The Elbert County tribune., 1916-11-17

| flung and she was trying to get to
her feet. Bland's back was turned.
He had opened the door into Jennie's
room and had one foot across the
threshold. Duane caught the girls
low, shuddering cry. Then he called
out loud and clear.
| With cat-like swiftness Bland wheel
ed, then froze on the threshold. His
sight. quick as his action, caught
Duane's menacing, unmistal1able posi-
ton.
BANDS big frame filled the door.
He was In bad place to reach for
his gun. But he would not have time
for step. Duane read In his eyes the
desperate calculation of chances. For
fleeting instant Bland shifted his
glance to his wife. Then his whole
body seemed to vibrate with the swing
of his arm.
Duane shot him. He fell forward,
his gun exploding as 1t hit into the
floor, and dropped loose from stretch
ing fingers. Duane stood over him,
stopped to turn him on his back.
Bland looked up with clouded gaze,
then gasped his last.
duane, you've killed himr' cried
Kate Bland, huskily. ~ knew you'd
have tor
She staggered against the wall, her
eyes dilating. her strong hands clench-
ing. her face slowly whitening. She
appeared shocked, half stunned, but
showed no grief.
"Jenniel" called Duane, sharply.
"Come out HurryI"
She came out with uneven steps,
seeing only him, and she stumbled over
Bland's body. Duane caught her arm,
swung her behind him. He feared the
woman when she realized how she had
been duped. His action was protec-
tive. and his movement toward the
door equally as significant.
"Duanel' cried Mrs. Bland.
1t was no time to talk. Duane edged
on, keeping Jennie behind him. At
that moment there was pounding of
iron-shod hoofs out in the lane. Kate
Bland bounded to the door. When she
turned back her amazement was
changing to realization.
4Where re you taking Jen?" she
cried, her voice like mans.
Get out of my way" replied Duane.
His look perhaps, without speech. was
enough for her. In an instant she was
transformed into fury.
"You hound All the time you were
fooling me! You made love to me
You'll never leave here alive. Give me
that girl Let me..get ut her! She'll
never win any more men in this camp"
'Help! help! help!" she shrleked, in
voice that must have penetrated to
the remotest cabin In the valley.
Suddenly she snatched rifle of the
wall and backed away, her strong
hands fumbling ut the lever. And she
jerked 1t down, throwing n shell into
the chamber and cooking the weapon,
Duane leaped upon her. He struck up
the rifle as 1t went off, the powder
burning his face.
"Jennie, run out Get on a horser
he said.
Jennie flashed out or the door
With an iron grasp Duane held to
the rlfie-barrel. He had grasped 1t
with his left hand. and he gave such
pull that he swung the crazed wo-
man off the floor. But he could not
loose her grip. She was us strong as
he.
"Katei Let go!"
He tried to intimidate her. She did
not see his gun thrust in her face, or
reason had given way to such an
extent to passion that she did not care.
She cursed. Her husband had used
the same curses, and from her lips
they seemed strange. unsexed, more
deadly. Like tigress she fought him;
her face no longer resembled a wo-
mans.
He heard cry from outside-a
mans cry. hoarse and alarming.
| 1t made him think of loss of time.
This demon of woman might yet
block his plan.
LET go!" he whispered, and felt
instant he relaxed his hold on the
rifie-barrel.
| With sudden, redoubled, Irresistible
strength she wrenched the rifle down
and discharged 1t. Duane felt blow
"a shock--a burning agony tearing
through his breast. Then in frenzy
he jerked so powerfully upon the rifle
that he threw the woman against the
wall. SHE fell and seemed stunned.
Duane leaped back, whirled, flew
out Of the door on the porch. The
sharp cracking of n gun halted him.
He saw Jennie holding to the bride
of his bay horse. Euchre was astride
the other. and he had Colt leveled,
and no was firing down the lane. Then
camo a single shot. heavier, and
Euchre's ceased. lie fell from the
horse.
A swift glance back showed to Duane