The St. Johns herald., 1921-07-21

ullSSluS lueul DOluS duu udEe uOL pun the trigger again, so tightly were the men grappled, as they rolled back and forth in frenzied effort to obtain mas tery. Shelby, taken completely by surprise, was at a disadvantage, his throat crushed by sinewy hands, his Ioosened revolver flung half across the room. He could only struggle to break the hold of his antagonist, roll ing over and over, and forcing the fel- lows head back with every ounce of strength he could bring into play. They were not unevenly matched, the two-Shelby the younger, and perhaps the stronger; but Laud a skilled fight CT, hard as nails, and ready to resort to any trick. Moreover, he knew what he had set out to accomplish, and bent every effort to prevent the fright ened girl from getting a shot at him. He hung on, his straining hands, like a wise, twisting tighter and tighter | Shelby's shirt ban.l, careless of any in- jury to himself so that he kept the body of the latter in protection be- tween him and Olga's revolver. Yet, with every move, every straining whirl of their bodies, he gained an inch nearer the open door. He fought like an animal, sinking his teeth into Shelby's flesh, and driving his knees into his body. It was silent, bitter | fighting, every muscle strained to the utmost, and the sQuaw man won. They l hannh ord ch06 out through the partially open door, rolling down the single step into the weeds. Laud landed on top, his fn- gers still clutched on Shelby's throat, the latter half unconscious. Crazed, maddened as he was, the one desire to escape overcame his eagerness to kill, and Indian Joe, cursing, struck once at the upturned face, leaped to his feet and plunged into the shelter of the weeds. Shelby, gasping pain fully for breath, scarcely yet fully realizing what had occurred, lay mo- tionless but for the Quivering of his limbs.
 Indeed, he had scarcely forced open his eyes when Olga was beside him.
 "You-you are alive? He did not kill you?"
 He endeavored to smile, lifting him. self upon one elbow.
 "No, no; am all right" he gasped. 'The fellow got my throat, and l couldn't break his hold. The treach- erous hound got me that time. I was fool, and off my guard; 1t is no fault of yours; l should have taken no chances with the dog. Where did he go?"
 ''Down there, through the weeds to the creek; he had a horse down be- low"
 "And rode awayT
 ''I think so; am not sure. I-cared for nothing then but you; I thought perhaps he had killed you"
 Shelby struggled to his feet, his strength returning, although he scarcely could swallow, and every word he uttered pained him.
 "That devil will be back; the Hole is full of Indians. Our only chance is to get away before he can gather a 
 l bunch of his kind together"
 "Get away? Where?"
 up the bluff; the place in which I hid last night. But wait; my revOl- yer is inside the cabin"
 He started back, and Olga followed closely. Standing upon the step, and looking down the valley, his head now above the level of the surrounding weeds, Shelby's teeth clinched tightly to keep back an oath, and his eyes darkened.
 "Theres no time left" he said grim ly, pointing, "Laud has got his gang already; we're sure up against 1t now."
 Even as she stood beside him, strainlng her neck to see, the ca- l dence of a wild whoOp came echOing to them from the distance; Laud and the Indians were coming across the flat, riding straight for the cabin, and flashing their ponies as they came.
 "Are-are they after usY' she sobbed, grasping his arm. "are-are you sure?"
 ''No doubt of it; that's Laud lead in lem. Them Injuns will do what ever he says. Come in quick; we got to fight it out here, I reckon there ain't much chance, but I'm likely to get some O that outfit. Hurry. Olga; there ain't no time to lose"
 He crashed the door shut, and flung the bar into place; then dragged for ward the heavy bench and braced 1t as best he could. He had to feel along the floor to recover his lost weapon, and before he could straight | = = asaI- AL,n rriId nhnr,1a oR ,roIIa