The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-13
Bts Edisorl lNarslialL

There ensued a moment Of
strange and menacing silence. Pete
Ghuckled. already receptive 10
tJoe's thought. Harold turned to
stare at him.
Joe put his pipe to his lips, then
Ifurnbled at his pocket, He seemed
ITO search in vain. will you give
me g match. please, lady?" lie
asked.
The tone was strange, thick and
Strained yet Virginia's heart
! thrilled with hope. Perhaps II
these men started 70 smoke their
4 blood would cool. She turned
quickly and procured half a dozen
matches from tho box.
AS her back was turned she
heard Pete laugh again.
Instinctively her eyes turned 10
the wall for a reassuring sight OF
her pistol. It was gone from its
/ place.
She looked at Joe; his evil, leer-
ing face told her only too plainly
that his eager hand had seized and
secreted her pistol. Pete's face
was drawn too; Harold only looked
tDewlldered.
/ He was her last hope, but in one
iustant's scrutiny she saw that this
had vanished, too. Some terrible
thought had sobered and engrossed
Thin.
Joe spoke than a single sentence
in tho vcrnacular for HaroId's ears
With one gesture he indicated
Harold, himself and Pete in turn.
then pointed to the girl. His face
was htdeous with eagerness.
| Harold started at the words. His
ldegeneracy was complete. He an.
lswered with a curse.
why not?" he said. t"The girls
thrown me over. When I'm through
you can do what you want. And
crack the skull OF that mole with
the pick and throw him out in the
snow"
The two Indians lurchcd for
ward at his words. Bill left his
chair in mighty leap.
XVI
! When Bill sprang forward to in.
tercept the attack upon the girl
he came with amazing accuracy
and power.
By means OF his acute ear he had
located the exact position Of every
actor in the impending drama.
What was more important, he
knew the location OF both candles.
He dashed both out.
! The act had boon 80 swift and
unexpected that neither Joe,
standing nearest the girl or Har.
old across the room could draw
their pistols and fire.,
Seemingly in a flash the dark.
ness was upon them. Bill was
face to face with his enemies In
his own dark lair. The advantages
Of vision on which they had pre-
! sumed had been in an instant re.
/ moved.
Harold cursed in the blackness;
MS II in continuation Of the leap
he had made to upset the candles,
Bill seized Virginia in his strong
arms.
He thrust her to the floor and
into the anglo between her bunk
and the wall the point that he
instinctsve!y realized would be the
easiest to defend and safest from
stray bullets.
Virgluia's pistol was in Joe's
hand by now and he shot in Bills
direction. Two spurts Of yellow
fire broke for IN instant the utter
gloom. But there was no time for
the third shot. He was the nearest
of tho three attackers and Bills
outstretched arms seized him.
Tho woodmen's muscles gave a
mighty wrench.
His grasp was about Joe's chest
at first, but with a great lurch he
Slung the mans body out far
enough so that he could loop his
stneway arms about the mans
knees.
Then with a terrific wrench OF
his mighty shoulders Bill hurled
him against the wall.
His neck was broken like a
match. The odds were but two to
one.
Harold Ind token out his own
revolver now and was shooting
blindly in the darkness. Ducklng
low, Bill leapcd for him; in mo-
ment they were graphing in each
others arms.
Bill wrenched him back and
forth and in an instant would have
rushed the life out OF him II IT
hadn't been for tho interference
lof Pete.
The latter breed leaped on MS
back, and Bill had to neglect l4ur.
old an instant to stretch up his