Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-09-23


ing him caused him to slightly turn his
head so as to vaguely perceive a
shadow behind. 1t was all so quickly,
silently done, he barely had time to
throw up one hand in defense, when
his arms were gripped as though in a
wise, and he was thrown backward to
the floor, the chair crushed beneath his
weight. Lacy fairly leaped on his
PROSTATE body, forgetting his gun lying
on the table in the violence of hate, his
hands clutching at the exposed throat.
For an instant Westcott was so dazed
and stunned by this sudden attack
from behind as to lie there prone and
helpless, fairly crushed beneath the
bodies of his two antagonists
1t was this that gave him his chance,
for, convinced that he was unconscious,
both men slightly relaxed their grip,
thus giving him opportunity to regain
BREATH and stiffen his muscles for a
supreme effort. With one flashing out
of foot that sent Enright hurting
against the farther wall, he cracked
Lacy's head against a corner of the
desk, and closed in deadly struggle
with the third man, whom he now rec
Ognized as Beaton.
Before the latter could comprehend
what had happened the miner was on
top, and clenched fist was driven into
his face with all the force of a sledge-
hammer. But barroOm fighting was no
novelty to the gunman, nor had he any
scruples as to the methods employed.
With teeth sunk into his opponents
arm, and fingers gouging at his eyes,
the fellow struggled like a mad dog;
yet, in spite of every effort to restrain
him, Westcott, now filled with the
fierce rage of battle, broke free, fairly
tearing himself from Benton's desper-
ate clutch, and pinning him helplessly
against the wall.
At the same instant Lacy, who had
regained his feet, leaped upon him
from behind striking him with all his
force, the violence of the blow, even
though a grazing one, driving the
miners head into the face of the gun
man.
Both went down together, but West
colt was on his feet again before Lacy
could act, closing with the latter. 1t
was hand-to-hand, the silent struggle
for mastery between two men not I'M
evenly matched, men asking and re-
ceiving no mercy. The revolver of one
lay on the floor, the other still reposed
on the open desk, and neither could
be reached. 1t was battle to be
fought out with bare hands. Twice
WestcOtt struck, his clenched fist bring
ing blood, but Lacy chung to him, one
hand twisted in his neck-band, the
other viciously forcing back his head.
Unable to release the grip, Westcott
gave back, bending until his adversary
was beyond balance; then, suddenly
Strengthening, hurled the fellow side
ways. But by now Beaton, dazed and
confused, was upon his feet. With the
below of a wild bull he flung himself
-On the struggling men, forcing Lacy
aside, and smashing into Westcott with
all the strength of his body. The i'm
petus sent all three crashing to the
floor.
Excited voices sounded without
, then blows resounded against the
wood of the locked door, but the three
men were oblivious to all but their
own struggle. Like so many wild
beasts they clutched and struck, unable
to disentangle themselves. Enright,
his face like chalk, got to his knees
and crept across the floor until his
hand closed on WestcOtt's revolver.
Lifting himself by a grip on the desk,
he swung the weapon forward at the
very instant the miner rose staggering,
dragging Beaton with him. There
was flash of fame, sharp report
and Westcott sprang aside, gripping
the back of a chair The gunman sank
into shapelessness on the floor as the
chair hurled through%the air straight
at Enright's head.
With crash the door fell. and =
black mass of men surged in through
the opening, the bartender leading
them, an axe in his hand. BeatOn
lay motionless just as he had dropped;
Enright was in one corner, dazed, I'M
nerved, a red cash across his fore
head, from which blood dripped, the
revolver, struck from his fingers, yet
smoking on the floor; Westcott, his
clothes torn, his face bruised by
blows, breathing heavily, went slowly
backward, step by step. to the farther
wall, conscious of nothing now but the
savagely hostile faces of these new
enemies. Lacy, staggering as though
drunk, managed to attain his feet,
hate, desire for revenge, yielding him
strength. This was his crowd, and his |
mind was quick to grasp the oppor-
tunity.
"There's the man who did it," he
shouted his arm flung out. toward
Westcott. II saw him shoot See,
that's his gun lying on the floor. Don't
let the murderer get away!"
He started forward, an oath on HIS
lips, and the excited crowd sUrged af-
ter, growing anger. Then the mass
of them seemed suddenly rent asunder.