The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-04-22

as ailzry could retain kss nels -
Pierre aud 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. n
was all a question Of muscular or
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 shoulderr
end his strong. thlck-set body. sud-
denly he made up his mind. He re-
leased Pierre, fiinging him backward
with all his 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 HiIary's only immedi.
ate opponent. Hilary hesitnted; In
spite of his threat, spoken to Simeon.
he hesitated to attack a 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, aDz
brought the butt crashing down on
Louis head.
"That's what I promised you'll" he
/ shouted.
The little man. instantly drenched
with blood from the jagged scalp
wound. staggered. let the knife fall,
screamed, and fed, stumbling from
/ side tc side. with hands upralsed above
his head. toward the door. Louis had
had enough he had been meant to be
the bait of the trap, and now he had
been caught in II. Blinded by the
blood that poured over his face, he
| blundered into one of the window en-.
brasures, and his upraised hands
brought down the lamp, which fen
crashing upon the wooden floor, and
fortunately went out.
S;in screaming, Louis found the
door and tried 10 push back the bolt.
But before he could do so Hilary was
on the spot He pushed it back him
self and, taking Louis by the shoul-
ders. he pushed him with all his
I strength into Baptiste's shanty.
The room was empty. The word
had evidently been passe5 about that II
would be advisable for one to make
oneself scarce in view of what was
going on in the stable. But a group
of men were gathered about the door
at the entrance. peering in; and the
sudden apparition of Louis, covered
with blood, ana Hilary behind him.
proved too strong for their discretion.
They came running forward. yelling.
Hilary could have broken through
them and gained the safety q eis
rooms, a short distance away. Even
the hazard in such cOu' e was less
than what he had faced in the stable.
But the idea never occurred to him.
He was fighting mad; he had come to
st. Boniface to fight. and he meant to
fight his quarrel out. He turned.
He heard Leblanc and Pierre run.
ming across the stable floor. All his
calculations, which were subconscioua,
were made in fractional seconds that
night So, now, he calculated that the
pair would reach the door a half-sec-
Ond before the men in the shantY.
They would emerge confident. imagir-
ing him to be In flight. He waited.
Louis blundering flight, which took
him into the midst of the lumbermen.
stopped them in their attack. just ar
Hilary had calculated II would; at tbs
same moment Leblanc's head aDe
shoulders became visible around the
door. Hilary, waiting for that. jabbeS
upward viciously win his right. Le
blanc howled and fell backward
} knocking Pierre off his balance in
turn; and before they had recovered
from the surprise Hilary had stepped
back into the stable and bolted the
door behind him.
He saw their wonder and the dawn
ing fear in Leblanc'sface, covered with
blood. and Pierre's infuriated scc'7l~
but they came on at him again, craze
J lily now, crouching. their knives drawn
back for the stab. A revolver. even
when loaded. is Of little use against .
! knife, welded by an expert at close
: quarters. The men were attacking
from opposite sides. too. They were
} watching each movement that Hilary
J made. He estimated that they would
spring after very brief delay. IL
hazarded second and. STOPPING. picket
up fragment of rotten harness which
J had fallen to the floor beside one Of
. the horse-boxes. He wheeled toward
Leblanc, who twisted his body
meet him; and then, us Pierre rushed
! in from behind, wheeled again and
brought down the harness strap upoa
his head.