The Bossier banner., 1918-04-18

in the blow he Iasaed up from his
SIDE
The knees of Elliot doubled up un-
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 to 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 Swiftwater 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 thc mus
cles. The Scotch Canadian lifted
countenance drunk with rage, passion
tossed.
~
into his eyes. Sheba was standing be-
fore him, his rife in her hand. She
had struck him with the butt Of it.
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 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.
"He's 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 a different WON
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
70 to the stake for the husband OF heI
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
himT
But though it was in form question
he knew already the answer. For tn
first time in his life ne began to taste
the bitterness Of defeat. Always h'
had won what he coveted by bruta
force or his stark will. But It was be
yond him to compel the love Of CIR
who had given her heart to another.
eyes," she answered.
Her hair in two thick braids wa
flung across her. shoulders, her darl
head thrown back proudly from tn
rounded throat.
Macdonald smiled, but there was n
mirth in his savage eyes. DO yo'
know what I want with him-why
have come to get him?"
NO"
"Tve come to take him back to Ku
siak to be hanged because he mul
dered Milton, the bank cashier"
The eyes of the woman blazed
him. "Are you mad?"
"It's the truth" MacdonGld's voic
. was curt and harsh. "He and Hol
were robbing the bank when Milto
3 came back from the dance at the clul
The towards shot down the old ma
2 like dog. They'll hang for it If
l costs me my last penny, 50 help m
} God"
2 "You say it's the truth" she rotor
! ed scornfully. ~Do you think I don
9 know you now-how you twist and di
5 tort facts to suit your ends? How Ion
5 is it since your jackal had him arres
e ed for assaulting you-when Wally Sc
r had risked his life for you and ha
saved yours by bringing you to Diane
e after he had bandaged your woundsi
z 'That was different. It was part {
f the game of politics we were playing
n "You admit that you and yor
: friends lied then. Is it like you coul
J, persuade me that you're telling tt
e truth nOw?"
The big Alaskan shrugged. "B
o lieve it or not as you like. Anyhoy
he's going back with me to Kusiak-
e and Holt too, if he's here"
e An excited cackle cut into the col
t versation, followed by drawing al
nouncement from the window. "Yot
I? old tillicum is right here, Mac. What
Y the use of waiting? Why don't yc
d have your hanging-bee now?"
! ICoHtiHued in nert ,reek's BGnnef.l
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