The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-10
WHITE AND UNMARRIED
BY JOHN D. SWAIN

disabling, Chicoq would plunge his knife to the hilt in Kane's body be- fore he could strike again.
 What he did was not an uncommon sight in the London prize ring or couple of centuries ago. Catching Chicoo's thick neck with his free hand, he yanked him violently for ward, at the same time putting him in the face with the top of his head.
 Chicoq had no finely chiseled fea- lures to be ruined by the stunning crash; but his entire face seemed to yield and crumble. His rudimentary nose, his teeth. his very cheek bones, seemed to bedriven pack into his brain. Kane felt the relaxing fingers on his gun hand, and wrenched free Chicoq's knife clattered to the floor, and his body followed. Marecal nearing the foot Of the stairs covered the doorway With his gun Kane cautiously advanced with his gun, with the chances in his fla vor, as he was in shadow. At this moment the front door opened again, and a small boy stood blinking in the candle light. Young Victor had truly suffered fn- fant damnation. Thoroughly intend ing to obey Kane, at the sound of the shots and imprecations, coupled with Andree's screams, he had found his legs propeNing him toward the old house, as a somnambulist finds hfnI- self walking without volition. Pow erless to stop, he had at length crept to the very doorstep. He had dropped beside it when Marechal turned in from the road and entered the house. or the past few minutes his ear had been glued to the keyhofe. He thrust open the door now, and entered.
 He saw Marechal close before him, With a revolver menacing the dark doorway down the hall. From that doorway he saw Kane emerge. his own gun extended.
 With a snarl lfl.e a tiger cub. Vic tor threw himself at Marechars legs. FThe dapper Frenchman, the veneer badly worn now. glared at the boy In sprprise. and kicked him brutally in the stomach. Victor dropped a forlorn little heap, and while MarechaPs leg was still in air, a steel-jacketed bullet drilled. a neat hole through the knee. The Frenchman dropped in his turn his candle fell to the floor and expir- ed, and in the darkness he and Kane emptied their guns, firing by the flashes.
 When ,Kane's clip was empty, he turned back to the room. returned to the hall. Hanging over the ban isters was Marecha1, who had re- ceived not less than four fatal shots and several disabling ones. One of them had passed through his head from temple to temple. Beneath him lay Victor. Kane lifted him up and listened at his thin chest. Victor's wind had been very completely k hooked out of his body, and that was all
 The plunky little beggar!" Kane grunted, carefully laying him down on his back
 Returning to the front room, he found his first victim breathing, but still unconscious. His face was a dreadful sight, but rather pleasing | compared to Chicoq.s, from which he | turned with 1othing. Both of them might live to be guillotineds he de- | cided: but the other Apache had two | bullets through his heart. Upstairs now and a key turned | and a dark-haired little beauty she'd 1 ding tears of joy and bestowing upon valor the age-old spells of the con- queror!
 | Somehow, Kane felt old and tired Epdearments left him unmoved His | nerves simply refused to react fur | ther, for the time being. Neverthe- less, he kissed Andree tenderly, and gently unclapsed her arms, warnine her they must hurry away from that l place of horrors.
 "You'aVe keeled gem all. heIn 9 she asked
 | There's a couple of 'em might come to if we stick here and spoor | all night" he admitted. "Resid es
 poor little Victor's knocked out"
 Tn words sent her flying down the
 stairs. She stepped shudderingl1 past Marechal, still grotesquely drap
 ed over the rail. and kpelt besidt the boy calling him by many endear ing diminutives which he would hay, repudiated with great indignation
 had he been conscious.
 Kane fetched a dipper of water from the kitchen and dashed som, drops into Victor's face; and he open
 ed his eyes.
 Come on. old sport; We've clean
 ed up,'' Kane said.
 You are then alive, monsieur
 And Andree?"
 We all are, old-timer.''
 Kane lifted the boy to his feet, ant
 then upon his shoulder. Victor re
 fused to be carried, however, an<
 demonstrated the fact that he cou1c
 walk.