The Crittenden press., 1920-01-30
CHAPTER lX.-contInLe1.

y
Plcrra recled nnd once ngnln Hilary
lenpcd and caught him under the chin.
But this time he was not quick enough
90 repeat his former maneuvcr. lie
blanc struck nj him from behind. The
upward thrust would have penetrated
his heart had Il struck where Leblanc
intended but, by miracle of luck, II
passed between llllary's arm aud his
body, only Just grazing rib The
point of the blade caught In the lining
nf the cont and. before Leblanc could
withdraw his arm. Hilary pressed hts
own left arm against his body. catch
Ing colanc's hnnd there and imprlson-
Ing H.
This ro,cment swung him round
forcing hita 10 rclcnsc Pierre. and the
ensuing bovine rush which the outlaw
made threw them both against the en-
brasurc ~ the second window. on the
opposite sid" Of the door Men were
yelling outside. and furious hammer.
Ing was maintained. hut none OF the
fighters was conscious either Of the
shouts or of the blows. As Hilary and
Leblanc fell SgnlnI the wlndow.shelf
the rotted wood broke Inward. The
second lamp to,tercd and then crashed
down beside them. going out ns the
first had donc, and leaving the stable
In complete darkness. With swift
movement Hilary managed 10 draw Ic-
blhnc's arm further through his. With
the pressure Of his combined biceps
and triccps he could hold II there In.
definitely. II he had only Leblanc TO
contend with. But he could not use
his right hand 10 force Lcblanc's open
and take the knife. which the jobber
was making frantic efforts 10 use. He
needed his right hand for Pierre: and
Leblanc managed to twist the knife 50
that It's edge was against llllary's side,
and with the sinews of his fingers he
was scrnplnl II backward and for.
ward. ripping open the coat lining and
lnflctng n succession ~ scratches
and little puncturcs under the heart.
Hilary backed suddenly. jarrlng Lc-
blancs spine against The edge Of the
window shelf Leblanc groancd aud
made n frantic effort 10 twist himself
free, hacking nj Ililnry's shIns and
shouting 10 Pierre To finish the Job.
PIcrrc's forward rush had flung him
between the two. Hilary felt him
cropping In the darkness, trying To
gauge the position In which he was
leaning Pierre was evidently puzzled
by the position ~ the two. and by the
termination of Lcbnnc's shoulder
against llIlary's Hilary scnscd that
Pierre had finally satisfied himself and
had raised his right arm To strike. lie
flung nwny the revolver, which he stlll
held, reached uT and seized the hand
as II was about 'o descend.
Thus holding the right wrist OF each
of his nssallnnt. he plunged forward,
bringing them a. the floor. lie let go
suddenly and sprnng to his feet.
rVrrc's knife grnzcd his sole; MS Le-
hlnnc tried to rise Hilary cnught him
beneath the chin with the other foot.
Leblanc gruanet aud his head went
back on the floor.
That LETT only Pierre In action. I'LL.
nry withdrew II step or Two. lie heard
the outlaw breathing heavily MS he
crouchcd In the darkness For the first
time h. hegrn to be aware of the
knocking ut tho door II sounded now
Ms II u Crowhni were being applied.
The wells NJ the lnmhcrmcn came tn
his ears hut the n'uurdlty Of his posi-.
tlon lid not dnwn oH him, nor the fact
That, when he had settled with Pierre
hc would have tn reckon with the mob
outside, lie meant to deal with Pierre
ns he had dealt with the others. Rnt
IN the darkness he could guide himself
only by rlcrro's breathing, w'nch
sounded now on one side Of him and
now on the other Further away L,s
blanc was moaning
Out Of the darkness Pierre lcnpcd
forward. The knife blow flashed pnst
llllnry, who got Pierre by the urms.
They began Ia wrcstlc ns they hnd
done that day In the woods. Here
Pierre was lIilury's superior: his
physical strength was greater. though
h. hnd no fierce In his blows. aud,
though llilnry hnd beaten him that dny
NJ the cnmp 1t wns by strtcgcm
which could not be repeated success.
fully. Gradually the strength Of
plcrrc's arms began to tell. The two
4 pnntcd, strnlniI Z together. but Pierre
winning, The knife arm wus surely
slipping out of llllnry's clutch. Il
reached upward. Hut Mt the moment
when II was evadlng him Hilary drop.
ped pierre's lett hand and struck the
outlaw between the eyes. As he did 10
he heard the breathing on the other
side Of him.
Pierre staggered, and In n fash III.
ery hud both his hands upon pierres
Fight wrist, kt.eadlng the veins and
slnews tIll tho DIST opened. The knife
elattered upop the floor. Hilary
etooped and sslsed II.
That was he precise instant when