The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-25

THEN BEGAN THE STRUGGLE - STRENGTH
AGAINST STRENGTH.
shirt torn open, hairy breast barred and
a wild glare in his bloodshot eyes.
Get some waterr' be shouted hoarse-
ly. Get some water or I1l-ru''- and
he brandished his knife ON high.
Macleod sat laughing on the edge
Of his bed.
His bleeding lips were drawn far
back, and his teeth shone white and
cleaning. Loosely In one hand swung
his revolver.
1--WE been waiting an age for you
and your knife" he gurgled thickly.
you won't need any water, you
But he never finished. for Lloyd.
with swing of his arm, knocked the
lamp from the table to the door. where
It flickered once and went out
A moment later the horror Of the
darkness was broken by blue flame
from MacLeod's revolver. Following
the heavy defamation came breath.
less silence
Something fell hea Willy to the floor.
Then all was still again. Presently
Macleod could be heard shutting
across the room. He was going to
where he thought his partner lay.
STOPPING down. he felt around the spot
But nothing was there.
At the same second that he realized
be had been tricked he was rushed
upon by Lloyd from an unexpected
quarter. Turning and graphing Wild
", he clutched an appraised wrist.
But as he threw up the revolver his
own wrist was caught and the muzzle
turned away.
Then began the struggle-strength
against strength!
They were rs evenly matched as two
machines of the same power and per-
lection. Minute followed minute.
while their hot breaths burned each
others cheek in the grapple.
But only the cracking floor and their
labored breathing told what was 60
ing on.
Back and forth. from one end of the
room to the other, swayed their bodies
in the impenetrable blackness.
A chair fell. the table overturned a
shelf laden with ore went crashing to
the floor.
Minute followed minute, and still the
result was at Issue.
Then, at last. when it seemed the
conflict must endure until both fell ex-
hausted. circumstances ordained that n
pawn should enter the game at STRAIT
egic point to unbaiance the evenness
Of the board.
II happened that Macleod stepped
upon the round body OF the lamp,
which rolled from under his foot. and
down be crashed with Lloyd on top.
A moments struggle on the floor; a
moments pause!
Then a purple fash Of lightning a
silhouette Of knife agleam above !:
PROSTATE form. salvo of thunder. the
stiffness Of the tomb. a single. barel.
audible splash upon the roof. then an.
other. and anotheP-all In a seconds
fine,
Something clattered on the door.
As out Of a bad dream a voice was
lifted:
Harry, it's raining"
Likewise came the reply:
Thank heaven. It's raining"
The pressure had been removed.
"Honne. Sweet Home"
II was dark and cold and the gaunt
and leafless trees were swayed by At
full gusts Of wind that spoke OF COM
Ing rain.
Flooding Pete and Weary Willie
quickened their pace in order TO reach
place Of shelter ere the storm
should overtake them. This sudden
burst OF energy seemed to encite con-
versation.
"Wot's up with yer. Petsf~ inquired
Willie. Yer look a. II yer goin' ter
cry"
'T dunno" was Pete's reply. Il don't
feel the Joy O. Twin like I used 70.
I've been thinkin' O. my wasted life.
an I've got a sorter uneasy. homesich
feelin'."
"Homesick!" broke In Willie. why,
bless me. believe that's wot both Of
US are sufferin' from. We amt nai.
Their Of US bin inside q 5ail for close
In three months now. ava wer