Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-01-25
CHAPTER MIX
Don't Touch Him; Don't You Dare
Touch HIM"

Touch HIM"
Gordon OVERSIGHT. His plan hd'i
been To- reach kusiak at the end "i
q long days travel, but that had
meant getting on the trail with the
first yleam Of light. When he open
ed his eyes Mrs. Olson was calling
him 10 rise.
He dressed and stepped out INTO
the cold, crisp morning. From the
hin crotch the sun was already pour
ing down great. fircllke shaft of
light across the snow vista. swift
water Pete passed behind him on ms
way To- the stable and called Il cheer
ful good morning i'll his direction
Mrs. Olson had put the stove out
sldr the tent and Gordon lifted II to
the spot where they did the cooking.
",iOod-murnmg. ncighbor. he
called to Sheba. sleep we'll?
The little rustling sounds within
the tent ceased. \ face appeared in
the doorway, the flaps drawn discreet
Is CLOSE beneath the chin.
Never better Is my breakfast
ready yet"
Come and help me max" 1t. Mrs.
Olson is waiting on Holt
When I'm dressed" The smiling
face Disappeared Dublin Bay
sounded in her fresh young voice
from the tent. Gordon joined in the
song aS hc LIT the fire and sliced ba-
Sllh NJ N
The howling Of the huSkies inter-
rupted the song They had evidently
heard something that excited them.
Gordon listened. Was II IN his fancy
only that the breeze carried to him
the faint jingle Of Slcigh-bclls? The
sound. II it WAS one. died away. The
cook turned To his job.
lie stopped. saving al the meat
knife and bacon both suspended in
the air. ON the hard snow there had
come TO him the crunch Of Il foot be-
hind him. Whose? Shcba was in the
tent, saltwater at the stable, Mrs
Olson in the house Slowly he turn
ed his head.
What Elliot saw sent the starch
through his body. He did not move
an inch, still sat crouchcd by the fire,
but every nerve was at tension, every
muscle taut. For he was looking ut
"a rifle lying ncgligcntly in brown.
steady hands. They were very sure
hands. very competent ones. He
0ee%t .hSaselsS-hl& -h.a id-ts.:serosr tsseaaa
in action. The owner of the hands
WAS Colby Macdonald.
The Scotch Canadian stood ut the
edge of II willow grove. His face was
grim as the day of judgment.
Don't move" he ordered.
Elliot laughed irritably. He was
both annoyed and disgustcd.
What do you want" he snapped.
You"
What's worrying you now? do
you think I'm jumping my bond:
You're going back TO Kusiak with
m,--.to give life for the one you
took"
What's 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"
But what for"
For robbing the bank and muir
dcring Robert Milton. as you know
well enough"
lis this another plan arranged for
me by YOU and Selfridge?" demand
rd 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 on"
Holt isn't in that tent, you damn
ed idiot. If you want To know"
come now. II you expect to come
alive" cut In the Scotchman omin.
ously. lie raised the rifle to his
shoulder and covered the shadow
thrown nv the sun on the figure
within.
Gordon tlung out Il wild protest
and threw the frozen slab of bacon
al the head OF Macdonald. With the
game motion he launched his own
body across the stove. \ fifth OF q
second earlier the tent Hap had open
ed and Shcha had come out
The sight nf her paralyzcd Mac.
donald and saved her lovers life. II
distracted the minc-owner Ions
enough for him to miss his chance. \
bullet struck the stove and went on
at u tangent through the tent canvas
not two feet from where Sheha stood
\ 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
suuirmins 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 pri'
mcrdials IL kill. AZ they clinched
with one arm. they struck savagelI
with the other. The impact OF smash
ing blows on naked flesh sounded
horribly cruel TO Sheba.
She ran forward. calling on each
by name to stop. Probably neithe'
knew she was there. Their whole at
tention was focused on each other
Not for an instant did their eye:
wander. for life and death hung or
the issue. Chance had lit the spart
Of their resentment. but long-bankeo
passions were blazing fiercely now.
They got to their feet and Tough
toe to toe. edge-hammer oiow'
beat upon bleeding and disfiguret
faces. No thought Of defense as We
was in the mind Of either. The pur
nose OF each was to bruise, MAIN