Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-05-14

as Hilary could retain his hold nm
Pierre and keep him in this position ba
was comparatively safe. But he hao
no more than about fifteen seconds in
which to think ont his next move. 4,
was all a question of muscular ON
durance. He could not hope to retain
his clutch on Pierre's throat wirb ono
hand fot. many seconds. against tho
force behind the outlaws shoulders
and his strong. thick-set body. Sud'
denly he made up his mind. He ra-
leased Pierre, fiinging him backward
with all his might. Pierre fell against
Leblanc. sending him staggering. tbe
two clawed at each other and fell IN
the floor.
AS Hilary released Pierre he caugb,
sight Of Louis face peering acrosQ
Pierre's shoulder. The fall of the two
men left Louis Hilary's only fmmedI.
ate opponent. Hilary hesitated: in
spite of his threat, spoken to Simeon
he hesitated to attack man much HE
inferior In size and strength. But AT
that moment he saw Louis right arm
drawn back. and the CLEAN of the
thrust came he stepped back, pulled
the revolver from his pocket, and
brought the butt crashing down on
Louis head.
.That's what I promised your 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 to side, with hands upraised 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 it. Blinded by the
blood that poured over<his face, he
blundered into one offhe window EN-.
brasures. and his upraised hands
brought down the lamp, which fell
crashing upon the wooden floor. and
fortunately went out.
Still screaming, Louis found the
door and tried to 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 shou-
ders. he pushed him with all his
strength into Baptiste's shanty.
The room was empty. The word
had evidently been passed about that 1t
would be advisable for one to make
oneself scarce in view of what was
going on in the stable. But group
of men were gathered about the door
ut the entrance. peering in; and the
sudden apparition of Louis, covered
with blood. and Hilary behind him.
proved too strong for their discretion.
They came running forward. yelling.
Hilary could have broken through
them and gained the safety of his
rooms, short distance away. Even
the hazard in such cor q 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 Subconscious.
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. imagin-
ing him to be in flight He waited.
Louis laundering flight. which took
him into the midst of the lumbermen.
stopped them in their attack. just as
Hilary had calculated It would; at the
same moment Leblanc's head and
shoulders became visible around the
door. Hilary. waiting for that. jabbed
upward vIciously with his right. Le-
blunc 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 Leblancs face. covered with
blood and Pierre's infuriated scowl;
but they came on at him again. craft
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
H'aue- A1t eStlIHuteu tliat tney "ouiN
spring after very brief delay. He
hazarded second and, STOPPING. picked
up fragment of rotten harness which
had fallen to the floor beside one OF
the hOrse-boxes. He wheeled toward
Leblanc. who twisted his body to
meet him; and then, as Pierre rushed
in from behind. wheeled again and
brought down the harness strap upon
his head.