Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-05-21
CHAPTER Ix.-continued.


Pierre reeIed, and once again Hilary
tenped and caught him under the chin.
BUT this time he was not quick enough
to repeat his former maneuver. Le-
blanc struck at him from behind The
upward thrust would have penetrated
hls heart rad It struck where Leblanc
Intended; but, by miracle of luck, 1t
pnssed between Hilary's arm and his
body, only just grazing a rib. The
point of the blade caught In the lining
of the coat and. before Leblanc could
withdraw his arm. Hilary pressed his
own left arm against his body. catch
ing Leblanc's hand there and imprison-
Ing It. =
This movement swung him round.
Forcing him to release Pierre. snd the
ensuing bovine rush which the outlaw
made threw them both against the EN-
brasure of the second window. on the
opposite side of the door. Men were
yelling outside, and n 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 against the wlndow-shelf
second lamp tottered and then crashed
down beside them, going out as the
first had done. and leaving the stable
In complete darkness. With swift
movement Hilary manager to draw Lee
blancs arm further through his. With
the pressure of his combined biceps
and triceps he could hold 1t there in
definitely, II he had only Leblanc to
contend with. But he could not use
his right h,lnd to force Leblanc's open
and til,e thc knife. which the jobber
was making frantic efforts to use. He
aeeded his right hand for Pierre; and
Leblanc managed to twist the knife so
that Its edge was against Hilary's side,
and with the sinews of his fingers he
wns scraping 1t backward and for
ward. ripping open the coat lining and
inficting succession of scratches
and little punctures under the heart.
Hilary backed suddenly. jarring Lee
bianc's gpine against the edge of the
window shelf. Leblanc. groaned and
made frantic effort to twist himself
free, hacking at Hilary's shins and
shouting to Pierre to finish the job.
Pierre's forward rush had flung him
between the two. Hilary felt him
cropping In the darkness. trying to
gauge tile position In which he was
leaning; Pierre was evidently puzzled
by the position of the two, and by the
termination of Leblanc's shoulder
against Hilary's. Hilary sensed that
Pierre had finally satisfied himself and
had raised his right arm to strike. He
flung away the revolver, which he still
held, reached up and seized the hand
as It was about to descend.
Thus holding the right wrist of each
of his assailants he plunged forward,
bringing them to the floor. He let go
suddenly and sprang to his feet.
Pierre's knife grazed his sole; as Le-
blanc tried to rise Hilary caught him
beneath the chin with the other foot.
Leblanc groaned and his head went
back on the floor.
That left only Pierre in action. Hill
airy withdrew step or two. He heard
the outlaw breathing heavily as he
crouched In the darkness. For the first
time he began to be aware of the
knocking at the door. 1t sounded now
as II crowbar were being applied.
The yells of the lumbermen came TO
his ears; but the absurdity of his posi-
tion did not dawn on him. nor the fact
that, when he had settled with Pierre
he would have to reckon with the mob
outside. He meant to deal with Pierre
as he had dealt with the others. But
An the darkness he could guide himself
only by Pierre's breathing. which
sounded now on one side OF him and
now on the other. Further away Le-
blanc was moaning.
Out of the darkness Pierre ieaped
forward. The knife blow flashed past
Hilary. who got Pierre by the srms.
Chey began to wrestle as they had
done that day In the woods. Here
Pierre was Hilary's SUPERIOR his
fnysieal strength was greater. though
he had no force In his blows; and.
though Hilary had beaten him that day
at the camp. 1t was by strategem
which could not be repeated success
fully. Gradually the strength of
~isyrss aru.s began to tell. The two