The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-06-06


grim az the day Of judgment
"Don't move" he ordered.
Elliot laughed irrithbly. He was both
annoyed and disgusted.
"What do you want7" he snapped.
"You."
sWhat.s worrying you now1 Do you
think I'm Jumping my bondT
you're going back to Kusiak with
me-to give life for the one you
took.v
"what's thatT' cried Gordon. sur
prised.
"Just as I'm telling you. I've been
on your heels ever since you left town.
You and Holt are going back with me
ss my prisoners.v
'But what fort"
"For robbing the bank and killing
Robert Milton. as you know well
enough.v
"Is this another plan arranged for
me by you and Selfridger demanded
Elliot.
Macdonald ignored the question and
lifted his voice. "Come out of that
tent. Holland come with your hands
up unless you want your head blown
off.v
"Holt isn't in that tent. you idiot. II
you want to know"
"Come now, If you expect to come
alvey cut in the Scotsman ominously.
He raised the rifle to his shoulder and
covered the shadow thrown by the sun
on the figure within.
Gordon flung out a wild protest and
threw the frozen slab Of bacon at the
head of Macdonald. With the same mo-
tion he launched his own body across
the stove. A fifth Of a second earlier
the tent flap had opened and Sheba
had come out.
The sight of her paralyzed Macdon-
aid and saved her lovers life. 1t dis
tracted the mine-owner long enough
for him to miss his chance. A bullet
struck the stove and went on at a
tangent through the tent canvas not
two feet from where Sheba stood. A
second went speeding toward the sun.
For Gordon had followed the football
players instinct and dived for the
knees Of his enemy.
They went down together. Each
squirming for the upper place. they
rolled over and over. The rifle was
forgotten. Like cave men they fought.
crushing and twisting each others
muscles with the blind lust Of primor-
dials to kill. As they clinched with
one arm, they struck savagely with the
other. The impact of smashing blows
on naked flesh sounded horribly cruel
to Sheba.
She ran forward. calling on each By
name to stop. Probably neither knew
she was there. Their whole attention
was focused on each other. Not for
an instant did their eyes wander. for
life and death hung on the issue.
Chance had Lit the spark Of their re-
sentiment, but long-banked passions
were blazing flercely now.
They got to their feet and fought too
to toe. Sledge-hammer blows beat upon
bleeding and dishgured faces. No
thought Of defense as yet was In the
mind Of either. The purpose Of each
was to bruise. MAIN. make helpless the
other. But for the impotent little cries
Of Sheba NO sound broke the stiffness
save the crunch of their feet on the
hard snow, the thud Of heavy fists on
flesh, and the throaty snari Of their
deep, irregular breathing.
Gid Holt, from the window Of the
cabin, watched the battle with shining
eyes. He exulted in every blow Of
Gordon; he suffered with him when
the smashing rights and iefts Of Mac
donald got home. He shouted jeers,
advice. threats. encouragement II he
had had ten thousand dollars wagered
on the outcome he could not have been
more excited.
saltwater Peter, drawn BY the
cries Of Sheba. came running from the
stable. As he passed the window, Holt
caught him by the arm.
"What are you amin to do, Petef
Let 'em alone. Let 'em 20 to 1t. They
got to have 1t out. Stop 'em now and
they'll get at It with guns.
Sheba ran up. wringing her hands.
"stop them. please. They're killing
each other"
vNothing of the kind. girl. You let
'em alone, Pete. The kids there every
minute, amt he1 Gee. that's 4 good
one, boy. Seven-eleven-ninet
'Attaboyi"
Macdonald had slipped on the snow
and gone down to his hands and knees.
Swift as a wildcat the younger man
was on top Of him. Hampered though
he was by his parka, the Scotsman
struggled slowly to his feet again. He
was much the heavier man, and in
spite Of his years the stronger. The
muscles stood out in knots ON his
shoulders and across his back. whereas
on the body of his more slender oppo-
nent they flowed and rippled in round
ed symmetry. Active as heather cat,
Elliot was far the quicker Of the two.
Half-blinded by the hammering he
had received. Gordon changed his
method of fighting. He broke away