Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-08
'DoC'!''
~
0y HAROLD TITUS.
Author OF ITO the Victor
Copyright
The Frank A. Munssy Company

i Even as Hardy looked the moutl
drew into u Nasty grin OF antieipat lion
and the outlaw chuskled to himself
TWAS almost as a jungle beast lckin.
IFS chops over Il Bit of helpless prey
Sears shifted in his saddle with s
word OF caution to the horse, swuns
his weigh, into the LEI, strlup and
eyes still on the ford balanced Their,
before dropping 10 The ground
And just in that split instant before
his balance left The strrup Ellis Hardy
sprang. 1t was an though with one
leap he gained his feet and stood. legs
vide apart, revolver stiff in his hand,
towering above the road while from
his dry, hysteria throat
cracked the commando:
Hands up. Hands up. Hands
up
With the first movement the horse
starred, saw the man burst out Of the
brush above with shrill cries on his
Ups. The animal crouched and whirled
sS quickly as he would have hatted
one OF MS big. s,ar,ied eyes, and the
movement, timed by fate herself sent
The outlaw spinning.
Sears clutched ffantically for the
saddie'horn, letting 20 his hold on
rife and reins. but as quick as were
DIS praclised hands, the spring of The
frightened beast under him was quick
er. ne fel bacl watd and down. twist
INK 10 Y fe N impact on one b. Dad
shoulder, curses opening cir W I,p;
even before he was well clear o. the
horse.
HE met earth with erunt, and with
th0se maleyOlent. hateful eyes stared
ny At the man who had brought This
about
Hands up Hands up" Hardy
screamed again. hanging Tar our over
the bank. face livid, hand trembling.
gun held with its lowering mouth
covering the fallen.
For an instant after he had fallen
sears remained motionless, sazinp IN
Ut Hardy. The surprise, The terror,
Tue horrid hate that had stamped his
isa'ures slowly melted, gave wa, 10 an !
expression OF amazed wonder
Don't make a move 10 yet those
guns" Hardy warned. his voice less
shrill, his hand steadier after The flrst
moment OF agoni2ing tensiy,
and Barh Sears replied.
'DOc--y0u damned fool lold rou
TO Keep out OF this"
Whereupon he sat up resentment in
MS lace, as though he were Droyoked
with misbehaved child.
Stand up and Put no YOUR bands,,
why doc
Shut up! Get on your feel and
put up. your hands,"
The outlaw obeyed SLOWLY Then
looked up al he man who covered
him, taking careful inventory of his
appearance. His lip curled and he
sneered.
You tellin me what to do-behipd
3 gun Say, doc, It's joke. WHY
you couldn't hit me al ten wards.
You never had gun in your hands
before. You're"
A reverberating crash rent the still.
ness INTO which his voice penetrated.
ana Hardy was conscious that Sears
oofse, which had stopped in the
stream, ran on across with a great
|plashing.
That was all, just that one detail
was clear to him. the rest was all
and scattered BY the burst
If sound which had cut of the ont.
avs taunting speech.
lie was aware that Sears was At.
ing down. while the echoes sin 70. 8
efDefa'ed, sitting down slowly and
lot quite naturally: that the mans
rms hung limp at his sides, and that
lis lace had convulsed. then calmed.
lis BODY settled against the bank and 4,
lid down helplessly, while the ewes
ored accusingy on Hardy, a peculiar. !
annting expression in them.
III wasn't like you doe" he heard =, =,
ears saying AZ though from a great
islance. Not like you-to have 'em ~
ct me ihataway." IN
Then he realized. IN
That crash had been the voice of A di
lie; Fart Sears had not seated him. -
III, he had fallen' Those arms. those CO
ss were limp. useless. Some one ha
nd shot this man. sa
WIN The speed of thought The doe. an
n leaped down the emmnkmpnt. adj
topping his revolver AS no tumbled
The roadway 10
IL wasnt like you. doe the out.
y .sld ssain weakly, and the quail.