Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-07-18

Let 'em alone. Let 'em go to 1t. They
| got to have it 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"
Nothing of the kind, girl. You let
'em alone, Pete. The kids there every
minute, amt he? Gee, that's good
one, boy. Observation-Disclosures
'Attaboyw
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 rlppled in round
ed symmetry. Active as a 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
from the clinch and sidestepped the
bull-like rush of his foe, covering up
as well as he could from the onset
Macdonald pressed the attack and was
beaten back by hard. straight lefts and
rights to the unprotected face.
The mine-oWner shook the matted
hair from his swollen eyes and rushed
again. He caught an uppercut flush on
the end of the chin 1t did not even
stop him. The weight of his body was
in the blow he dashed up from his
side.
The knees of Elliot doubled up I'M
der him like the blade of jack-knife.
He sank down slowly, turned. got to
his hands and knees. and tried to
shake off the tons of weight that
seemed 20 be holding him down.
Macdonald seized him about the
waist and flung him to the ground.
Upon the inert body the victor dropped,
his knees clinching the torso of the
unconscious man.
"Now, Pete. Go to him !" urged Holt
wildly.
But before saltwater could move,
before the great fist of Macdonald
could smash down upon the bleeding
face upturned to his. sharp blow
struck the flesh of the raised forearm
and for the moment stunned the mus
cles. The Scotch Canadian lifted a.
countenance drunk with rage, passion
tossed.
Slowly the light of reason came back
into his eyes. Sheba was standing be-
fore him. his rifle In her hand. She
had struck him with the butt of 1t.
Don't touch him! Don't you dare
touch him !" she challenged.
He looked at her long, then let his
eyes fall to the battered face of his
enemy. Drunkenly he got to his feet
and leaned against a willow. His
forces were spent, his muscles weight
ed as with lead. But it was not this
alone that made his breath come short
and raggedly.
Sheba had flung herself down beside
her lover. She had caught him tightly
In her arms so that his disfgured face
lay against her warm bosom. In the
eyes lifted to those of the mine-owner
was an unconquerable defiance.
Hes mine-mine, you murderer"
she painted fiercely. IF you kill him,
you must kill me first"
The man she had once promised to
marry was looking at different wom-
an from the girl he had known. The
soft, shy youth of her was gone. She
was forest mother of the wilds ready
to fight for her young, wife ready to
choice. An emotion primitive and
poignant had transformed her.
His eyes burned at her the question
his parched lips and throat could
scarcely utter. $50 you love
him?"
| But though 1t was In form question
he knew already the answer. For the
first time in his life ne began to taste
the bitterness of defeat. Always he
had won what he coveted by brutal
force or his stark will. But 1t was be-
yond him to compel the love of a girl
who had given her heart to another.
YES" she answered.
Her hair In two thick braids was
flung across her shoulders, her dark
head thrown back proudly from the
rounded throat.
Macdonald smiled; but there was no
mirth in his savage eyes. do you
know what / want with him-why 1
have come TO get himT'
mo"
i've come to take him back to Ku-
siak to be hanged because he MUIR
dered Milton, the bank cashier"
The eyes Of the woman blazed at
him. Are you mad?"
TITS the truth" Macdonald's voice
was curt and harsh HE and Holt
were robbing the bank when Milton
came back from the dance at the club.
The towards shot down the old man
like dog. They'll hang for 1t If II
costs me my last penny, so help me
God"
you say It's the truth" she retort-
ed scornfully. "Do you think l don't
know you now-how you twist and dis:
tort facts to suit your ends? How long
Ms 1t since your jackal had him erraet.