Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-06-13

Keith could have restrained himself
no longer Whatever her past might
be, this woman aprealed to him
strangely; he could not believe evil
OF her; he would have died n need
be IN her defense. But as IL was. the
ugly boast of Hawley gave confidence
In the final outcome of this struggle In
the dark. even a possibility OF escape
for them all The gambler, assured OF
being confronted merely by frail
and not Overscrupulous woman had
vcntured there alone: had stationed
his men beyond sound; had doubtless
/ instructed them to ignore any noise
Of struggle which they might overhear
/ within. 1t was these very arrange
/ ments for evil which now afforded op-
/ portunity, and Keith crept forward,
alert and ready, his teeth clenched.
I his hands bare for contest. Even al
though he surprised his antagonist. II
was going to be q fight for 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 II was now or 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 an in
slant there was no further sound; no
evidence OF movement in the room.
Hawley, puzzled by the silence, was
listening intently in an endeavor to
thus locate the girl through some
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
Ike iron on his cropping arm, while he
shot one fist out 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
ling even yet the nature Of his an
tagonist, struggled blindly to escape
the fingers clawing at him, and flung
one 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
terance to one cry, half throttled IN
his throat, and then the two grappled
Hereby, so interiocked 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 fighting man,
and exerted every wrestler's trick,
every ounce OF strength, to break free.
Twice he struggled to his knees, only
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 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
gamblers teeth sank into Keith's arm.
and the latter in return jammed the
mans head back onto the puncheon
floor 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 one
passion to conquer. He was swept by
a storm Of hatred, a desire to kill. In
their fierce struggle the two had roll
ed close to the fire place, and in the
dun glow of the dying embers, he
could perceive a faint outline of the
mans face. The sight added flame
TO his mad passion, yet he could do
nothing except to cling TO him, lab
bling his fingers into the straining
throat.
The negro ended the affair in his
own way, clawing blindly at the COM
batants in the darkness, and finally,
determining which was the enemy, he
struck the gambler with the stock Of
his gun, laying him out unconscious
Keith, grasping the table, hauled him
self to his feet, gasping for breath,
certain only that Hawley was no
longer struggling. For an instant all
was blank, a mist of black vapor; then |
a realization of their situation came |
back In sudden food OF remembrance. |
Even yet he could see nothing, but |
felt the motionless figure at his feet
Quick" he urged, the instant he |
could make himself speak The fell |