The Dolores star., 1920-06-11
CHAPTER II.-Contirued.

Pierre rseled, and once again Hilary
JeaP-d and caught him under the chin.
But this time he was not quick enough
TO repeat his former maneuver- Le
olanc struck at him from behind The
upward thrust would have penetrated
his heart fad il struck where Leblanc
intended bu-. BY miracle Of luck Il
ps sod between HiI2ry's arm and his
body only just grazing a rib. The
polni OF the blade caught IN the lining
Of the coat and before Leblanc could
withdraw his arm Hilary pressed his
own left arm sEainS, his body. catch
ing Leblanc : hand there and lrupriSou-
ing H.
This movement swung him round.
forcing him TO relenSe Pierre. md the
ensuing bovine rush which the outlaw
made threw III I'm both against the en-
brnsu-e OF the second window. on the
opposite siCe of the door. Men were
yelling outside. and a furious hammer
Ing was ma sntained. but none Of the
fighters was conscious either Of the
shouts or 0t the blows. As Hilary and
Leblanc fell against the windOw-Shelf
the rntted wood broke inward The
second lamp totteTed and then crashed
down beside them, going out as the
hrst had done. and leaving the stable
In complete darkness. With a swift
movement Hilary manag.i to draw Lee
blanc's arm further through his. With
the pressure of his combined biceps
rrin ha a Il.
definitely. II he had only Leblanc TO
contend with. But he could not use
his right hitnd to force Leblanc's open
rpd take tnt knife. which the jobber
was making frantic efforts 70 use. He
n--ded his right hand for Pierre: and
i>..bisnc mshaced TO twist the knife so
that Hs edge was aEainst Hilary's side.
aud with the sinews of his fingers he
WAS scrapinE il backward and for
ward. ripping open the coat lining and
infiicting ID succession Of scratches
and little punctures under the heart
Hilary backed suddenly. jarring Le-
b!anc's spine against the edge of the
window shelf. Leblanc groaned and
made a frantic effort to twist himself
free. hacking AT Hilary'S shins and
shouting to Pierre to finish the job.
Pierre's forward rush had flung him
between the two. Hilary felt him
cropping IN the darkness. trying 10
gauge the position In which he was
leaning; Pierre was evidently puzzled
by the position Of the two. and by the
termination of Lehanc's shoulder
against Hilary's. Hilary sensed that
Pierre had finally satisfied himself and
had raised his right arm to strike. He
flung away the revolver, which he still
held. reached up and seized the hand
as il was about TO descend.
IIuS holding the right wrist of each
ut hIs assailants he plunged forward,
bringing them To the floor. He let 20
suddenly and Sprung to his feet.
Firrre's knife Erazed his sole; as Le-
hIanc tried TO rise Hilary cnught him
beneath the chin with the other foot.
Leblanc groaned and his head went
Lack on the floor.
That left oaly Pierre in action. Hill
Dry withdrew step or two. He heard
the outlaw breathing heavily as he
crouchcd in the darkness. For the first
time he began to be aware of the
knocking at the door. 1t sounded now
as If Il crowbar were being applied.
The yells of the lumbermen came to
his ears; but the absurdity of his posi-
tion did not dawn on him, nor the fact
that. when ne had settled with Pierre
he would have to reckon with the mob
outside. He meant to deal with Pierre
as he 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
DOW on the other. Further AWAY Lee
blanc was moaning.
Out OF the darkness Pierre leaped
forward. The knife blow flashed past
Hilary. who got Pierre by the arms.
They began to wrestIe as they had
done that day In the woods. Here
Pierre was Hilary's superior; his
physical strength was greater, though
be had no force In his blows; and,
though Hilary had beaten him that day
at the camp. 1t was by strategrm
which could not be repeated SUCCESS
FULLY. Gradually the strength of
SisnS's arms began to tell. The two