The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-10-02

Il haven't got any gun"
II hear you say It! Remember. mine
10 pointed at your stomach"
Correct place." approved Kent. quiet
ly shifting his weight to bis left foot.
Its the seat OF human courage. Well!'
as Schlager tapped pocket after peck
ct without result. you can't say l
didn't warn you. Now. Frank!
With the word there was a sharp
spat as the heel of Kent's heavy boot.
flying up in the kick Of his own de-
vising. caught the sheriff full on the
wrist. breaking the bones and sending
the revolver a-spin into the darkness.
As instantly Sedgwick struck, swing.
ing full armed. and Schlager went
down. half stunned.
"Pin him. Frank" ordered Kent In q
low tone.
But Sedgwick needed no directions.
now that %resolute action was the or
der Of the moment. His elbow was
already pressed into the sherin's bull
neck. SchIager lay still. moaning
little.
"Good work. my boy" :,''"""
Kent. who had retrieved the 3:
"Who dubbed me?" grOan "
en- man. II didn't see no q:
And what goods 1t going I"
anyway? There you are. anu '.t
the robbed grave. Exaggerated by
sault on an officer Of the law" he il,
ed technically. .
THAT is right, too. Kent" added
Sedgwick. with shaking voice. What
aver we do. l don't see but what we
are disgraced and ruined"
Unless" suggested Kent, with mild
toned malice. I'VE rid ourselves Of the
only witness to the affair"
A little gasp issued from the thick
lips of Len Schlager. But he spoke
with courage and not without a certain
dignity. you got me- he admitted
quietly. III it's KILN. why. l guess
it's as good a way to go as any. An
officer murdered In the discharge Of
his duty"
mot so sure about the duty. Schla-
GER" said Kent. with a change of tone.
But your life is safe enough in any
event. Pity you're such a CRATER. for
you've got your decent points. Let
him up. Sedgwick."
Relieved Of his %assailant's weight.
Schlager undertook to rise, set his
hand on the ground and collapsed with
a groan.
"Too bad about that wrist" said
Kent. "I'n take you back in my car to
hov,n e. lO0lyn1 Oftor a, So0r a q v1oSv0
finished here"
II s'pose you know I'll have to arrest
you. just the same?"
Don't bluff" retorted the other care
lessly. 1T wastes time. Steady!
Here comes the rest of the party"
Across the moonlit lawn moved brisk
" the spare. alert figure of the wner
a long barreled pistol. He made
straight for the grove of graves. With
in FIVE yards Of the willows he stopped.
because a voice from behind one of
them had suggested to him that he
do so.
Il also am armed" the voice added
menacingly.
Hesitancy hickered in Mr.. Blair's
face for a brief moment. Then. with
set jaw, he came on.
Two men Of courage to deal with
in a single night. That's all out of
proportion" commented the voice with
a slight laugh. Mr.. Blair. | really
should dislike shooting you"
who are you?" demanded Mr.. Blair.
Chester Kent"
What are you doing on my prop
erty at this hour?"
Digging"
All" 1t was hardly an exclama-
ton: rather. it was a contained com
mentary. Mr.. Blair had noted the ex-
humed casket. You might better
have taken my OFFER" he continued
after a pause of some seconds. Il
think. sir. you have dug the grave of
your own career"
THAT remains to be seen.'
"Schlager:: Are you there?"
Yes. Mr.. Blair. They've broken my
wrist and got my gun"
who are they?"
Francis Sedgwick is the other. at
your service" answered tho owner Of
that name.
An ordinary CONFUSION of rage
distorted the set features of the elder
~
"You!" he cried. Haven't you done
enough without this?"
CHAPTER XIV.
The Turn Of the Game.
~TRICKEN with Amusement at
the hatred in the tone, Sedg-
~ wick stood staring. But Kent
stepped before the advancing
man. This won't do" he said firmly.
I'VE can't any of us afford killing"
Il can" c~ontradicted Mr.. Blair.
You would gain nothing by it. II
one OF us is killed the other will finish
the task. You know what l am here
for. Mr. Blair. PURPOSE to omen that