Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-02-13
CHAPTER Discontinued.

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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. Lee
blanc struck at him from behind. The
upward thrust would have penetrated
his heart had it struck where Leblanc
intended; but, by a miracle of luck, it
passed between Hilary's arm and his
body, only just grazing rib. The
point of the blade caught in the lifting
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.
This movement swung him round,
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. Sc 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 Lee
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 Leblancs 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 HiIary's side,
and with the sinews of his fingers he
was scraping it backward and for
ward, ripping open the coat lining and
lnfiieting succession of scratches
and little punctures under the heart.
Hilary backed suddenly, EARRING Lee
planes spine against the edge of the
window shelf. Leblanc groaned and
made frantic effort to twist himself
free hacking at Hilary's shins and
shouting to Pierre to finish the job
P1erres 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
oy the position Of the two, and by the
termination Of Leblanc's shoulder
against Hilary's. Hilary sensed that
Flerre had finally satisfied himself and
mad raised his right arm to strike. He
hung 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 each
OF his assailants he plunged forward,
bringing them to the floor. He let go
suddenly and sprang to his feet
Plerres knife grazed his sole: as Lee
piano tried to rise Hilary carght him
beneath the chin with the other foot.
Leblanc groaned and his head went
back on the floor.
That left only Pierre in action. Hill
airy withdrew step or two. He heard
the outlaw breathing heavily as he
crouched in the darkness. For the first
tline ne began to be aware of the
knocking at the door. 1t sounded now
as II a crowbar were being applied.
Inc yells of the lumbermen came to
mis- ears; but the absurdity of his posi-
tlon did not dawn on him, nor the fact
mat when he had settled with Pierre
ne would have to reckon with the mob
outside. He meant to deal with Pierre
as ne had dealt with the others. But
In the darkness he could guide himself
only by Pierre's breathing, which
sounded now on one side of him and
now on the other. Further away Lee
blanc was moaning.
Out of the darkness Pierre leaped
FORWARD. The hcife blow flashed past
Hillary, who got Pierre by the arms.
Ahey began to wrestle as they had
qone that day in the woods. Here
tferre was Hilary's superior; his
nnxsieal strength was greater, though
he had no force ia bis blows; and,
cough hilary had beaten him that day
the camp, it was by a strategem
#nieh could not be repeated success
MY Gradually the strength Ct
k1erre's arms began to tell The tEs