Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-06-22

whats that?" 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
as my prisoners.s
'But what for?'
"For robbing the bank and killing
Robert Milton, as you know well
enoughv
"Is this another plan arranged for
me by you and Selfridge?" 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.s
"Holt isn't in that tent. you idiot. II
you want to know"
"Come now, If you expect to come
elive,S cut In the Scotsman ominously.
He raised the rife to his shoulder and
covered the shadow thrown by the sun
on the figure within.
Gordon flung out 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 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 off at
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 primer
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 fiercely now.
They got to their feet and fought toe
to toe. Sledge-hammer blows beat upon
bleeding and disfigured 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 snarl 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 lefts of Mac
donald got home. He shouted jeers |
advice, threats, encouragement. If 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, Peter
Let 'em alone. Let 'em go to it. 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"
qNothing of the kind, girl. You let
'em alone, Pete. The kids there every
minute, amt he? Gee, that's a good
one, boy. Seven-eleven--nin
'Attaboyl"
Macdonald had slipped on the snow
and gone down to his hands and knees.
Swift as 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
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