The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1921-12-16

value he was saving II up Tor just such hno-
ment as now
amined Il f; il was loaded in three chambers, and
one bullet would do the work. He smiled wanly.
Even in death he promised to be failure, and,
hidden by the stove, he raised the muZzle to
his forehead. A sudden clamor at distant Ia
ble volley Of fierce oaths, the crash OF spin
tered glass, and the pistol dropped back to the
pocket from which it had been withdrawn. A
mans cry Of pain had checked the suicidal i'm
pulse and a moment later Lionel was on his
feet.
At a table at the far end Of the room a man
was wrestling fiercely with five others, men
whom Lionel at sight named for crooks. One
other man was wiping liquor from his face, the
red blood mingled with the smoky spirit He
cursed fluently, bidding his companions make
finish of il once and for ALL Lionel recognized
the one man, poor, struggling fellow enough,
one who possessed no vice-a weaking indeed
None of the onlookers interfered, for il was
said to be more than a mans life was worth to
interfere with Klondyke Tom when his dander
was up. But Lionel Cartwright remembered
on the instant that once he had been a gentle
man, understanding that it was his plain duty
to side with the weak against the strong.
He forgot everything else and made a spring
forward.
Hands off, therew he cried and the Cart
wright temper blazed out in all its fury. you
towards Five to onep
man snarled at him and aimed a blow. but
Eionel was a man who understood how TO han
die himself He lodged and countered and the
man went down with a crash. The chair de-
scended on the lads shoulder ne WINGED. but
a moment later the one who had struck the
blow was seized by the throat and hurled on
top of his companion.
Tho qirglo man WINS lying e4iif and r,oapipo
but his attackers turned on the newcomer with
one impulse. They fastened on him like rats
TO a terrier. Lionel laughed happily He
might have failed as a soldier. but he was
born fighter.
Trenchant blows swept down those who or
posed him He straddled the stll body and de-
fled the attackers 20 come on. They did come
on, 10 be met by furious blows. One crept be-
hind the lad and aimed an evil blow at him with
a knife. He caught the glitter Of steel with
the tail Of his eyes and swung about in time
He took no thought Of the pistol in his pocket
He would have dsdained 20 use H. indeed but
his fists served him wei
Down him an Kill the other skunk :" roared
one man, Keeling from the press with blood
streaming from his face Lionel caught a man
BY the waist and hurled him full al the one
who had shouted, struck another couple Of
blows, and found that the attack had died
away.
IF any Of you want any more YOU know
where to find me. he gasped and lifted the
helpless form of the weakling 20 his shoulders
He stood for a moment AS though inviting an
other attack but the toughs had had enough
Not finger was lifted 20 oppose his exit lie
STROBE through the falling snow with the keen
cold causing his wounds TO smart as if burnt
with fire, and reached his own miserable shack
up the hill Here he laid his burden down He
had no spirits but there was bucket Of water
near the stove and though the stove was out
for want Of fuel the water was still unfrozen.
He did what he could and after a little while
Toomey, for such was the weaklngs name.
opened his eyes.
Say, I'm eternally grateful to you English"
he suffered. "Geel You just about sailed into
them toughs like Allowed if know what Il
was likel Guess they'd ha killed me right off
otherwise. They meant it,"
you've only yourself to blame for getting
into such a mess" said Lionel shortly. Haven't
you more sense than to call Klondyke Toms
gang cheats p
wall. amt they cheats? Bout time some
one told 'em so, pard. | seed Bavenhoe slip
an ace from his sleeve, an I'd lost steady all
day."
''You were a fool TO play at all with that
crowd. You were bigger fool TO cry out
about it."
Help me upl" commanded Toomey quickly
and imperiously. Give us lift down 10 my
place. Come on! Ask no questions"
BY way of humoring the man, who seemed
little light-headed Lionel obeyed, and in ten
minutes found himself in the mans cabin. II
was a miserable place enough, but Toomey for
aged in a cupboard and set the materials for
q meal before the lad.
Pitch in!" was his terse command. and there
being no power in him TO resist the appeal of
the food Lionel obeyed, eating temporarily at
first, until his hunger enforced itself. and then
devouring the coarse, plentiful fare greedily
Toomey kept him company.
II amt askin' IL might trust YER" he said.
Il knows kin. Look at this" And from the