Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-07-11
CHAPTER x.-fcon.inu.s.,

Coast decided to make himself &
present OF whatever benefit might be
aeid TO tnhere in the doubt. He
gained the rea. entrance in a bound.
with another found himself charging
down the embankrnent, in whose
treacherous composition OF loose sand
and gravel he struggled momen.artIy
ssa ss.s!y ::SS.T t:oosss..Es Thea hs ffeii ffeiiii
and rolled tnglortously. accompanied
by cloud OF dirt. rubbish and small
stones. At the bottom OF a descent OF
come thirty feet he picked himself
up. unhurt but shaken, just az a sec
oud bullet pioughed up the sand two
PAGES TO one side
There vas no longer any question
as to the identity OF the target. Coast
permitted himself single. feeung.
Upward glance. caught q cinemato-
graphic glimpse OF the Chinaman-
like some huge, urgain!y BIRD in his
loose. fapping garments. descending
the bank-and turned and ran head
long.
Presently. some distance ahead, the
shadowy proportions OF the beached
catboat took shape through the mist.
For some reason Coast hailed it with
sob OF hope: Heaven alone knows
what manner OF hope the sight OF 1t
held out to bis dazed perceptions He
had merely bewildered notion that
II only he could hold out until he
reached the boat 1t would afford him
some sort OF shelter-or else that he
might stumble across some monde
script weapon OF defence-a broken
oar-anything. -.
Somehow he did manage to gain the
little vessel. and. with his pursuer
pounding on not fifteen feet in the
rear, doubled like rabbit round IT'S
stern. He had fugitive impression.
- he passed. Of q curious something
crouching there; but with no time for
recognition. or indeed for thought. he
shot on, Of sudden painfully alive
to the fact that he mad been mistaken,
that there was no refuge for him
there.
Then he pulled up on the sound OF
. heavy fall behind him-a duh crash
followed by . short, stifled cry and q
sharp crack - Of two stones coming
together.
He looked back In time to see the
short, starved figure OF Appleyard
Strengthening up from the body of the
Chinaman. to see the little mans half
friendly. half-apologetic smile. and to
hear him say In q tone Of quiet reas-
surance: "All right. old top. He's
down and three times out"
Incredulous and half exhausted.
Coast staggered back 70 the boat.
Tho Chinaman lay like some mon
strous efngy Of man. inert. sprawling,
with sa8ging jaw. shut eyes and q
ragged. bleeding wound In the mid
die OF his forehead. A bit OF drift
wood part Of the water-bleached
branch Of : small tree-was twisted
between his feet: . formidably jagged
stone in Appleyard's hand eked out
the story Of his downfall.
..lt wasn't anything. the little man
explained with his timid, makeshift
smile. noting Coasts expression Il
saw you coming heard the shots TO
BEGIN with-and made preparation &C.
cnrdln'. Lucky you chanced this
4 .I
way. Otherwise
He shrugged and cast away the
stone that had served % famously.
''Wo'd better 30 making tracks before
the others came down on u. he suy-
gosted calmly.
You--you'vs killed hint" Coast
pantsd.
.Um-m- no: sorry 70 say" Apple
lynrd moved to one side and picked
Gp the revolver which had fallen from
tAs Chinaman's hand. Unfortunately
Inst stunned. .. Mobbe." he
1Aded. bs1ghtsning momentartly. .itll
e0s1 cut co0ou10jon q tho brain, but"
- 1870 dubious mouth -'.I'n
aADi1 ~ Shoao hratoo aeo tou9h
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