The circle banner., 1916-05-19
Il CCoE1ICH/
<.cHcCZURC G0
CHAPTER xxVIII-ContInued.

drawing revolver from his belt, "bu
to my best judgment there is hun
dred foot sheer drop right here, and l
would damage you some to take IL
See," and | tossed the weapon ove
the edge, and we heard the sound as 4
struck on the rocks below. Il gues.
you'll not try that trick. And so yor
want me so badly you offer a reward
dead or alive? Isn't it rather my wife
you want?"
81 don't believe she is your wife,"
mot after she. gave you her word
That is hardly complimentary to the
lady, lieutenant. However / haven't
any reason to be jealous of you-No
reen knows you too well by this time;
you proved yourself treacherous cur
In Lewisburg. Now turn around!"
There was no other weapon In his
belt, and 1t never occurred to me that
he might possess another secreted in
his jacket; nor did / realize the des.
perate hatred of me which gave him
reckless courage. What to do with
the fellow obsessed my mind; / DOS
sessed nothing to securely bind him
with; could not. leave him free, nor
had / any desire to take him along
with me. He settled the problem him.
self. Suddenly. his arms above his
head. his eyes on mine, he kicked
viciously. the heavy shoe striking my
wrist. sending the revolver l held
spinning into the grass a dozen feet
away. With almost the same move
ment he was tugging at his jacket
pocket. l saw the CLEAN of steel, and
gripped his fingers Just in time; my
other hand, numbed by the blow dealt
me, was, for the instant, useless, yet
struck him with my elbow full in the
face. | had no grip that would hold.
yet 1t tangled the revolver in the folds
OF cloth so he could not draw. and,
with snarl of baffied rage, he tore
his fingers loose, and clutched at my
throat with both hands. Back and
forth we swayed on the very edge of
the ravine. kept from plunging down
into the black depths by the interven-
Ing fringe of~trees, savagely contend
Ing for the mastery. That he was
trained athlete. acquainted with every
wrestler's trick, | knew in a moment.
yet this gave me little fear-for this
was to, be fight. no wrestling game.
Strong, quick, agile as the man was.
never doubted l was his match, and,
as | felt strength come back into my
hand, and realized that could clench
1t again, felt coldly confident. Once,
twice, l drove my knuckles into his
exposed face, compelling him to loosen
grip, and throw up his hands in pro-
lection. And then had him; not that
he was devoid of skill as a boxer
sooth he possessed tricks of defense
unknown to me-but his was the pro- |
fessional knowledge of the West Point |
gym, while l had graduated from the |
rough school of the camp; where he |
had trained for points, for fancy mill
Ing, I had fought to win against des-
perate opponents. The difference told.
for beat him down, caring nothing
for what blows reached me, so that !
in through his guard, and
anded. Again and again | feinted with
ny right, and drove my left straight to
he exposed jaws l gave him no time
% cry out, to even catch full breath.
There was no sound to be heard hun
lred feet away. | became a machine,
,rimly determined. desire to punish
hrobbing In my veins. He fought cat
ike and foul, but only laughed. and
fingered him. | drove him out into
he open where I could see better. |
vas fighting now, with no thought of
myself, only Of hurting him.
tried for knockout, but he blocked
ne, clinging desperately to my arm.
tore loose once more, flinging him
side bewildered and breathless.
Nov, Raymond" said. that trick
oesn't work a second time. Stand up ,
0 Il, you coward! You wanted ,
ght, and YOU are going to have one.
What! The gun again? l guess not" !
He had jerked 1t out before l :
eached him, but my hand closed over
is-the hammer fell. digging into the
esh Of my thumb. and the pain mad !
eped me; he sta&gGed back from
,e impetus of my sody. and tore
'ose. the iron stiN imbedded in my
esh, and struck him. The pearl
andle crashed t. the side of his head.
airing my hand in jagged wound, but
, went over. dropping to the grass a.
dead. He gave no moan, no sound:
r an instant his limbs twitched. ana
en he lay there, curled into a ball.
stared down at him. painting. scarce q
realizing just what had occurred.
0 instant before he had been fighting n
re tiger cat. now he was a motion
-, grotesque shadow. Blood II
reamed from my lacerated hand, and v
pound up the wound in neckerchief m
ripped from around my throat. hard N
conscious OF the pain. my breath
my muscles growing tense. pl
len / bent down. and Strengthened in
Q man out, upturning his face to the Il
,on. He was not dead-there was 4 st
1t to his pulse; but the cash on his ut
ad was an ugly one: he would have in
scar there while he lived. He lay tn
. Z dead man. his face ghastly. his Is
n lips drawn back from bis teeth, ke
1 seemingly breathless. But for that 10
ut. barely perccptible throb Of the
-. would have thought hin klle4 VI