The Raymer enterprise., 1914-02-19

Judge Fulton, Edwards and King
still remained upon their feet. OF
these the first named was corpulent,
short Of wind and incapable Of doing
more than running about and feint-
ing in order to divert his foes atten-
tion, but this he was doing to the
best of his ability. Edwards, strong
and active. was seeking an opportun-
ity to close in, his pocket knife held
open in his hand; while King who
had evidently been partially stunned
by a blow, was stumbling about the
lawn as though in search Of some
weapon. stone or a club. In his
position upon the others back and
between the wings March had a tre-
mendous advantage. yet despite his
strength and immunity from attack
found that he could do little more
than hamper the creatures move
ments. Edwards seeing the foe thus
encountered rushed headlong in with
his knife ready for sweeping thrust.
and March. keenly alive to the oppor
tunity. threw all his strength into a
backward surge in an attempt to over
balance the one he held In order that
the blade might find its mark. But the
one beneath him reared and leaped
aside as horse might beneath its
rider, and the next instant March
found himself arising half stunned
from the grass several yards distant.
Edwards lay inert where he had been
felled by tremendous blow or kick
delivered with such lightning quick
ness that none but the one who deliv-
cred 1t ever knew from where 1t came.
As for the Flying Man, he now stood
crouching In the center of the battle
field with his wings half spread and
his huge eyes glowing like those of
an enormous beetle. He was moaning
and the blood was running profusely
from his side where Tolliver's bullet
had raked him across the ribs.
Some of the women had fed beneath
the trees or gone screaming down the
street In search of assistance, but 9TH
ers still remained huddled against the
steps In wild eyed horror and incapa.
BILE of movement. With hop that GOV.
cred at least ten feet the creature was
close before them, scanning them
peering into their faces and seeming
to be bewildered as they collapsed be
fore him without having been struck
blow. Then turning about he saw
Tolliyer, whom he appeared to have
momentarily forgotten, as the latter
was attempting to rise, and with q
malevolent scream leaped upon him
That he purposed some terrible act
against this man who had been the
first to assail and wound him, none
who saw his face and attitude ever
questioned. But Alan getting upon
his feet at that instant and stumbling
forward empty handed with the des.
perate resolve to do his utmost to de
fend his rival, felt his foot fall upon
hard object. STOPPING he grasped
Clay's revolver. He cooked it as he
Strengthened himself up.
Warned by the sharp click OF the
upraised hammer the Flying Mar
leaped off his victim and from his lips
burst wild scream that unmistakably
denoted thai he had learned to feal
this fire splitting thing which had stune
him so keenly. With a leap aside ol
inconceivable quickness he landed up
on the steps of the porch, the blood
now streaming down his leg and leav
ing its dark mark wherever he
stepped. Alan sighted quickly ant
pulled the trigger. The hammer fel
with a metallic clack upon an imper
feet cartridge and no explosion fol
lowed. Once more he cooked 1t, bu
as he raised his arm his antagonis
leaped like a great frog into the air
the huge wings flew out as released
springs uncoil, beat downward with {
power so tremendous that the bias
from them swept the watchers as ;
gale, beat again and upward between
the trees the body of the Flying Maj
shot into the murk like mammoth
prehistoric bat. disappearing In /
flash. But moment later hi
scream came back to them, maliciou,
and exultant.
Alan threw his useless flrearm dowI
with an imprecation upon It's false
ness. And as he did so there burs
through the door and came dart
ing down the steps figure will
hair flying and eyes ablaze. bearing II
her hand naked, rusty cutlass whicl
she thrust into March's hand as he
eyes few about where is he? Oh
where Is he?" she gasped. Alal
pointed upward.
"Gone--fapped away like a CHECKER
hawk" he burst forth angrily. his de
sire for battle fully aroused and hi
disappointment acute that the invade
had escaped. The girls face darkened
Doris was of good old lighting stock a
well as himself. Had not her grea
grandfather been minute man? An,
had not her grandmother shot an In
dian with her own hand when tn
savages attacked their prairie sehoon
er way back In the sos? And no,
Doris herself. warm hearted and i'm