The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-12-06

crashing about the little room. No
two men on earth could have been bet
ter matched, yet Newbold had slight
advantage in height and strength, az
he had also the advantage in simple
life and splendid condition. Arm
strong's hate and fierce tempe: SCUM
terbalanced these at first. I'D vita
arms locked and legs twinsx. ~its
teeth clenched and eyes Minded and
pulses throbbing and hearts beating.
they strove together.
The girl shrank back against tho
wall and stared frightened. She feared
for her lover, she feared for herself.
Strange primitive feelings throbbed ID
her veins. 1t was an old situation.
when two male animals fought for SUI
premacy and the ownership Ut a fe'
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 If he was
the victor; and she even wondered IN
terror what might happen to her If the
man she loved triumphed after the
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.
! | %hor bod advantage
to either, but now after five minutes
or was it hours?-of fierce fighting.
}, the strength and superior condition Of
her lover began to tell. He was fore
t ing the other backward. Slowly. inch
: by inch, foot by foot, step by step.
d he mastered him. The two interwin'
ing figures were broadside to her now.
t. she could see their faces inf1amed by
the lust of the battle, engorged, blood
e red with hate and fury, but there was
d a look Of exultation on one and the
g shadow of approaching disaster or the
70 other. But the consciousness that he
8 was being mastered ever so little only
le increased Armstrong; determination
le and he fought back with the frenzy.
y. the strength Of maddened gorilla
ck and again for space the issue was "
doubt. But not for long.
Id The table, a heavy cumbersome
Is. four-legged affair, solid almost as q
rock. stood in the way. Newbold al
last backed Armstrong w. against y
and by superhuman effort bent him
ever it, held him with one arm and
using the table as support, wrenched
his left hand free, and sunk his fin
gers around the others throat. 1t waa
all up with Armstrong. 1t was only
a question Of time now.
"Now," Newbold guttered ou'
hoarsely, you slandered the dead wo
man married, and you tnsulted thu
living one l love. Take back what
you said before you de-"
II forgive him." cried Enid Matt
land. "Oh, for Gods sake don't kill
him before my eyes,"
Armstrong was past speech. Tha
inyeteracy of his hatred could be seer
even in his fast glazing eyes, the indo
mitableness of his purpose yet SPOKE
In the negative shake of his head. I'D
could die, but he would die in his hate
and in his purpose.
Enid ran to the two, she grappled
Newbold's arm with both her own ana
&. stroye with all her might to tear u
away from the others throat. Hel
II lover paid no more attention to hel
Il than If a summer breeze had touched
him. Armstrong grew black In tal
- face. his limbs relaxed, another SECOND
II or two it would have been over will
IN him.
Once more the door was throw1
NJ omen: through it two snow-covered mer
II entered One swift glance told then
I ALL One of them at least had expect
ed It. On the one side Kirkby, on thu
other Maitland, tore Newbold ava!
u from his prey just in time to saw
q Armstrong; life. Indeed the latte
4 was so far gone that he fell fronlst TIT
a table to the floor unconscious, choking
? almost dying. It was Enid MAITLAND
who received his head in her arms ant
helped bring him back to life whtl
the painting Newbold stood starin|
duly at the woman he loved and tn
J man he hated on the floor at his feet
(TO BE CONTINUED)