The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-01-23

man striking me dumb. This then haG
| probably been his real purpose from
| the start. He had followed Beaucaire
deliberately with this final end in view
of running him, and thus compelling
/ his daughter to yield herself.
'And you actually mean that you
propose now to force Judge Beau
| CARES daughter to marry your
swell, hardly that, although 1 shall
use whatever means l possess. in
| tend TO win her if l can, fair means, or
foul"
l drew a deep breath. comprehend
ing now the full iniquity of his plot.
and bracing myself to fight it.
'And what about the other girl,
Kirby? for there is another girl"
yes" rather indifferently, there is
another"
"Of course you know who she is?''
''Certainly-a niger, a white mig
ger; the supposed illegitimate daugh-
ter of Adelbert Beaucaire. and a slave
woman. There is no reason why l
should fret about her, is there? She
is my property already by law" He
laughed again, the same ugly sneering
laugh of triumph. "That was why 1
was so particular about the wording of
that bill of sale-I would rather have
her than the whole bunch of field
hands"
You believe then the girl has never
been freed-either she, or her
mOther?'
Believe? 1 know. I tell you never
play any game with my eyes shut"
"And you actually intend toto
hold her as slave"
swell. I'll look her over first before
I decide-she would be worth a pot
full of money down the river"
The contemptuous, utterly indiffer-
ent manner in which he voiced his VIII
famous purpose, would have craZed
any man. To me this utterance was
the last straw. breaking down every
restraint, and leaving me hot, and |
furious with anger. I forgot the muz-
zle of the pistol pressed against my
side. and the menacing threat in |
kirby's low voice. The face of the |
man was indistinct, a mere outline, |
but the swift impulse to strike. at it |
was irresistible, and / let him have the
blow-a straight-arm jab TO the jaw
My clinched knuckles crunched against
the flesh, and he reeled back, kept
from falling only by the support Of
the deckhouse. There was no report
Of a weapon, no cutlery. yet, before I
could strike again, l was suddenly
yripped from behind by pair of arms,
which closed about my throat like
rise. throttling me instantly into silent
| struggled madly to
freak free, straining with all the art
If wrestler, exerting every ounce of
strength, but the grasp which held me
vas unyielding. robbing me of breath,
md defeating every effort to call for
lelp. Kirby. dazed yet by my sudden
low, grew eager to take hand in the
fray, struck me cowardly blow in
ne face, and swung his undischarged
,istol to level with my eyes.
% your be CALCULATED, and for
he first time his voice really ex-
ibited temper. I'D kill you with this,
Tut for the noise. No. by God there
S a safer way than that TO settle with
-ou. Have you got the skunk, Carver?'
'You can bet have. Joe. ] kin
hoke the life out o. him-shalI I?'
"No; let up bit-just enough so he
an answer me first. / want to find
ut what all this means. Now look
ere, Knox, what is all this to you? [
Why are you butting in on my gamer
Vas Beaucaire friend of yours?"
Il can hardly claim that" l admit
ed. 1--WE never met until 1 came /
board this steamer. All am inter
sted In is justice to Others" !
ITO others? Oh, suppose you mean .
rose girIs-you know them thenw IL
lid. In
II see; a self-appointed squire Of {
ames; actuated merely by romantic {
,sire to serve beauty In distress. Ex- /
emely interesting. my dear boy. But, 8
e here, Knox" and his tone changed I
seriousness. LET the romance go, E
i'd talk sense q minute. You are not t
ling to get very far fighting me alone. t
on haven't even got the law with you. d
ven II cheated Beaucaire. which ] t
, not for a moment admit, there Is +
, proof. The money is mine, and go '
the land and the niggers. You can /
ugly, OF course, but you cannot r
'erturn the facts. Now, you acknowl- a
ge that what has occurred Is per- $