The Raymer enterprise., 1920-06-10

rs Hilary could retain his hold On
Pierre and keep him In this position be
was comparatively safe. But he had
no more than about fifteen seconds In
which to think out his next move. It
was all a question Of muscular en-.
durance. He could not hope to retain
his clutch on Plerre's throat with one
hand for many seconds. against the
force behind the outlaws shoulders,
and his strong. thick-set body. Sud-
denly he made up his mind. He re-
leased Pierre, flinging 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 cauGk
sight of Louis fnce peering acr -
Pierre's shoulder. The fall Of the two
men left Louis Hllarys only immedi-
ate opponent. Hilary hesltated; In
spite of his threat. spoken to Simeon.
he hesitated to attack man much his
inferior In size and strength. But at
that moment he saw Louis right arm
drawn back. and the gleam Of the
knife he held. Before the upward
thrust came he stepped back. pulled
the revolver from his pocket, and
brought the butt crashing down On
Louis head.
That's what l promised youi" be
shouted.
The little man. instantly drenched
with blood from the jagged scalp
wound. staggered. let the knife fall,
screamed, and ned. 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 be had
been caught In It. 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 fell
crashing upon the wooden door, and
fortunately went out.
Still screaming. Louis found the
door and tried to push back the bolt.
But before he could do 20 Hilary was
on the spot. He pushed 1t back him.
self and. taking Louis By the shoul.
ders. he pushed him with all his
strength into Baptiste's shanty.
The room was empty. The word
had evidently been passed about that II
would be advisable for one to make
oneself scarce In view Of what was
going on In the stable. But q group
Of men were gathered about the door
at 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, a short distance away. Even
the hazard In such a con- e was less
than what be 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 q 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 1t would; at the
same moment Lebianc's head and
shoulders became visible around the
door. Hilary, waiting for that. jabbed
upward viciousiy with his right. Le-
blanc howled and fell backward.
knocking Pierre Of 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 Lebianc's face, covered with
blood. and Plerre's infuriated scowl;
but they came on at him again. craft
lily now. crouchlng. their knives drawn
back for the stab. A revolver, even
when loaded, Is Of little use against q
knife. welded by an expert at close
quarters. The men were attacking
from opposite sides. too. They were
watching each movement that Hilary
made. He estimated that they would
spring after a 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. a. Pierre rushed
in from behind. wheeled again and
brought down the harness strap upon
his head.