Gunnison news-champion., 1921-02-18

Shelby straIxhtened up In spite OF
the odds. he must act now. or never.
Yet. before be could take q step for
ward. 4 single sho; rang out sharply.
He saw Macklin ding up his arms.
and reel backward his body striking
the half-open door. before II crashed
to the floor. and lay mo,ioniess.
The Impact OF Mackiin's body had
flung the door wide open leaving Shell
by fully exposed TO view. For an In
slant. however, the startled and be-
wiidered Laud failed TO note his re-
yealment against the darkness OF that
interior. He had leaped hack Instant
ly TO the protection OF the wall. and.
gun In hand. crouched there with
eyes fixed on The broken window op-
posiie. Shelby WAS swift 10 take ad-
vantage Of his surprise Wherever
the shot had come from. whoever had
hred IL. his eonceair.ent was no longer
possible. There must be no hesirancy.
no delay lie stepped across the mo-
ilonless body. with weapos flung GRIM
iy forward
Hands up. Joe, Put them up first
before you turn around. Stop thatI
Dent try any tricks on me. Now
stand there-Oiga-
Yes
TAKE thar gun out Of his hand:
there is another In his belt; get that
also. That's right: now come over
here: you understand firearms"
Yes. Of course" wcnderingiy. II
know how to shoot r
Il imagined so: CaIkins would have
tnughi you. Keep this fellow covered,
and let him have II II he makes any
effort to break away. Watch him
closely. while rip up that blanket,
and tie him up"
He left her with the gun steadily
pointed at Laud's head. the fellow
crrsing. with hands up. his angry
Eyes following every movement He
vas desperate. maddened BY sudden
heipIessness. with the sneakinE feroci.
ty OF n wolf ye, was temporarily held
motion,ess by she deadly peril. Shell
by stripped the rugged blanket from
of the dead bodies under the bench,
and began hastily TO rip II apart.
The black, bloated face Of Slagin
stared upward. and Indian Joe saw Il
for the FIRST time, sudden spasm Of
terror causing him 10 burst forth:
My God! That's Hank Siagin!"
Sure II Is; he got his. an you'll get
yours II you drop those hands. you
cur. Turn around now. and stop"
Laud obeyed. his face ugly and
threatening. and She'll: rcok q step
closer. the strip Of blanket In his
hands. his revolver thrust back into
bis belt. What Indian Joe saw will
never be known; perhaps a slight
~avering In the eyes Of the girl, per-
haps an instant lowering Of her gun.
But II was enough. All his hate ant;:
treachery drove him to a desperate
chance. With the mnddened leap Of
gripped him fiercely by the throat.
end the two went headlong to the
door. Olga fired, but without aim.
missing them both. and dare not pull
the trigger again. SO tightly were the
men grappled, as they rolled back and
forth In frenzied effort to obtain mas
terry. Shelby, taken completely by
surprise, was at disadvantage. .
throat crushed by sinewy hands. his
,oosened revolver flung half across the
room. He could only struggle to
break the hold OF his antagonist. roll
ing oTer and over, and forcing the fell
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 skilled fight
e'. hnru us nails, ana feady ~ reSart
10 any Trick. Moreover. he knew what
he had set out to accomplish and
bent every effort TO prevent the fright
ened girl from getting shot at him.
de hung on. his srrniping hands. like
q wise. twisting tighter and tighter
Sheihy's SHIRT ban.i, careless of any in.
jury 10 himself so that he kept the
body OF the latter In protection he
tween him and olga's revolver Yet.
with every move. every siraining
wh'ri Of their bodies. he gained IN
inch nearer the open door. He fought
like an animal. sinking his teeth into
Sheiby's flesh, and driving his knees
into his body. II was silent. bitter
fighting. every muscle struined to the
utmost. and the squaw man won. They
knocked over the bench. and crashed
out through the partially open door,
rolling down the single step into the
weeds. I.aud landed on top. his fin
gers still ciutcned on Shelby's throas,
the latter half unconscious. CraEed.
maddened as he was, the one desire
TO escape overcame his eagerness to
kill. and Indian Joe. cursing. struck
once al the upturned face, leaped to
his feet and plunged into the shelter
Of the weeds. Shelby. gaspiny pain