Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-12-22


ing party that had been visible, ant
supposed that all their enemies hat
gone. He felt the movement of 81
mons strong arms as he raised the
rifle. Those arms were never steadier
In the darkness the younger mar
could not see his face, but his owr
fancy pictured it with entire clearness
The eyes were narrowed and red the
lines cut deep about the bloodhound
lips, and mercy was as far from hin
as from the Killer who hunted on the
: distant ridge.
But Simon didn't fire at once. The
| two were coming steadily toward him
and the nearer they were the better
his chance of success in the unsteady
light He sat as breathless, as wholly
free from telltale motion as a puma
who waits in ambush for an approa ch-
ing deer He meant to take careful
aim. 1t was his big chance, and he
intended to make the most of it,
The two had halted beside the
ruined pine, but for a moment Simon
held his fire. They stood rather close
together; he wanted to wait until
Bruce offered a clear target. And at
that instant Bruce had drawn the
leather wallet from the tree.
Curiosity alone stayed Simon's finger
nS Bruce had opened it. He saw the
gleam Of the white paper in the dim
light; and then he understood.
Simon was a man of rigid, unwaver-
my self-control; and his usual way
was to look long time between the
sights before he fred Yet the sight
of that document-the missing Folger
Ross agreement on which had hung
victory or defeat-Sent a violent i'm
pulse through all his nervous system.
For the first time in his memory his
refleXes got away from him.
1t had meant too much; and his fin
ger pressed back involuntarily against
the trigger. He had not taken his u.s.
ual deliberate aim, although he had
seen Bruce's figure clearly between
the sights the instant before he fired.
Simon was a rif1eman, bred In the
bone, and he had no reason to think
that the hasty aim meant complete
miss. He did realize, however, the
difficulties Of night shoOting-a real
ization that all men who have fingered
after dusk in the duck blind expert
ence sooner or later-and he looked
up over his sights to see the result Of
his shot. His selfcontrol had com
pletely returned to him; and he was
perfectly cold about the whole matter
From the first second he knew he
had not completely missed. He raised
his rife to shoot again.
But Bruce's body was no longer re
vealed. Linda stood In the way. 1t
looked as If she had deliberately
thrown her own body as shield be
tween.
oath of hatred and jealousy. But in
second more he saw his triumph.
Bruce swayed, reeled and fell In Lin
da's arms, and he saw her half-drag
him into the house.
He stood shivering, but not from
tut Colu IAdL tie SIOILn hdu OAOuSul'
Come on" he ordered Young Bill.
Il think we've downed him for good,
but we've got to get that paper"
But Simon did not see all things
clearly. He had little real knowledge
of the little drama that had followed
his shot from ambush.
Human nature Is full of odd quirks
and twists, and among other things,
symptoms are misleading. There is
an accepted way for men to act when
they are struck with a rife bullet.
They are expected to reel, to throw
their arms wide, and usually to cry
out The only trouble with these ac-
tions, as men who have been In bat
tletields know very well, is that they
do not usually happen In real life.
Bruce, with Linda's eyes upon him,
took one rather long, troubled breath.
And he did look somewhat puzzled.
Then he looked down at his shoulder.
I'm hit, Linda" he said In quiet
way. Il think just scratch"
The tremendous shock Of any kind
of wound from thirty-forty caliber
bullet had not seemingly affected him
outwardly at all. Some hours were
to pass before he completely under
stood. The truth was that the shock
Of that rifle bullet, ordinarily striking
blow of half-ton, had cost him for
the moment an ability to make any
logical Interpretation Of events. The
girl moved swiftly, yet without giving
an impression Of leaping, and stood
very close and In front of him. In
one lightning movement she had made
of her own body shield for his, in
case the assassin In the covert should
shoot again.
Her arms went about and seized
his shoulders. "Stagger," she whis-
pered quickly. Pretend to fall. It's
the one chance to save you"
He dispelled the mists in his own
brain and obeyed her. He swayed, and
her arms went about him. Then he
fell forward.
Her strong arms encircled his waist
and with all her magnificent young
strength she dragged him to the door.
To oil