Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-08-20
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truth or your life. Where is Pascual
Mendez?'
He heard no warning, no sound or
movement, yet some change in the ex-
preston Of the mans eyes confront
ing him caused him to slightly turn his
head so rs to vaguely perceive
shadow behind 1t was all so quickly,
silently done he barely had time to
throw up one hand in defense, when
his arms We're gripped as though in a
| wise, and he was thrown backward to
| the floor, the chair crushed beneath his
| weight Lacy fairly leaped on his
PROSTATE body, forgetting his gun lying
on the table in the violence Of hate, his
| hands ClutChing at the exposed throat.
For an instant Westcott was so dazed
and stunned by this sudden attack
from behind as to lie there prone and
helpless, fairly crushed beneath the
| bodies of his two antagonists
1t was this that gave him his chance,
for convinced that he was unconscious,
both men slightly relaxed their grip,
thus giving him opportunity to regain
breath, and stiffen his muscles for a
supreme effort. With one lashing out
Of a foot that sent Enright hurting
against the farther wall. he cracked
Lacy's head against a corner Of the
desk, and closed in deadly struggle
with the third man, whom he now rec
ognized as Beaton.
Before the latter could comprehend
what had happened the miner was on
top, and a ClenChed fist was driven INTO
his face with all the force of a sledge-
hammer. But barroom fighting was no
novelty to the gunman, nor had he any
scruples as to the methods employed.
With teeth sunk into his opponents
arm, and fingers gouging at his eyes,
the fellow struggled like a mad dog
yet in spite of every effort to restrain
him, Westcott, now filled with the
fierce rage Of battle, broke free fairly
tearing himself from Bentons desper-
ate clutch, and pinning him helplessly
against the wall.
At the same instant Lacy, who had
regalned his feet leaped upon him
from behind, striking him with all his
force, the violence Of the blow, even
though a grazing one, driving the
miners heSd into the face Of the gun
man.
Both went down together, but West
colt was on his feet again before Lacy
could act, closing with the latter. It
was hand-to-hand, the silent struggle
for mastery between two men not I'M
evenly matched, men asking and re-
Ceiving no mercy. The revolver Of one
lay on the floor, the other still repOsed
on the open desk, and neither Couli
be reached II was a battle to be
fought out with bare hands Twice
Westcott struck his clenched fist bring
ing blood, but Lacy chung to him, one
hand twisted In his neCk-band the
other yiciOusly forcing back his head
Unable to release the grip, Westcott
EdNt UdCht btlNlllE ulllll lllN uNNtl sill
was beyond balance; then, suddenly
Strengthening hurled the fellow side
ways. But by now Beaton, dazed and
confused, was upon his feet. With the
below Of a wild bull he flung himself
on the struggling men, forcing Lacy
aside, and smashing into WestcOtt with
all the strength of his body. The i'm
petus sent all three crashing to the
floor.
Excited voices sounded without
then blows resounded against the
wood of the locked door, but the three
men were obllvious TO all but their
own struggle. Like so many wild
beasts they clutched and struck, unable
to disentangle themselves Enright,
his face like chalk, got to his knees
and crept across the floor until his
hand closed on WestCotts revolver.
Lifting himself by u grip on the desk,
he swung the weapon forward at the
very instant the miner rose staggering,
dragging Beaton with him. There
was a flash of flame, a sharp report,
and WestcOtt sprang aside gripping
the back of a chair. The gunman sank
into shapeleSsness on the floor as the
chair hurtled through the air straight
at Enright's head.
With a crash the door fell. and
black mass of men surged in through
the opening, the bartender leading
them, an axe in his hand. Beaton
lay motionless just as he had dropped:
Enright was in one corner, dazed. I'M
nerved red cash across his fore
head, from which blood dripped ,he |
revolver, struck from his fingers, yet |
smoking on the floor; Westcott. hts
clothes torn, his face bruised by |
blows breathing heavily, went slowly |
backward, step by step, to the farther !
wall, conscious of nothing now but the
Savagely hostile faces of these new |
enemies. Lacy, staggering as though |
drunk, managed to attain his feet |
hate, desire for revenge, yielding him |
strength. This was his crowd, and his |
mind was quick to grasp the oppor-
tunity.
"There's the man who did it," he /
shouted, his arm flung out toward !
Westcott. 81 saw him shoot. See, |
that's his gun lying or the floor. Don't
let the murderer get away"
He started forward, an oath on his |
lips. and the excited crowd surged af.
ter, growing anger Then the mass
of them seemed suddenly rent asunder,
and the mnrShnl nIOUpd his WOW