The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-20
CHAPTER XXI

The impact OF MArklne bosfy had
f1ung tho door wide op~n. leaving
Shelby fully exposed 20 view. For
an instant. however. the startled and
besiidered Lsud failed to uots his
r~veziment against the darkness OF
that interior. He had ieapcd back
INSTANTLY 20 tho protection Of the
wall. and. gun In hand. douchcd
there with eyes fired on tho broken
window oppoxta Wherever tho shot
had come from. whocvsr had fired II.
his conccaiment was no longer pos
dble. There must be no horitancy.
no delay. He stepped across the mo
tioniess body. with weapon flung
grfmiy forward
Hands up. Joc, Put them mp first
before you turn around Stop that.
Don't try any tricks on me Nov
stand thcre-oigA-
Yea.
Take that Eun out Of his hand
there 10 another in his belt: better
got that also. That's right. now
come over here; you under7tand fire
arrnnr-
"Yas. Of COURSE wonderingiy. II
know how TO shoot
Il imagined no: Cabins would have
taught you. Keep this fellow GOV.
er~d. and LET him have ~ II he makes
any effort 20 break away. Watch
him closely. while / rip UP that blan.
kot. and tic him up"
He left her with the gun steadily
pointed at Laud's head, tho fellow
cursing, with hands up. his angry
eyes following evcry movement He
was desperate. madden~d by sudden
helplesxne-s. with the sneaking fe-
rooity Of n wolf. yet was temporarily
held motionlcss by tho deadly peril
Shelby stripped the rugged blanket
bench. and began hastily 10 rip II
apart Tho black. bloated face OF
Slagin stared upward. and Indian
Joe saw II for the first time. sud.
den spasrn OF terror causing him to
burst forth:
My God! what's thatr-
"A little reminder. joe returned
Shelby sternly. "Lifo y mighty
cheap around here
kSuA AiltAA otS&iit
'Surc IL Is: he got hts, an you1l
get yours II you drop those hands.
you cur. Turn around now. and
| stop.
I.aud obcycd. his face ugly and
threatening. and Shelby took a step
closer. the strip OF blanket In his
hands. his revolver thrust back into
his belt What Indian Joe saw will
never be known: perhaps a slight
wavering in the eyes Of the girl. per.
haps an instant lowering OF her gun.
But IT was enough. All his hate and
treachery drove him 10 n desperate
chance. With the maddened leap OF
wild beast. he sprang upon Shelby.
gripped him fiercely by the throat.
and the two went bcadlong TO tho
floor. Olga fired. but without aim.
missing them both. and dare not pull
the trigger again. 80 tightly were
tho men grappled. as they rolled back
and forth In frenzied effort To obtain
mastery. Shelby. taken completely
by surprise. was at n disadvantage.
his throat crushed by sinewy hands.
his iooscned revolver flung half
across the room. He could only
struggle to break the hold OF his an.
tagonist, rolling over and over. and
forcing the fellows head back with
every ounce of strength he could
bring into play. They were not I'M
evenly matched. the two--Shelby the
younger. and perhaps the stronger;
but Iaud a skilled fighter. hard as
A.
trick. Moreover. no knew what he
had set out TO accomplish. and bent
every effort to prevent the fright
ened girl from getting a shotat him.
He hung on. his straining hands
Like Q vice. twisting tighter and
tighter Shelby's shirt band. careless OF
any injury TO himself SO that no kept
thu body Of the latter In protect iou