Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1916-12-08


shut. Chairs were overturned, and
the hallway became a bedlam of noise
and fury.
Sam managed to wrench his knife
hand free He lunged murderously
at Lamar's throat. Max was too late
to guard the blow. But he shifted his
1.-the body to one side. The blade
flashed past 1t and was buried, half
to the hilt, in the wood of the door.
Sam now turned his full attention to
the task of crushing his opponent
with his bare hands.
Max merely defended himself, as
best he could. At last he was able to
draw his pistol.
crime specialists right wrist with
both his own huge hands, and exert
ing all his brute strength and weight,
twisted Maxs hand outward and up.
ward
No human power could withstand
that pressure, so suddenly and skill
fully exerted. The pistol leaped from
Lamar's opened fingers and fell to the
floor.
Mrs. Travis, at first sound of the
battle, darted into the nearest room,
snatched up a telephone and sum-
moned police headquarters.
1t took her some moments to get the
connection, because police headquar-
ters Central was just then listen
ing to patrolman's thrilling account
of the way Attorney Charles Gordon
had come to the chief of police, a lit
tie while before, and given himself up
to justice-laughing as he did so.
But presently Mrs. Travis was
switched from headquarters to the
precinct station phone. And in less
than minute two policemen were on
their way to the Travis house.
Meantime, the fight in the hall had
reached a new and more vital stage
"a skirmish for possession of the
fallen pistol.
1t was Sam Eagan who at last
seized the pistol. Despite his enemy's
efforts he gradually worked its muz-
zle toward Lamar's writhing body.
The muzzle at last touched Max's
side. Sans finger frightened on the
trigger. In the same moment the pis-
toll spun out of his hand, exploding
harmlessly, the heavy-caliber bullet
burying itself in the woodwork of the
wainscoting
June had seen the newest peril of
the man she loved, and with her riding
crop had struck his wouldbe murderer
heavily across the knuckles.
Sam whirled about to face her. AS
he did so Lamar snatched up heavy
vase from a pedestal and brought it
down with all his remaining force
upon Eagan's head.
Smiling Sam dropped to the floor
like stricken bull
Max bent over him and snapped a
pair OF handouts on the senseless
mans thick wrists. Then, weak and
dizzy and painting. Lamar rose again to
bis feet, swaying as he tried to stand
upright.
He must have broken in here last
night" he gasped. Miss Travis, owe
you my life. L"
Your hand is cut" cried June. See.
it's bleeding! Let me bind it up for
you"
The tramp of feet sounded on the
stairs below them. The two policemen,
escorted by the chattering and shud-
dering Yama, assembled to the upper
hallway. AT word from Lamar they
picked up the unconscious Eagan and
lugged him away between them.
Max, still Keeling with exhaustion
turned abruptly to June.
Miss Travis he said. IL must ask
you one or two questions. / would
cut off my right arm sooner than ask
them. But | must. Everything de.
ponds on your answers 7
June forced a smile to her ashen
lips. She knew the moment had come.
The moment of reckoning, which she
SO long had dreaded
(END OF 18TH INSTALLMENTl