peroeptible. Keith
heard her cropping toward him. and
held out his hands. She started a hs
thus Unexpectedly touched her, yst
made no effort to break away.
"Yov-you frightened me q ht&ls."
she confessed. This has all happen.
ed 30 quickly I hardly realize yet jua
has occurred"
CTO BE CONTINUED.)