Evening journal., 1922-09-25
CHAPTER XVI.
tVolf vs.. Wildcat


Even a iourneyman stranger may
know the thrill OF professional pride
In a good job well done: Dupont
was grinning a his work, and so In
tent upon It that his first inimation
NJ anv interference came when Ian
ward took him from behind. broke
his hold upon the woman (and la
mentally failed 10 break his back
at the same time), whirled him
around with a Jerk that all but un-
socketed an arm.
Before the thug could regain his
balance. Lanyard placed surely on
the heel of Dupont's jaw, Just below
the ear. a blow that, coming straight
from the shoulder and carrying all
Lanyard had Of weight and force
and viii to punish, in spite OF Du-
points heaviness fairly lifted him
from his feet and dropped him back
ward across a chaise-longue, from
which he slipped ssnseless 10 the
floor.
with bruised and aching knuckles
to prove that the blow had been
one 10 stun an OK, Lanyard believed
II safe 10 count Dupont hors de com
hat. for a time at least. In any
event. the risk had 20 be CHANGED;
Lame Delorme was in a plight de-.
manding Immediate relief.
She had fallen inert. and lay SEMI
nrostrate on a shoulder. with limbs
rrotesouely slack and awry, as II IN
UNPLEASANT mimicry OF broken doll
The twisted handkerchief round
her throat had loosened, but not
enough 10 give relief. Lanyard re-
moved II. took from her dressing
table a toilet-water flask and
drenched her face and bosom with
Its pungent contents.
she gasped. started convulsively,
ana began 70 breathe with less
effort. That dreadful rafting in her
throat was stiiled.
Since his fail. Dupont had made
neither moan nor stir. No crescent
rides showed beneath the half-shut
lids. He was so mouonless, he
seemed scarcely to 1,reathe. Ian
yard dug the toe OF a boot into his
ribs none too gently but without
satisfaction Of any doubts. The fell
low gave no sign of sensibility, but
Law utterly relaxed. with the look OF
one dead.
Dropping to his knees, Lanyard !
bent over the body to search for
symptoms OF animation. He per-
ceived them instantly With incon-
ceivable suddenness Dupont demon
strated that he. was very much alive.
An arm like the flexible limb Off
tree wound itself affectlonately
round Lanyard's neck. clipped his
head to Dupont's yearning bosom,
ground his face into the flannel
folds of a foul-scented shirt. Simu-
taneously the huge body heaved
prodiglously, and after a brief in
terval of fantastic fioppings. like a
young mountain fell on top OF Lam
yard
They fought for their most
kin. Lanyard to live, Dupont TO bat
ter Lanyard into conoeding a mo-
nent OF respite in which weapon
might be used. Lanyard 70 prevent
that very thing from happening.
Even as animals in PIT they
fought. now on their knees strain
ing each 10 break the others hold,
now wallowing together on the floor.
now on their feet. slugging ike
bruisers OF the old school
Dupont took punishment IN heroic
doses, and asked for more. She'd
ding frightful blows with only an
angry shake OF his head. he would
lower Il and charge as a wild boar
charges. while his huge arms few
Ike lunatic connecting rods
Time and again Lanyard suffered
blows that Jared him 10 his heels.
time and again was fain 10 give
ground TO an onslaught that drove
him back TIL HIS shoulders touched
a wall.
Chairs. the chaise Tongue. tables
were overturned and kicked about.
Priceless bits of porcelain and glass.
lamps. vsses. the ft;ings OF the
dresstng-fabie were cast down in
fra gner.s 20 the foor.
conGrained 70 look 70 bersei, or {
be frzrnpled uoderfoof and gall
ranized win terror. the woman
struggled Up ana totfered hifher and !
yon Ike q bew.idered child IN the
beginnlrg too beuUeeE 20 BE- able /
20 keep out % the way of the COM
batarts u she ero1ched against
q wall battling bodies brushed her ,
away from =. DID she take refuge .
IN a corner she rnuen abandon = else
be crushed once she stumbled be-
tween the two. and before lanyard
could thrust her aside Dupont had
fallen back half a dozen feet and
worried Z pistol out OF his clothing
He fred the hrst from the hip. and
the shot shattered the mirror of the
dressing table. Trying FOR better
aim, he lifted and leveled the
Weapon wfth a trembling arm which
1e sought TO steady py cupping the
.1bow in his left hand. But the Sec
md bullet ploughed into the ceiling
Is Lanyard narrowly succeeded in
.icking the pistol from Dupont's
'rssp.
Bereft thus OF his last hope-they
rere 100 evenly matched and both
90 far spent for either to force
fctory with his naked hands-the e
.pache ewung round and ran, at