Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-12-15

It opened instantly, and big Mike,
closely followed by another man.
pushed forward into the room. West
was trapped, helpless; one man pitted
against three He backed slowly away.
brushed back the disheveled hair from
his eyes, watching them warily,
every animal instinct alert.
Mike took one comprehensive glance
at the scene, at the overturned chair
the half-onen window. the trapped
man crouching motionless against
the further wall. The meaning of it
all was plain, and his bar-room train
ing gave quick insight as to the part
he was to play. He spoke gruffly out
into the dark of the hall behind him,
an order to some one concealed there !;
then shut the door tightly, and faced
West, his head lowered like a bull
about to charge. West understood;
he was locked in to fight it out-three
against one. Hobart was nearest
to him, his face swollen and red, his
eyes ugly Sits. with teeth snaring be-
tween thin lips. The fellow laughed
sneeringly. as their glances met.
"Now We'll take care of you, Cap
tain," he tainted. "Never mind his
guns, Mike; there's not load in
either of them. Give the guy what he
is looking for. Come on. you terriers p
But West did not wait. There was
only one chance, and he took ito
carry the fighting to them. He had no
doubt of the emptiness of his guns.
and hurled one straight at Hobart's
head, leaping forward with the other
clutched in his hand straight at Mike,
who had scarcely time to fling up one
hand in defense. The thrown weapon
missed its mark by a narrow inch.
striking the wall hehinu. and falling
gathering to the floor, but the other
broke through the big saloonkeepers
guard. and sent him Keeling to his
knees, gush of blood redGening his
hair. Again and again West struck
him, driving him prone to the floor
before the other two dragged him
away, wrestled the weapon from his
hand, and closed with him in a des-
perate death grapple.
What followed he never could re-
late. He was mad with fury to fight.
A mere animal defending life with
every means at hand, caring nothing
for either wound or hurt so that he
won out in the end Mike was out of
it, but the two graphing him fought
like wildcats, rough bar-room fight
ers, resOrting to any tactics to disable
their opponent. Yet it was this that
saved him. Crazed as he was, madly
as his brain whirled in the fierce
struggle, his long training held SUI
preme-he knew how to fight, re-
membered instinctively every trick and
guard Again and again his clenched
fist reached it's mark, and slowly he
broke away from clItching hands, and
regained his fest. 1t was a terrific
struggle, but luck. as we'll as skill,
was with him. The next he knew, out
of the red ruck. was that he had Ho-
bart by the throat, damned against
the wall, with fingers clenched in the
throat. Then he saw the other COM
ing, dim. shapeless thing that he
kicked at viciously The boot must
have landed, for he was suddenly free
to strike the purple face fronting him.
and fling the helpless rocking body In
a huddled mass on the floor.
It was over with; he had won
breathing space, chance to see what
was about him. Yet that was ALL The
fellow he had kicked was already up,
doubled from the pain of the blow,
but with mad eyes glazing at him. Ho-
bart had struggled to his knees, ours
ing fiercely as he swept the blood out
of his eyes. They would both be on
him again in a minute, more desper-
ate than ever, and the door was locked |
there was no chance there. The !
Windows Ay! there was the window. |
Death either way, yet "a chance; and |
he was man enough to take it. He |
leaped on the chair, and clambered |
up: he heard Hobart swear, and felt /
the grip of a hand on his dangling |
leg; kicking himself free, and was on
the ledge. He never looked below. or
took time to poise for the leap. Heed |
less, desperate, scarcely realizing what
he was doing, he flung his body out |
over the edge, and fell.