The Detroit times., 1912-06-27
MeMAN IN t6...
BROWN DERBY
By
90
Wells HASTINGS
s00 Author Of ceoo
The Professors Mystery
(0wishtlSllH BobbL1enaI q
CHAPTER XIV.
(Contlnued.)

When a man Is fighting Tor other
lives than his own, he fights not Dy
any particular code. except that the
instinct OF tradition forbids him 20
use his teeth: but he fights, as best ne
may. 70 win. using whatever means
present the most potent possibilities.
| hoped, once | had pushed MS heau
backward fer enough, 10 strike MIN
across the throat with the edge Oh
my hand. a short, chopping stroke.
that was the only thing ] recalled OF
forgotten lessons In jiu titsu; but
Morrison suddenly let go and the
very pressure OF my hand upon his
chin sent him backward and away
from me out OF immediate strikmg
distance. so that the arms which
struggled for the revolver were
stretched like rope between us'
But now there was no loAger any
question OF his being able 10 wrench
himself away, for with the seconds
OF lighting my strength was coming
back to me again. and the power
which | had never used but once be-
fore began TO glow through me like
old brandy.
i Il
OF him, but only certain that he
could not wrench his hand away
For the great sloping shoulders had
not belied the man. lie was strong
er than any one | had ever met. and
now, as for the moment We looked III
each others eyes, as he saw in mine
know not what JOY OF battle OF
leaping lust OF longed-for venge-
ance, and as | saw his face grow
stern and set with realization. grow
white and tight-1fpped as the face
Of man who finds himself, In q
moment, breast TO breast with death
knew that / must fight warily and
we'll | frightened still more the hand
that graspcd his wrist. and still look
ing at him, bent it slowly over
hoping by the agony Of the twist &c
loosen the fingers that clenched the
revolver butt saw the pain In
his face: and then the most dread
full and fearful thing man can see
utter and absolute fear. the mad
terror that is more dangerous than
sheer courage, the maniac strength
of the basic and ultimate coward.
/ ! threw my arm before my face
! instinctively as he leaped at me
jerking and holding him away a!
best | could with the other. so thai
| his teeth snapped like dogs but &
few inches from my face. Though
| for a full minute held him strug
Cling in the middle OF the floor, tear
ing at me with his free hand. strik
| ing with his lowered head, kicking
| scratching and biting, great anC
| horrible thing, a man fallen sud
denly brute with all a brute's vi
cious, unreasoning strength, yet. b,
what grace do not know, | escaped
unhurt; and as his strength begar
to lessen, pushed him back anC
back, until | had him fair agains
the wall OF the room, with the oper
bars behind him, where rested TO
moment. painting Then ! pushed
mis- hand backward and up until tn,
steel OF his weapon ratified anC
| grated against the blind bars OF TIL
window, the revolver fell at las
from his fingers. striking the sill "a
1t fell and dropping out into tn,
darkness.
| flung aside his hand. then, anc
stepped back pace or so. for i wa
still foolish enought to want to figh
him fairly But when he had a lit
tie recovered himself, saw his eye
flicker to the door which had beer
boited behind him until they reach
ed the electric push-button, which
he had evidently meant to ring wheI
he wished the door again unbolted
land, though II had been only
glance I knew as well as IL he hat
shouted 1t aloud that he had ha,
enough of fighting, and that his onl,
thought was to get to that bell
Nevertheless. stood where | wa
and watched quietly, getting m,
lbreath again and gathering mysel
together TO meet any move that h
might make. But when that NOV
came. IL was not directly toward tn
door, as | had expected. but sudden
ly and obliquely toward the littl
iron wash-stand in the corner. Hi
hand was fairly on the tin pitche
before reached him and struck hin
with all my strength.
He threw UP one arm in som
kind of guard. while his other hand
now grasping the handle OF tn
pitcher. jerked 1t toward me. splash
i Ing a little cascade OF water onto tn
bare boards OF the floor. Blu