The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-06-08
uitant eyes Neliy's
XXI


To the woman pinned 10 the wall
By shock the moments Immediately
following that murderous fusllade
were raving weltcr Of horrors.
Between two heartbests she saw
Lynn. with a face ns blank as paper.
spinning. topping. beating the air
With aimiesp arms. pitching 10 the
floor like something blasted. resting
there In a Hickening. inert crumpie
reek OF smckeless powder cutting. az
acid cuts oil. the n~nsaous scent Of
the roses that dressed the room In
her honor. and all the while wss con.
scious Of the pistol nosinx In between
the draperies like an animate thing
Of infinite malice. and the palild oval
OF the face behind u. that seemed 90
float IN the dark az might the mask
Of some mad ghost.
As the din Of those three shots
los, weight and volume. a thin shout.
ina became audible from some point
outside the house. and Nelly Mar.
aair. with the sweep OF a fury. her
eyes burning like black opais. broke
thru the hanginss at the window.
and pulled up with pistol i~veled
point blank At Lucinda's breast.
A single thought persisted: An
other instant and shall DO as
Then abruptly thru the window
dark and heavy body hurled and fss.
tened upon the wouans back. swing
ing her aside. the pistol detonated
with below. the bullet pumped
into the wall ciose By Lucinda's
head.
she heard a voice crying out .gsln
and again. Bel, Bel Belr'
Her own voice and for q
long time hung in dread upon the
issue Of that awaying combat while
Bel chung 20 the woman's arm. NUT.
tsrlng and painting In futile effort.
10 wrcst her weapon away: while
Nelly ciawed. bit. kicked. pounded
her free fist repeatedly into Bets
face. and wrenched madiy at her
captive wrist
OF a sudden. from her hand a
spitefui tongue of fire licked out at
Bel. hts right arm failed back and
fell useless. agony convuiEcd his
features. Free. the woman bounded
away and with a laugh Of maniac
siec swung the pistol TO bear upon
his head.
without knowing what she did.
Lucinda flung herself upon Sciiy's
arm and bore n down. with defect.
ed muxzIc the pistol exploded for the
last time Dropping Il. Nelly turned
on Lucinda and dealt with her as
might n madwoman. Impressions
grew confused beyond assortment. OF
Hopping wildly this way and that. Of
hot breath beating into her face. o.
her bare flesh suffering a rain OF
cruel blows.
Thrown Oft without warning. how
she couldn't guess. che felt herself
Keeling back. tripping. falling. Some.
thing struck the back Of her head a
stunning blow. and she knew flicker.
ing nausea while dense night like
moving cloud on every hand closed
In upon her.
Choking and coughing. she un.
closed her eyes upon the vision Of
Bells face. a hand holding q bottle
OF smelling salts dropped away froln
her nose. Bel saluted her reTiviDe
intelligence with an even Rrsel.
"You'li do now, guess. Try % pull
yourself together. No time 10 lose =
MY head aches =" She saw
Bel In his shirt.sleeves. with the
cuff turned back above his right
elbow. the forearm rudeiy bandagcd
with torn linen on which a deep
strain was spreading. But Bel
your ARM"
Hurts like hell. Bullet ploughed
thru the underside from wrist 20
elbow. nearly. I'd be dead IL you
hadn't jumped for her"
And I~if you hadn't come thru
the window when you did. But
Lynn"
Bel laughed shortly. "The excel.
lent Mr.. Summerlad's stiil breath.
ing. That's all We can tell til the
surgeon gets here"
What became of--her7-
Got away clean. worse luck
ducked past me and thru the win.
dow like n shot,
Summerlad lay where he had fall.
len. on the far side OF that piece OF
furniture. His face, upturned to the
staring light Waa Ike a thing Of