Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-11-14

crashing about the little room. No
two men on earth could have been bet
ter matched, yet Newbold had a slight
advantage in height and strength, as
he had also the advantage in simple
life and splendid condition. Arm
strong's hate and fierce temper coun-
terbalanced these at first, and with
arms locked and legs twined, with
teeth, clenched and ayes blinded and
pulses throbbing and hearts beating.
they stfove 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. 1t was al old situation.
when two male animals fought for su-
premacy and the ownership Of a 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 If 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 a battle? She
grew sick and giddy. her bosom rose
and fell, her breath came fast as she
followed the painting, struggling, cling
ing grinding, figures about the room.
At first there had been no advantage
| to either. but now after five minutes
| or was it hours?-of fierce fighting,
| the strength and superior condition OF
| 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 b~roadside to her now,
she could see their faces intiamed by
the lust of the battle, engorged, blood
red with hate and fury, but there was
a look Of exultation on one and the
shadow Of approaching disaster on the
other. But the consciousness that he
was being mastered ever SO little only
increased Armstrong; determination
and he fought back with the frenzy,
the strength of a maddened gorilla,
and again for a space the issue was In
doubt. But not for long.
The table, a heavy cumbersome.
f%our-legged affair, solid almost as q
rock, stood in the way. Newbold at
last backed Armstrong UP against II
and by superhuman effort bent him
over 1t, held him with one arm an
using the table as a support, wrenched
his left hand free, and sunk his fin
gers around the others throat. 1t was
all up with Armstrong. 1t was only
q question of time now.
"Now," Newbold guttered out
hoarsely, you slandered the dead wo-
man / married, and you insulted the
living one / love, Take back what
you said before you die"
q" forgive him." cried Enid Matt.
land. ooh, for Gods sake don't kill
him before my eyes"
Armstrong was past speech. The
inveteracy of his hatred could be seen
even in his fast glazing eyes, the indo-
mitableness of his purpose yet spoke
In the negative shake Of his head. He
could die, but he would die in his hate
and in his purpose.
Enid ran to the two, she grappled
Newbold's arm with both her own and
strove with all her might to tear 1t
away from the others throat. Her
lover paid no more attention to her
than If a summer breeze had touched
him. Armstrong grew black in the
face, his limbs relaxed, another second
or two 1t would have been over with
him.
Once more the door was thrown
open; through 1t two snow-covered men
entered. One swift glance told them
all. One of them at least had expect.
ed 1t. On the one side Kirkby, on the
other Maitland, tore Newbold away
from his prey just In time to save
Armstrong; life. Indeed the latter
was so far gone that he fell from the
table to the floor unconscious, choking
almost dying. 1t was Enid Maitland
who received his head In her arms and
helped bring him back to life while
the painting Newbold stood staring
duly at the woman he loved and the
man he hated on the foot at his feet
(TO BE CONTINUED.)