The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-03-12
BY
VICTOR
ROUSSEAU
liJtzssrasjosss ~
Irsvin MysTs

swear you try to kill Black Pierre. an
| my brudder. an me. Now what you
saw"
IL haven't come here to say. but to
give your brother a thrashing, an
swered Hilary scornfully. 1.-The thrash
ing that promised him that night at
Ste. Marie"
You spy on me in Ste. Marie an
bring revenue officers. 1t cost me a
hundred dollar. you damn police spy.
You go now. Ell? What you say?"
Hilary wheeled upon Leblanc and
Pierre. and these men-what are
they doing here? You want three men
to help ycu kill me. Ell. Simeon?"
He did not want TO parley. hut in
spite of his eagerness his Judgment
told him that he was in perilous sit
uation. He must taunt them till they
lost their heads; that would give him
an advantage.
You. Leblanc. want your lease
again. I suppose. you thief" he said.
"YOu, Pierre, didn't get enough of 3
hiding that day l caught you cutting
down my trees. There's another COM
ing to you in a minute or two. Simeon,
if I'd been you I'd have picked some
men who could help me fight il l was
afraid. instead"
He got no further. for at that mo-
ment. taking the initiative. he sprsng.
His fists dashed full into Simeon's
face right and left. almost together.
Simeon toppled backward; his head
struck the edge of the stall behind
him, and he dropped moaning to the
floor and lay there
Passing him. Hilary Ieaped for Louis.
but the agile little man eluded him
and darted down the middle OF the
stable. Before he could quite recover
himself Leblanc and Pierre sprang
from behind. As Hilary swung side
wise he saw the knife in Pierre's hand.
He thrust his arm up, and the blow.
diverted glanced. the knife ripping his
sleeve open. Leblanc, also with n
knife. was springing from the other
side. Hilary sized up the situation with
judgment for which he could never
afterward account. Dashing his fists
upward. he caught Pierre under the
chin. forcing his head back: at the
same time he grasped the wrist which
| held the knife and swung so as to in
terpose the outlaws body between
himself and Leblanc's blow. AS Lee
blanc struck again Hilary turned. shell
tering himself behind Pierre. one hand
under his chin. the other holding back
!. the wrist so that Leblapcs short. stab
hing strokes always fell short, being
aimed around Pierre's body.
| Backing into the stall adjacent to
the one in which Simeon had fallen.
| Hilary in this manner continued to
ward off Leblanc's attack. The stall
was narrow, and the jobber WAS IN
able to get past Pierre. struggling I'm
Hi!arys grasp. i'm order TO strike a
| blow from the side or rear. so long
as Hilary could retain his hold on
| Pierre and keep him in this position he
was comparatively safe. But he had
no more than about fifteen seconds in
! which to think out his next move. 1t
! was all question of muscular en-
! durance. He could not hope TO retain
his clutch on Pierre's throat with one
| hand for many seconds. against the
| force behind the outlaws shoulders.
and his strong. thick-set body. Sud
denly he made up his mind. He re-
leased Pierre, fiinging him backward
| with all mis- might. Pierre fell against
| Leblanc. sending him staggering; the
| two clawed at each other and fell TO
the floor.
| AS Hilary released Pierre he caught
sight of Louis face peering across
| Pierre's shoulder The fall of the two
men left Louis Hilarys. only immedi-
ate opponent. Hilary hesitated in
| spite of his threat. spoken TO Simeon.
he hesitated to attack man much his
| inferior in size and strength. But at
| that moment he saw louis right arm
drawn back, and the CLEAN of the
| Knife he held Before the upward
thrust came he stepped back. pulled
the revolver from his pocket. and
brought the butt crashing down on
Louis head.
That's what 1 promised your he
shouted.
The little man. instantly drenched