The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-09-13

crashing about the little room. No
two men on earth could have been bet.
ter matched. yet Newbold had a slight
advantage In height and strength, az
he had also the advantage In simple
life and splendid condition Arm.
strong's hate and fierce temper coun.
terbalanced these at first, and with
arms locked and legs twined. with
teeth clenched and eyes blinded and
pulses throbbing and hearts beating.
they strove together.
The girl shrank back against the
wall and stared frightened. She feared
for her lover. she feared for herself.
Strange primitive feelings throbbed In
her veins. II was an old situation,
when two male animals fought for SUI
premacy and the ownership Of q 70.
male. whose destiny was entirely re-
| moved from her own hands.
Armstrong had shown himself in his
true colors at last She would have
nothing to hope from him II he was
the victor; and she even wondered in
terror what might happen to her II the
man she loved triumphed after tho
passions aroused In such battle? She
grew sick and giddy. her bosom rose
and fell. her breath came fast as she
followed the painting. struggling. cling
Ing grinding. figures about the room
At first there had been no advantage
to either. but now after Ave minutes
or was II hours?-of fierce fighting,
the strength and superior condition Of
her lover began to tell He was fore
Ing the other backward. Slowly. inch
by inch. foot by foot. step by step.
he mastered him. The two interwin-
Ing figures were broadside to her now.
she could see their faces infamed by
the lust OF the battle. engorged. blood
red with hate and fury. but there was
a look OF exultation on one and the
shadow OF approaching disaster on the
other. But the consciousness that he
was being mastered ever so little only
increased Armstrong; determination
and he fought back with the frenzy,
the strength OF q maddened gorilla,
and again for a space the Issue was In
doubt. But not for long.
The table. a heavy cumbersome.
four.legged affair. solid almost AZ Q
rock. stood In the way. Newbold at
last backed Armstrong up against it
and by superhuman effort bent him
over II. held him with one arm and
using the table as a support. wrenchsd
his left hand free. and sunk his nm
gers around the others throat II was
all up with Armstrong. II wns only
n question Of time now.
Now" Newbold guttered out
hoarsely. you slandered the dead wo-
man ] married. and you insulted the
living one ] love. Take back what
you said before you die" ,
Il forgive him." cried Enid MALI
land. "oh. for Gods sake don't kin
him before my eyes"
Armstrong was past speech. The
lnveteracy Of his hatred could be seen
even In his fast glazing eyes. the inde.
nitableness OF his purpose yet spoke
In the negative shake OF his head. He
could die, but he would die In his hate
and In his purpose
Enid ran to the two. she grappled
arm with both her own and
strove with all her might to tear k
away from the others throat. Her
lover paid no more attention to her
than II summer breeze had touched
him. Armstrong grew black In the
face. his limbs relaxed. another second
Or two II would have been over with
him.
Once more the door was thrown
pen: through II two snow-covered men
entered. One swift glance told them
III. One Of them at least had expect.
ID II. On the one side Kirkby, on the
'ther Maitland. tore Newbold away
rom his prey Just In time to save
Armstrong; life. Indeed the latter
vas so far gone that he fell from the
able to the floor unconscious. choking.
lmost dying. II was Enid Maitland
Tho received his head In her arms and
elped bring him back to life while
he painting Newbold stood staring
ully at the woman he loved and the
aan he hated on the floor at his fesG
Cro BE cONTINUED)