Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-02-06
CHAPTER Ix.-continued.


y
Pierre reeled, and once again Hilary
leaped 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
his heart had it struck where Leblanc
intended; but, by miracle of luck, 1t
passed 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.
forcing him to release Pierre, and 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 furious hammer
ing was maintained, but none of the
fighters was conscious either of the
shouts or Of the blows. AS Hilary and
Leblanc fell against the window-shelf
the rotted wood broke inward. The
second lamp tottered and then crashed
down beside them, going out as the
first had done, and leaving the stable
In complete darkness. With a swift
movement Hilary managed to draw Le-
blanc's arm further through his. With
the pressure Of his combined biceps
and triceps he could hold it there in
definitely, If he had only Leblanc to
contend with. But he could not use
his right hand to force Leblanc's open
and take the knife, which the jobber
was making frantic efforts to use. He
needed 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
was scraping 1t backward and for
ward, ripping open the coat lining and
infiicting succession of scratches
and little punctures under the heart.
Hilary backed suddenly, jarring Lee
blanc's spine against the edge of the
window shelf. Leblanc groaned and
made frantic effort to twist himself
free, hacking at Hilarys 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 the 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 1t was about to descend.
Thus holding the right wrist of eacf
of his assailants he plunged forward
bringing them to. the floor. He let &c
suddenly and sprang to his feet
Pierre's knife grazed his sole; as lie
blanc tried to rise Hilary caught hin
beneath the chin with the other foot
Leblanc groaned and his head wen
back on the floor.
That left only Pierre in action. Hill
airy withdrew step or two. He heart
the outlaw breathing heavily as h
crouched in the darkness. For the frs
time he began to be aware of tn
knocking at the door. 1t sounded nov
as IL crowbar were being applied
The yells of the lumbermen came t
his ears; but the absurdity of his posi-
tion did not dawn on him, nor the fac
that, when he had settled with Pierr
he would have to reckon with the mo
outside. He meant to deal with Pierr
as he had dealt with the others. Bu
in the darkness he could guide himsel
only by Pierre's breathing, whic
sounded now on one side of him an
now on the other. Further away L,
blanc was moaning.
Out OF the darkness Pierre leape
forward. The knife blow flashed pa:
Hilary, who got Pierre by the arm
They began to wrestle as they ha
done that day in the woods. Her
: Pierre was Hilary's superior: b
physical strength was greater, thoup
he had no force In his blows: an
though Hilary had Seaten him, that da
at the caIEr * WAS 3y strategel
which could not be repeated success
fully. Gradually the strength
Pierre's srms began to tell. The tv
painted, strainiEg together, but Pier,
: winning. The knife arm was sure
slipping out of Hilary's clutch.
reached upward. But at the momel
when It was evading him Hilary dro
ped Pierre's left hand and struck ii
, outlaw between the eyes. As he did
he heard the breathing on the 9th
side of him.
"a Pierre staggered, and in a flash H
ary had both his hands upon Pierre
right wrist, kneading the veins al
sinews till the fist opened. The kni
clattered upon the floor. HIla
stopped and seized 1t.
d. That was the precise instant VIII
II the knife that had been dropped
y. Louis Duval, welded by Simeon a
thrust upward, found its home |
y. meath Hilary's shoulder.
d. Hilary, who was still bending (,
.osr ward, stumbled and pitched upon t
or floor and lay there.