The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-03-03

aim. But even In that moment Of un.
certainty Gardiner had not lost
thought of their purpose, and his quick
| eye took in the sleeping form of Johu
| Harris and the location of the leather
bag beside the wall. Without ar in.
saints hesitation he yaulted through
the window and revolver y hand, he
gan to steal his way softly toward the
treasure.
He had not taken three steps when
Allan plunged full force into him. He
staggered with the shock but recov-
cred himself only to find the young
farmers strong fingers cutching for
mis- throat. IT had been no part OF
Gardeners plan that there should be
bloodShed In the carrying ont of the
robbery, but he was man of quick
decision, who accepted conditions as
he found them. - A slight pressure
on the trigger, and Allan fell. cough.
ing, through the door.
Gardiner retained his sense Of loca.
ton and slipped silently 10 the wall
Harris was rushing about The rotten
floor in the darkness, crying. what is
IL, Allan? For Gods sake, what has
happened? Are you shot?' and for his
cwn noise,he could not hear Gardeners
stealthy movements. Gardeners hand
fell on log of the wall, and his. keen
fingers traced their own way along it.
Five steps, he judged and the bag
would be at hls get. At the fifth step
his toe touched an object on the floor;
he leaned over and raised the booty
in his hand.
by this time his eyes had responded
ia the intenS, darkness, and he could
discern square Of grayer gloom
where the window admitted the night.
He moved rapidly'anG silently toward
it. but almost with the last step his
foot slipped through a broken spot on
the floor, and he staggered and fell.
The revolver was thrown from his
grasp but he was able to pitch the bag
through the window as he crashed TO
the floor
The sound arrested Harris, and be-
fore Gardiner could eXtricate himself
the farmer was upon him. At first he
seemed to think 1t was Allan, and felt
about in the darkness without attempt
ing to defend himself. This gave Gar
diner an opportunity; he was able TO
clasp his arms about Harris shins.
and, with a quick turn of the body,
cast his adversary headlong to the
floor. At the same moment he freed
himself from his ENHANCEMENT and
made another dash for the window.
But Harris, still nrmbed from his
heavy sleep, now rea'&ed that some
kind of tragedy had occurred, and
guessed enough to believe that Allan
was victim. From HIS PROSTATE po
sition, with one powerful leg he inter.
rupted GARDENERS flight. and the next
moment the two men were rolling on
| the floor in each others arms. Har.
| ris was much the stronger man of the
| two, but Gardiner was active and had
some skill in wrestling. Besides. Har
ris had been taken wholly by surprise,
and had no idea who his antagonist
was, while Gardiner had full knowl-
edge of all the circumstances, and the
struggle was less uneven than might
have been supposed. inwardly cursing
the luck that had thrown the revolver
from his hand, Gardiner sought in the
darkness for his adversary's throat,
nose, or eyes. Harris, Selling the
younger nan by the waist, lifted him
bodily from the floor and crashed him
down again upon it. but the next in
slant Gardiner had one Of his hands in
both of his, and, bringing his knee
down with great for &c. on Harris ell
bow, compelled him, at the risk of a
broken arm, to turn face downwards
on the floor. Gardiner again wrenched
violently to break fee, but Harris
grip was too much for pin. so with the
quickness and fury of tiger he threw
himself upon the farmers back and
wrapped his free arm about his throat.
With his air partially cut off Harris
released the grip Of his other hand,
and Gardiner instantly took advantage
Of this move to bring both arms to
bear on Harris throat. Things began
| TO go badly with the faymer; face
downwards on the floor, he was unable
to shake his adversary on, and was
! losing strength rapidly w.k his chok-
ing. Gardiner no longer sought an
opportunity to break away; his blood
was up and he was in the fight to the
finish, ruled at last by his l,eart in
stead Of his head. Had he been con-
tent merely to retain his present adj
vantage Inconsistencies would soon
have overcome his victim, but hN tried
to improve his grip, and the attempt
proved disastrous. His thumb, seek.
ing better vantage, fell into Hurris'
gasping mouth. Harris was no more
depraved than most of mankind, but
when fighting for life, and choking to
death In the hands Of an unknown en-
envy, he was ready to seize any advan-
tage, and with great effort he
brought his jaws together upon the -
| truder.
(To BE CONTINUED
| aLSre DaruIiar Mior,<loc