American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-07-29

shook my own confidence In her In
nocence The absurAty of the situa-
hon lay in my absolute ignorance. /
knew even less than they pretended to
know. What should / dof Pretend,
manufacture some storyf / had no
kaith 1t would work. These fellows
were criminals, suspicious and unscru-
pulous; they would only believe what
/ could prove. II they caught me In
a deliberate lie, as they probably
would, that would instantly end every
thing. / might, then, just as well fight
1t out with them now as later. / set
my teeth, ready for what ! felt sure
was coming.
"You fellows have sized me up
wrong" l said quietly, but firmly. II
am not the kind to squeal because of
a threat. You'll find III protect the
lady, but I'll do 1t In my own way
not yours. The honest truth is, /
haven't anything to tell. You won't
believe that, but 1t is so. I know less
than you claim to know. l have no
knowledge Of where the money is, or
who got 1t. l do not know who killed
Alva ever now | haven't any suspi-
cions worth mentioning. But l will
say this plainly do not believe this
girl did 1t, or that she had any ham
In the robbery. | am going to stay
with her till HI freezes over, IL that
is what you want to know. That's my
answer, Harris, and It Is all I've got
to give you"
"You id curl we'll show you
somethinigl"
Perhaps you will, you are three tC
one, and on your wi dung-hill. But
the man who touches me is going e
get hurt I'll promise you that. No
you don't, Costfgan; that trick wonN
work Y"
1 tried to keep my eyes on the TIRES
of them. but his movement caused ms
to step back closer against the wall
l feared the Jew least he had neither
!, spoken nor moved since our entrance
t and | felt ne had no stomach for an.
farther fighting. Yet I judged wrong
With one quick dash forward HI
gripped my wrist as | reached bacl
for a revolver, and flung his burl,
' frame against me with such force a
to have thrown me headlong but TO
: the support Of the wall. Before
could wrench myself free, the either
closed in desperately, content to us
their hands, unwilling, perhaps, I
create any alarm with firearms. ! wa
a better fighting man than any one 0
the three, but combined they had tn
advantage. I wrencfsed free from tn
/ Russian, and thus got hand In NJ
tion, yet hat was all. I know
planted one j0lting blow straigh
against Costigan's round face whic'
O made him vince, and got a foot fai
y into Harris stomach, sending him rec
ing backward. Indeed I staggered IN
4 two of them, twisting Nj OF the gri
OF those Iron fingers, and smashing
step forward In spite OF every efror
l was maddened, frenzled, reckless
! all injury, eager only to injure thos
4 devils in any conceivable way hat
4 seemed TO endow me with snpernat'
4 raj strength, and a desire to kill sweI
me with passion. All before me va
~hlood-red, amid which swan the
faces, and | went straight for thei
III like a wild beast. Then, suddeni.
"A from behind. a blow descended ON m
M head, crushing me TO the floor. | wei
stumbling down as though struck wit
N a pole-ax, and lay m%otionless. n
the instant ! must have retained
measure Of consciousness. ! kne
M where l was; / yer attempted vain
N to regain use Of my limbs, and ] hear
Harris swear in disgust.
"What the hi did you hit him III
= that for. you idlotY' he yelped. "W
\ don't want 70 xiii the guy he's Wort
J more to us alive. Here, you. Wa
z dron, lift up his headr'
Then all knowledge left me, and
went out into the dark.