Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-03-11
CHAPTER xxvn-contlnued.

HlFHWtiE d IESOANGI HUN HIS UGtl, Dul
20 my best judgment there is a hun
dred foot sheer drop right here, and it
would damage you some to take it,
See" and | tossed the weapon over
she edge. and we heard the sound as it
struck on the rocks below. Il guess
you'll not try that trick And 50 you
want me so badly you offer a reward.
dead or alive? Isn't it rather my wife
you want?"
4 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 ysu-No-
reen knows you too well by this time;
you proved yourself a treacherous cur
in Lewisblrg. Now turn around!"
There was no other weapon in his
belt, and it never occurred to me that
ne might possess another secreted in
mis- jacket; nor did | realize tlfe des-
perate hatred of me which gave him
reckless courage. What to do with
Ghe fellow obsessed my mind; pos.
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 | held
spinning into the grass a dozen feet
away. With almost the same move
"a
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. Il had no grip that would hold,
yet it tangled the revolver in the folds
or cloth so he could not draw, and,
with a, snarl of baf1ed rage, he tore
his fingers loose and clutched at my
&hroat with both hands. Back and
forth we swayed on the very edge OF
the ravine, kept from plunging down
O lnto 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, knew in a moment,
yet this gave me little fear-for this
was to be a 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 colby confident. Once,
ywice, | 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 a boxer
sooth he possessed tricks of defense
unknown to me-but his was the pro-
&essi0nal knowledge of the West Point
gym while / had graduated from the
rough school of the camp; where he
had trained for points. for fancy mill.
ing. | had fought to win against des-
perate opponents. The difference told.
for beat him down. caring nothing
> for what blows reached me, so that
smashed in through his guard, and
landed Again and again tented with
my right, and drove my left straight to
the exposed jaws. | gave him no time
TO cry out, to even catch a full breath
there was no sound'to be heard a hun
dfed feet away. | became a machine
grlmly determined. a desire to punish
throbbing in my veins He fought cat
ohke and foul. but l only laughed, and
angered him. | drove him out into
the open where could see better.
was fighting now, with no thought of
protecting myself, only of hurting him
tried for a knockout, but he blocked.
ne cllnging desperately to my arm.
tore loose once more, 1inging him
aside bewildered and breathless.
Now. Raymond" said. that trick
doesn't work a second time. Stand I'D
to it, YOU coward! You wanted a
night, and you are going to have one.
what! The. gun again? guess nos.
He had jerked it out before Il
reached him. but my hand closed over
nls-the hammer fell. digging into the
mesh of my thumb, and the pain mad
dened me; he staggered back from
the impetus of my body. and / tore
loose, the iron still imbedded in my
hesh. and struck him. The pearl
handle crashed to the side of his head,
tearing my hand in jagged wound, but
De went over. dropping to the grass as
II dead He gaze no moan, no sound:
t2r a. instant his limbs twitched and
Then he lay there. eurled into a ball.
] stared down at him, painting. scarce
~ realizing just what had occurred.
An instant before he had been fighong
IKE a tiger cat now he was a motion
los, grotesque shadow. Blood
streamed fran my lacerated hand. and
bound up the wound In a neckerchief
stripped from around MY throat. hard
~ conscious OF the pain. my breath
steadying. my nmscles growing tense
4hen bent down. and Strengthened
the man out, 1pluTping mis- tace 20 the
moon, He was not dead-there was a
peat 70 his pulse: bot the cash on his
uead W2s an ugly one: he would have
scar there while be lived. He lay
"Ae dead man. his face CHASTITY. his
~nin lips drawn back from MS teeth
ana seemingly breathless But for that