Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-12-08
Copyright by Little, Brown, and Co.

| vino made strange echo to his
words-a long, wild Shrek as It swept
over the heads of the pines.
Then why are you waitingT Bruce
asked.
so you can understand everything.
But / guess that time is here. There
Is to be no mercy at the end Of this
fight, Bruce; 1 ask none and will give
none. You have waged a war against
me, you have escaped me many times,
you have won the love of the woman
| love-and this is to be my answer"
His voice dropped a note, and he
spoke more quietly. I'm going to kill
you, Bruce"
Then try It," Bruce answered stead
lily. I'm In a hurry to go back to
Linda"
Simon's smoldering wrath blazed up
at the words. Both men seemed to
spring at the same time. Their arms
failed, then interlocked; and they
rocked a long time-back and forth
in the snow.
For the first time Bruce had full
realization of Simons mighty strength.
With all the power Of his body he
tried to wrench him off his feet, but
it was like trying to tear tree from
the ground
But surprise at the others power
was not confined to Bruce alone.
Simon knew that he had an opponent
worthy of the iron of his own muscles,
and he put all his terrible might into
the battle. He tried 10 reach Bruce's
throat, but the mans strong shoulder
held the arm against his side. ST.
mons great hand reached to pin
Bruce's arm, and for the first time he
discovered the location of his weak
ness
He saw the color sweep from
Bruces face and water drops that
were not melted snow come upon it.
1t was all the advantage needed be-
tween such evenly matched contest
ants. And Simon forgot his spoken
word that he wished this fight to be
test Of superiority alone. His fury
swept over him like a food and eff
faced all things else; and he CEN
tered his whole attack upon Bruce's
wound.
In a moment he had him down, and
he struck once into Bruce's white
face with his terrible knuckles. The
blow sent a strange sickness through
the younger mans frame; and he tried
vainly to struggle to his feet. Flight
Fight on !" was the message his mind
dispatched along his nerves to his
tortured muscles, but for an instant
they wholly refused to respond. They
had endured too much. Total I'M
ready to descend.
Strangely, he seemed to know that
Simon had crept from his body and
was even now reaching some dread
full weapon that lay beside the dead
form Of the horse. In an instant he
had 1t. and Bruce's eyes opened In
time to see him swinging it aloft. 1t
was his rifle, and Simon was aiming
murderous blow at him with its
stock.
There was no chance to ward 1t off.
No human skull could withstand Its
SCATTERING impact.
But that war of life and death In |
the far reaches of Trails End was |
not to end so soon. At that instant |
there was an amazing Intervention.
A great gray form came lunging
out of the snow furries. Their vision
was limited to a few feet, and so
fast the creature came, with such In
credible. smashing power, that he was
upon them in a breath. 1t was the
Killer in the full glory Of the charge;
and he had caught up with them at
last.
Bruce saw only his great figure
looming just over him. Simon, with
amazing agility, leaped TO one side
lust In time, then battered down the
rife stock with all his strength. But
the blow was not meant for Bruce.
II struck where aimed-the great gray
shoulder OF the grizzly.
Then. dimmed and half -0bscured
Dy the snow hurries, there began as
strange battle as the great pines
above them had ever beheld. The
Killers rage was upon him, and me
Dlos M the shoulder had arrested his
,harge for a moment only. Then De
wheeled. snarllng, hghung monster
sith death for any living creature ~
he blow OF hts forearm, ana iunFsa
.oward Simon again,
n was the Killer az bis efapasst
simon had no chance 20 shoo' W.
,lae la the Instant fhat pc s"p'a
-alse n those great claws aud fanss
you'd be upon him. He swung y ~
club, striking aRain ana asa'p
lodging me sledse hammer Dlors aug
infringing aside ~ ibe Second " ~ \
liners lunges lie VAS nf'iNf ."
NJ M and 90 s,e could oe~'ep 'p''
slnon hlmfoU seemed eselle' pl.V
ID, onoe 10 ann0affd ihei inf filf p
,ad hund M 0pp0nfni Hpl.f ~ ="
,sht ms afp M Nnf hN' NNN
.I....I..I .I|I UI|I|N