The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-09-23
CHAPTER XVI
Wolf VS.. Wildcat

Even a journeyman stranger may
know the thrill of professional pride
IN a good job we'll done: Dupont WAS
grinning at his work, and so intent
upon it that his first intiniation of
any interference came when Lanyard
took him from behind, broke his hold
upon the woman land lamentably
failed to break his back at the same
time), whirled him round with jerk
that all but unsolicited an arm.
Before the thug could regain his
balance, Lanyard placed surely on the
heel Of Dupont's jaw, just below the
ear, blow that, coming straight from
the shoulder and carrying all Lanyard
had of weight and force and will TO
punish, in spite of Dupont's heaviness
fairly lifted him from his feet and
dropped him backward across a
chaise-longue. from which he slipped
senseless to the floor.
With bruised and aching knuckles
to prove that the blow had been one
TO stun an OK. Lanyard believed II
safe to count Dupont hors de com
bat, for a time at least. In any event,
the risk had to be CHANGED: Lame
Delarme was in a plight demanding
immediate relief.
She had fallen inert, and lay semi
Lrostrate on a shoulder, with limbs
grotesquely slack and awry, AS If in
unpleasant mimicry of a broken doll
The twisted handkerchief round
her throat had loosened, but not
enough to give relief. Lanyard re.
moved it, took from her dressing
table a toilet-water flask and
drenched her face and bosom with
its pungent contents.
She gasped, started convulsively
and began to breathe with less effort
That dreadful rafting in her throat
was stilled.
Since his fall Dupont had made
neither moan nor stir. No crescent
irides showed beneath the half.shut
lids. He was so motionless, he seemed
scarcely to breathe Lanyard dug the
toe of a boot into his ribs none toe
gently, but without satisfaction of any
doubts. The fellow gave no signs OF
sensibility, but lay utterly relaxed
with the look of one dead
Dropping TO his knees. Lanyard
bent over the body to search for
symptoms of animation. He perceived
them instantly. With inconceivable
suddenness Dupont demonstrated that
he was very much alive.
An arm like the flexible limb Of a
tree wound itself affectionately round
Lanyard's neck. clipped his head tc
Dupont's yearning bosom, ground his
face into the flannel folds Of a foul
scented shirt. simultaneously the
huge body heaved prodigiously. and
after a brief interval of fantastic flop
pings, like a young mountain fell on
top OF Lanyard
They fought for their most deeply
rooted passions. Dupont to kill. Ian
yard to live. Dupont to batter Ian
yard into conceding moment of re
spite in which a weapon might be used
Lanyard to prevent that very thine
from happening.
Even as animals in pit they
fought. now on their knees straining
each to break the others hold now
wallowing together on the floor. now
on their feet slogging like bruisers OF
the old school
Dupont took punishment in heroic
doses, and asked for more. Shedding
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 flew like lunatic
connecting rods.
Time and again Lanyard suffered
blows that Jared him to his heels.
time and again was faln to give
ground to an onslaught that drove
him back till his shoulders touched
a wall.
Chairs, the chaise-longue, tables
were overturned and kicked about.
Priceless bits of porcelain and glass,
lamps, vases, the fittings Of the dress
ing table were cast down in frag-
ments to the floor.
Constrained to look to herself or
be trampled underfoot. and galvanized
with terror, the woman struggled up
and tottered hither and yon like a
bewildered child, in the beginning too
bemused TO be able to keep out Of the
way of the combatants. If she
crouched against a wall, battling
bodies brushed her away from IT. Did
she take refuge in a corner she must
abandon It else be crushed. Once she
stumbled between the two. and be,
fore Lanyard could thrust her aside
Dupont had fallen back half a dozen
feet and worried n pistol out of his
clothing
He fired first from the hip, and the
shot shattered the mirror of the dres-
sing table. Trying for better aim. he
lifted and leveled the weapon with a
trembling arm which he sought to
steady by cupping the elbow in his left
hand. But the second bullet ploughed
into the ceiling as Lanyard narrowly
succeeded in kicking the pistol from
upon'ts grasp.
Bereft thus OF his last hope-they
were too evenly matched, and both
too far spent for either to force a vic
tory with his naked hands-the
Apache swung around and ran, at the
same time throwing a heavy chair
over on it's back in the path of pur-