Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-01

LIE and splendid condition. Arm
strongs hate and fierce temper coun-
terbalanced these ut first, and with
arms locked and legs twined. with
teeth clenched and eyes blinded and
pulses throbbing and hearts beating,
they strove together.
The girl shrank back against the
wall and stared frightened. She feared
for her lover, she feared for herself.
Strange primitive feelings throbbed In
her veins. It was an old situation.
when two male animals fought for SD
premacy and the ownership Of 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 II he was
| the victor; and she even wondered In
terror what might happen to her II the
man she loved triumphed after the
passions aroused In such q battle? She
grew sick and giddy, her bosom rose
and fell. her breath came fast az she
followed the painting, struggling. cling
Ing grinding. figures about the room.
At FIRST there had been no advantage
to either, but now after i've minutes
or was It heurs?-of fierce fighting
the strength and superior condition ol
her lover began to tell. He was fore
ing the other backward. Slowly, inch
by inch, foot by foot, step by step
he mastered him. The two interwin
ing figures were broadside to her now
she could see their faces innamed b!
the lust OF the battle, engorged, bloot
red with hate and fury, but there wa
look Of exultation on one and tn,
shadow Of approaching disaster on tn
other. But the consciousness that b.
was being mastered ever so little onl,
increased Armstrong; determination
and he fought back with the frenzy
the strength Of a maddened gorilla
and again for space the issue was 4
doubt. But not for long.
The table, . heavy cumbersome
four-legged affair, solid almost as
rock, stood in the way. Newbold q
last backed Armstrong up against
and by superhuman effort bent hir
over It, held him with one arm an
using the table as a support, wrenche
his left hand free, and sunk his III
gers around the others throat. 1t wa
all up with Armstrong. 1t was onl
q question Of time now.
Now" Newbold guttered on
hoarsely, you slandered the dead WI
man / married, and you insulted tn
living one / love. Take back whs
you said before you die
II forgive him." cried Enid Mai
land. ''oh. for Gods sake don't XII
him before my eyes"
Armstrong was past speech. TIL
inveteracy Of his hatred could be see
even in his fast glazing eyes, the ind
mitableness Of his purpose yet spok
in the negative shake of his head. H
could die, but he would die in his hat
and in his purpose.
Enid ran to the two, she grapple
Newbol6's arm with both her own an
. strove with all her might to tear
away from the others throat. H,
: lover paid no more attention to h,
than II summer breeze had touche
: him. Armstrong grew black in IL
{. face, his limbs relaxed, another secor
or two 1t would have been over vii
, him.
= Once more the door was throw
= open; through 1t two snow-covered me
entered. One swift glance told the
~ all. One Of them at least had expeC
ed 1t. On the one side Kirkby, on Il
other Maitland, tore Newbold aw,
from his prey Just in time to sa'
Armstrong; life. Indeed the latt
. was 80 far gone that he fell from L
table to the floor unconscious, chokir
almost dying. II was Enid Maitlal
:" who received his head IN her arms a
.. helped bring him back 20 life VIII
y the painting Newbold stood start
: DULY at the woman he loved and 4
" man he hated on the door 1T his fe
Z r. ChARTER wynn