The Arvada enterprise., 1920-01-22
.And II I refuser'

Self-preservation L. the first law"
looked about at them both, scarce
~ able to distinguish clearly even
their outlines in the dense gloom. The
seriousness Of the situation, coupled
with my helplessness, and inability to
achieve the object proposed, was very
evident. It might, under the circum-
stances, have been the part Of wisdom
for me to have sought some means Of
compromise, but was young. and hot,
fiery blood swept through my veins.
The words Of Kirby stung me with
their breath of insult-his sneering, in
solent offer to pay me to remain still.
you must rank me as one Of your
own kind" burst forth. "Now you
listen to a plain word from me. II
that was intended as an offer. I refuse
It You, and your confederate. have
coolly robbed Beaucaire. and propose
to get away with the spoils. Perhaps
you will, but that end will not be &C.
complished through any assistance Of
mine. At first only felt q slight in
terest In the affair. but from now on !
am going to fight you fellows with
every weapon possess"
Kirby chuckled. apparently greatly
amused.
"Quite glad, I am sure, for the dec
laration Of war. Fighting has always
agreed with me. Might I ask the ma
ture Of those weaponsT
That remains for you to discover"
I calculated sharply. exasperated by
his evident contempt. Carver, take
your dirty hands of Of me-"
In spite Of the fact Of their threat.
the ready pistol pressing against my
ribs, the grip Of Carver's fingers at my
throat, I did not anticipate any actual
assault. That either would really dare
injurs me seemed preposterous. In
deed my impression was, that Kirby
felt such indifference toward my at
tempt to block his plan, that he would
permit me to pass without opposition
certainly without the slightest resort
to violence. The action Of the two was
20 swift, 20 concerted. n though ut
some secret signal. that. almost befoAe
I realized their purpose. they held me
helplessly struggling. and had forced
me back against the low rail. Here
endeavored to break away. to shout
an alarm. but was already too late.
Cafver's hands closed remorselessly
on my throat. and, when I managed t.
strike out madly with one free nst, the
butt Of Kirby's pistol descended ON my
head. % decorating my scalp the drip
ping blood blinded my eyes. The blow
partially stunned me. and I half fell.
ciutching at the rail. yet dimly con.
scious that the two straining men
were uplifting my useless body. Carver
swearing viciously A. he helped to
thrust me outward over the wooden
bar. Tho next instant fell. the sneer-
ing cackle Of Kirby's laugh Of triumph
echoing In my ears until drowned In
the splash a. I struck the black water
below.
came back to the surface daxed
and weakened. yet sufficiently con.
scious to make an Intelligent struggle
for life. The over-hang Of the rapidly
passing boat still concealed me from
the observation Of those above on the
deck. and the advantage Of permitting
them to believe that the blow on my
head had resulted In drowning. to-
gether with the knowledge that must
swiftly get beyond the stroke Of that
deadly wheel. flashed instantly through
my brain. II was like q tonic, reviving
every energy. Waiting only to inhale
one deep breath Of air. I plunged back
once more into the depths, and swan
strongly under water. The effort
proved successful. for when I again
ventured to emerge. gnsping and q.
hausted. the little Warrior had swept
past, and become merely . shapeless
outline. barely visible above the sur.
face Of the river.
Slowly treadlnx water. my lips held
barely above the surface. drew Ia
deep drauShts Of cool night air. my
mind becoming more active ~ hope re-
turned. The blow I had received waa
. savage one, and panied duly. but the
cold water In which I had been i'm.
mersed had caused the bleeding "a
cease. and likewise revived all my fac.
ulties. The very fact that no effort was
made to stop was SUFFICIENT proof that
Throckmorton In he wheeihouss ~
manned unconscious Of what had oc'
CURED on the deck below. Ny fate
might never be discovered. or suspect
ed. was alone. submerged In the
great river. the stars overhead alone
piercing the night shadows. A los
swept By me. white bursts Of spray H.
Eliminating its sides. and I grappled Il
gratefully. my fingers finding grip 90
the sodden bark. Using this for par
tial support. and ceasing 20 battle ~
desperately against the down.swcep OF
tho current. I managed finally 10 work
my way Into an eddy. struggling on
ward until my feet at last touche,
bottom at the end Of q low. out.crop
ping point Of SIND. This proved to b,
n mere spit. but wadcd ashore. watcI
streaming from my clothing. consciouI
now Of such complete exhaustion tina
l SINK instantly outstrctched upon thu
| snntl I'm sf,inR unlnfuilv foP breath