The Detroit times., 1915-11-22
CHAPTER Xiv
Across Country


Early next morning, uut OK that
| painless mire. -rode back the Brute,
| picking his perilous way with the
. instinct of some cunn,ne. cautious
snimaL and ggidinG in fact. bear.ne
on his shoulders hat The time-.hF
ucklsss Ponto. Tha iudiyiduaL his
uciuess enhanced by the ciotted
blood taat dressed his disheyeied
halr and decorated his couuttuance.
wa, -iu dazed He aad vague rec.
objections as 70 what had happened.
Is knew that az the command OF
hernandez. his side partner iu
crime. he had plunged once more
mo IRE draGiy muraSs for -th---P-+F-
pose 1i finishing, by violence the
decd that had commenced IN Gun.
ring da Lad followed the Brute
he r membered that And Herman
dea-had he followed or behind
lad his partner come behind-or
had he gone on alone?
That was matter 90 be consid-
ered-to he dealt with His mind
was slow. What else had happen
cd2 He had STRUCK down and killed
Neal Hardin-thai much was Ger
,ain-he had done it with blud.
geon. - ssr. SO good
And what OF that wildcat Of an
hfiress the American girl? What
of her
Ns had struck az her a. she sank
into tLa laaemire-st struck at her
T vs.h knife His mind vas groD-
ing after details What else lie
had .a.,ed 90 reach her Then what
Yes. he knew now. He was a knife
thrower. and good one lie tried
almost in vain-to recall thar
scene.
Had he thrown the knife
ln.tiuctivelv he --fUmoled-
about his waist The sheath was
there but the knife was gone He
lemem bered now He must have
fhrowa the knife And 4 he threw
he knife then he had killed the
girl 4, any rate he must have hit
/ her Uc couldn't miss
he dozed or into satisfaction
He woke with a jolt II was a
heavy jolt. when his eyes opened
he was on the ground supine he
started 70 lean to his feet then
ank back again heavy with the
pain of his wound lie drew his
arm across his forehead When II
came away his forearm and his
band were dark with half-dried
blood II maddened him-for now
/ he understood how the jolt had
come. The Brute had thrown him
violently to the ground from the
height Of those massive shoulders.
He sprang 70 his feet and flung
himseIf-a thing all feet and clutch
ing hands aud teeth--at the huge
bulk Of the Brute He BIT and tore
and cuffed the big man-animal And
the Brute was passive. covering.
You beast shrieked Ponto.
drop me again and I'll knife you
I'll have your blood
A laugh behind him startled him
and brought him to his senses. He
turned swiftly, feeling FOR his knife
the knife that wasn't there.
There was another laugh-the
laugh Of his side partner. Herman.
dez. The laugh was followed by
something more sinister scowl
The scowl was followed by some
thing more suggestive kick.
Fool said Hernandez address
ing Ponto.
Ponto changed his demeanor. He
drew himself up to his squatty
height and folded his arms
"Ahi" he exclaimed. and you
treat me- TO this you who saw me
Kill them both? II was I--Ponto-
who did this thing
Then he suddenly remembered
Hernandez had not followed He
had let Ponto 20 alone. lie clench-
Cd his hands threateningly
"Yor.' he shrieked. you played
m" false You crept back when I
didn't look You let me go alone
alone into that hell What do you
call that
Hernandez lowered over him II
call ~ what please" he said. his
ewes burning into POntos. and do
what 7 lease ! am master What
say goes And YOU viii 10 as
say You understand
eve are partners. mumbled pom
to-.
When $50 divide thc polls r..
turned fernandez with the emphs-
-is ON .He words ~ hon" md "di
idr then 40 shall be- partners.
For tive present do as say