Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-07-12

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 Keiths grip closed
like 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
izing 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
his throat, and then the two grappled
f1ercely, so interlocked 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 a grip in order to strike q
blow; neither had sufficient breath
left with which to utter sound. They
were fighting for life, silently, des-
thought but to injure the other. The
gamblers teeth sank into Keith's arm.
and the latter in return damned the
mans head back onto the puncheon
floor vfciously. 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
dull 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
bling his fingers into the stratning
throat.
The negro ended the affair in his
own way, clawtng 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, mist of black vapor; then
a realization of their situation came
back in sudden flood 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
low is only stunned; we must tie and
gag him Is that you. Neb? Where is
the girl?''
81 am here, Captain Keith" and he
/ heard the soft rustic of her dress
across the room. What is 1t I may
! do?"
"A coil of rope, or some straps, with
a piece of cloth; anything you can
| lay hands on"
She was some moments at it, con-
fused by the darkness, and Hawley
moved slightly, his labored breathing
growing plainly perceptible. Keith
heard her cropping toward him, and
held out his hands. She started as he
thus unexpectedly touched her., yet
made no effort to break away.
"You-you frightened me a little, -
she confessed. This has all happen.
ed so quickly | hardly realize yet JUS
what has occurred"
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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