The Red Cloud chief., 1916-01-20
CHAPTER xxviii--ContInued.
- COor1ICHy
A.cHcCIU% k0

lou might make tDe jump, bhIu,
drawing u revolver from his belt, but
to my best judgment there 10 a hun.
dred foot sheer drop right here. and It
would damage you some to take II.
See." and I tossed the weapon over
the edge. and we heard the sound as II
struck on the rocks below. II guess
you'll not try that trick. And 80 you
want me 30 badly you offer a reward.
dead or alive? Isn't It rather my wife
you want?"
II don't believe she is your wife,"
Not 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 q treacherous cur
In Lewisburg. Now turn around!"
There was no other weapon In his
belt. and II never occurred to me that
ne might possess another secreted In
his Jacket: nor did I realize the des
perate hatred Of me which gave him
reckless courage. What to do with
the fellow obsessed my mind; I pos
sessed nothing to securely bind him
with: ! could not leave him free. nor
had I 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 ! held
spinning into the grass dozen feet
away. With almost the same move
ment he was Juggling at his Jacket
pocket. 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 II tangled the revolver In the folds
OF cloth so he could not draw. and.
with a snarl OF bafIled rage. he tore
his fingers loose. and clutchcd ut 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 a
trained athlete, acquainted with every
wrestler's trick. I knew In a moment,
yet this gave the little fear--fOr this
was to be q fight. no wrestling game.
Strong. quick. agile az the man was
! never doubted ! was his match. and.
AZ felt strength come back into my
hand. and realized that I could cleDch
II again, felt coidly confident. Once.
twice. I 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
ne was devoid OF skill as n boxer
sooth he possessed tricks Of defense
unknown to me-but his was the pro.
fessionai knowledge of the West Point
gym, while ] had graduated from the
rough school OF the camp: where he
Eng. ! had fought to win against des
perate opponents. The difference told
for ! beat him down. caring nothing
Tor what blows reached me, 20 that
smashed In through his guard. an'
landed Again and again ! Tented with
my right. and drove my left straight Il
the exposed jaws ! gave him no tim,
TO cry out. to even catch full breath
There was no sound TO be heard hun
dred feet away. I became u machine
grimly determined. q desire to punis
throbbing In my veins, He fought cal
like and foul. but ! only laughed. an
angered him. ! drove him out int
the open where ! could see better.
was fighting now. with no thought G
protecting myself. only OF hurting hin
tried for a knockout. but he blocke
me. clinging desperately to my arm
tore loose once more. fiinging hi
aside bewildered and GREATNESS.
Now. Raymond" ! said. that trio
doesn't work a second time, Stand u
TO It, you coward! You wanted
fight. and you are going to have on
What! The gun again? guess not
He had 1erked II out before
reached him. but my hand closed ov,
his-the hammer fell. digging into Il
flesh of my thumb. and the pain ma
dened me; he staggered back fro
the impetus OF my body. and to
loose, the iron still imbedded In n
flesh. and struck him. The pea
handle crashed to the side OF his hea
tearing my hand In jagged wound. b
he went over. dropping to the grass
IL dead. He gave no moan. no SCUM
for an instant his limbs twitched. al
then he lay there. curled into ba
] stared down at him. painting. scare
iy realizing just what had occurre
An instant before he had been fightl
like a tiger cat. now he was motto
less. grotesque shadow. Bio
streamed from my lacerated hand. a
bound up the wound In neckercht
stripped from around my throat, hal
~ conscious OF the pain. my brea
steadyins, my muscles growing ten
Then ] bent down. and strengthen
the man out, upturning his face to I
moon. He was not dead--there was
beat to his pulse; but the cash on /
head was an ugly one; he would ha
scar there while he lived. lie
like q dead man. his face CHASTITY.