The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-06-15

HOW. ReleVe yOre nina proper, MI.
Durand. Then we'll talk business"
murmured Clay in the low, easy drawl
that never suggested weakness.
The ex-prize-fghter's flow Of Ian
guage dried up. He fell silent and
stood swallowing his furious rage. It
had come home to him that this mar
row-f1anked young fellow with the
close-gripped jaw and the cool, steady
eyes was entirely unmoved by his
! threats.
Quite through effervescing?" asked
Clay contemptuously.
The gang leader made no answer.
He chose to nurse his venom silently.
"Where's Kitty Mason?"
Still no answer.
Il asked you what you've done with
Kitty Mason?"
THAT'S my business"
by Cd, you'll, tell, or, I'll tear
it out Of you!"
Clay backed to the door, found the
key, transferred it to the inner side
Of the lock, turned it, and put it in his
pocket.
The c0rnered gangman took a
chance. He ducked for the shelter Of
the desk, tore open a drawer and
snatched out an automatic. -
simultaneously the cowpuncher
pressed the button beside the door and
plunged the room in darkness. He
side-stepped swiftly and without
noise.
A flash of lightning split the black
ness.
Clay dropped to his knees and
crawed away. Another bolt, with its
accompanying roar, famed out.
Still the westerner did not fire in an
swer, though he knew just where the
target for his bullet was. A plan had
come to him. In the blackness of that
room one might empty his revolver
and not score a hit. 10 wait was to
take chance Of being ported, but he
did not want the death of even such
ruffian as Durand on his soul. y
The crash of the automatic and the
rattle of glass filled the room. Jerry,
blazing away at some fancied sound,
had shattered the window.
Followed long silence. Durand
was resolved to wait until his enemy
grew restless and betrayed himself.
The delay became a test ,Of moral
stamina. The contest was, not one Of
grit, but of that untlawed nerve which
is SO much the result Of perfect physi-
cal fitness. Clay's years Of clean life
on the desert counted heavily now. He
was master of himself, though his
mouth was dry as q whisper and there
were goose quilts on his flesh.
But Durand, used to the fetid at
mosphere of barrooms and to tine soft
living of the great city, found his
nerve beginning to crack under the
strain. What kind of a man was his
enemy to lie there in the black silence
and not once give sign Of where he
was, in spite of crashing bullets? Was
it possible that he could have killed
the fellow at the first shot? The COM
fort of this thought whispered hope In
the ear Of the ex-prize-hghter.
A chair crashed wildly, Durand
+ fired again and yet again, his nerves
giving way toa panic that carried him
to swift action. He could not have
stood another moment without scream
ing. - ..t - !
There came the faint sound of a
hand. cropping on the wall, and imme-
diately after a food Of light filed the
room.
Clay stood by the door. His revol-
YER covered the crouching gang leader.
His eyes were hard and Spitiless.
'"Try another shot, The advised iron
ieally. ~.,f
Jerry did. A harmless click was all
the result he got. He knew now that
the c0wman had tempted him to waste
his last shots Mt bit of furniture
flung across the room.
you'll tell me what you did with
Kitty Mason" said Clay in his low,
persuasive voice, just rs though there
had; been no intermission of flying bull
lets since he had mentioned the girl
before. r.
"You can't kill me, when Ishaven't
n loaded gum" Durand answered be-
tween dry lips.
The other man nodded an admission
of that point. THAT'S an advantage
you've got Of me- You could kilr me II
I didn't have gun, because you're a
yellow wolf. But I can't kilt you.
Thatss right. But can beat hill out
Of sou, and I'm sure goln' to do it."
Talks cheap when you've got
loaded six-gun in your fist" jeered
Jerry. ... -....
With a flirt of his hand Clay tossed
thetrevolver to. the top Of a bookcase,
outfgf easy reach of man standing
on the floor. He ripped open the but
tonssof his overcoat and slipped out Of
it, then moved forward with elastic
STEP.
ITS you or me now, Jerry\ Du-
rand" 4.&7%&rS%yTz
The prize.fghter gave snort of'de-
risive triumph. you d-n fool! I'll
eat you alive" >-- BE- ' g - -. .s
'Mehbeso. I reckon my system can
assimilate any whalin' you're liable to
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