Eastern Colorado times., 1912-08-16

s>~s oss~~%b
claimed. "Been out before. take It.
But I'll show you something you never
learned. Odds. I'll call your boys
play!" s,s
Better hold your breath. for you1l
need It now" replied shortly. "The
boys play II over with"
Step by step began sternly to force
the fighting, driving my point against
him 10 relenuessly as to hush his
speech. Twice we circled. striking.
countering. fighting. our blades gilt
tering ominously In the starlight, our
breathing labored with the herceness
Of the fighting. Both our swords tasted
blood. he slicing my. forearm. pierc-
ing his shoulder. yet neither wound
sufficed to bring any cessation Of ef-
fort. We were mad now with the fever
Of 1t. and struggling to kill, painting
hercely, our faces flushed. the perspir-
alton dripping from our bodies. our
swords darting swiftly back and
forth. He was my match. and more.
and, had We been permitted to 60 on
to the end. would have worn me down
by sheer strength. Suddenly. above
the clash of steel. came the sound of
voices: our blades were struck up. and
the dark forms of men pressed in be-
tween US.
stop 1t, you hotheads" some one
commanded gruffiy. Hold your man.
Tolston. until l get at the reason for
this fighting. Who are you? oh.
Grant! What's the trouble now! The
old thing, eh?"
had no desire to wait his answer.
confident that Grant was sufficiently
angry to blurt out everything he knew.
They were all facing his way. actu.'
ated by the recognition. Breathless
still, yet quick to seize the one and
only chance left, grabbed up my
Jacket from the grass, and sprang into
the darkness. had gained a hundred
feet before those behind grasped the
meaning Of my unexpected flight. and
then the tumult Of voices only sent
me flying faster. realizing the pursuit.
The only open passage led directly
toward the river. and raced through
the black night down the slope as
though all the fends of hell we're aft
er me. heard shouts, oaths. but
there was no firing. and was far
enough ahead to be invisible by the
time l attained the bank. An open
barge lay there, a mere black smudge,
and I stumbled blindly across this.
dropping silently over its side into the
water. 1t was not thought, but breath
less Inability to attempt more. which
kept me there. clinging to slat on
the side Of the barge. so completely
submerged in the river. as to be In
visible from above. Swearing fierce
ly, my pursuers stormed over the
barge. swinging their swords along
the edges to be sure I was not there.
One blade pricked me slightly. but ]
held on. sinking yet deeper into the
stream. ! could see the dim outline
Of heads peering over. but was not dis
covered. The same grun voice which
had interrupted the duel broke through
the noise:
Il tell you he turned to the left: I
saw him plainly enough. What did
you say the fellows name was.
Grant?"
"How do l know? He called himself
Fortesque."
Sure; the same one Carter was
sent out hunting after. Well. he
lodged down there among those coal
sheds. This is the only way he could
have disappeared 80 suddenly. Come
on. all Of you. except Moore and Car
taret. and well beat the shore"
heard them scramble across to the
bank, but there were sounds also
proving the guards left behind were
still on the deck above me. Then one
of the fellows sat down on the edge of
the barge. his feet dangling within a
few inches Of my head.
Might as well take it easy. BILL" he
said lazIly. They're like to be an
hour layii' hands on the lad, an all
we got to do is see he don't fox back
this way. Got any tobacco. mater
The other must have produced the
necessary weed. for there was a scrap
ing Of flint and steel. gleam Of IRE
glinting on the water. and then the
pungent odor waited to me in puff of
smoke. With one hand. unbuckled
my sword belt, letting It. sword and
all, sink silently into the river. I
must cross to the opposite bank some
how, and would have to dispense with
the weapon. Inch by inch. my fingers
gripping the narrow slat to which I
clung, worked slowly toward the
stern Of the barge. making not so
much as a ripple in the water, and
keeping well hidden below the bulge
oA