Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-01-05

tell Simon of the wound near his shoul-
der, how because of it no fight between
them would be fair test of superb
ority, yet the words didn't come to
his lips. He could, not ask mercy Of
this man, either directly or indirectly,
any more than the pines asked mercy
Of the SHOWS that covered them.
"You were right when you said
there is no escaping from this storm"
Simon went ON. but it doesn't much
matter. It's the end of a long war;
and what happens to the victor is
neither here nor there 1t seems all
the more fitting that we should meet
Just as we have-at the very brink of
death-and Death should be waiting
at the end for the one Of US who sur
wives. It's so like this id, terrible
wilderness in which we live"
Bruce gaZed In amaZement. The
dark and dreadful poetry of this mans
nature was coming to the fore. The
wind made a strange echo to his
words-a long, wild shrek as it swept
over the heads of the pines.
'Then why are you waiting?" Bruce
asked.
$50 you can understand everything
But I guess that time Is here. There
is to be no mercy at the end of this
fight, Bruce; I ask none and will give
none. You have waged a war against
me, you have escaped me many times,
you have won the love of the woman
/ love-and this is to be my answef."
His voice dropped note, and he
spoke more quietly. 'rm going to kill
you, Bruce"
"Then try it," Bruce answered stead
lily. I'm In hurry to go back to
Linda"
Simon's smoldering wrath blazed up
at the words. Both men seemed to
spring at the same time. Their arms
failed, then interlocked and they
rocked a long time-back and forth
in the snow
For the first time Bruce had full
realization of Simon's mighty strength
With all the power of his body he
tried to wrench him off his feet, but
it was like trying to tear tree from
the ground.
But surprise at the others power
was not confined to Bruce alone
Simon knew that he had an opponent
worthy of the iron of his own muscles,
and he put all his terrible might into
the battle. He tried 90 reach Bruce's
throat, but the mans strong shoulder
held the arm against his side. 81
mons great hand reached to pin
Bruces arm, and for the first time he
ness
He saw the color sweep from
Bruce's face and water drops that
were not melted snow come upon it.
1t was all the advantage needed be
tween such evenly matched contest
ants And Simon forgot his spoken
word that he wished this fight to be
test of superiority alone. His fury
swept over him like a flood and eff
faced all things else; and he CEN
tered his whole attack upon Bruce's
wound.
In moment he had him down, and
he struck once into Bruce's white
face with his terrible knuckles. The
blow sent a strange sickness through
the younger mans frame and he tried
vainly to struggle to his feet. Flight !!
Fight on!" was the message his mind
dispatched along his nerves to his
tortured muscles, but for an instant
they wholly refused to respond They
had endured too much Total un-
consciousness hovered above him,
ready to descend.
Strangely, he seemed to know that
Simon had crept from his body and
was even now reaching some dread
full weapon that lay beside the dead
form Of the horse. In an instant he
had 1t, and Bruce's eyes opened In
time to see him swinging II aloft It
was his rife, and Simon was aiming
a murderous blow at him with its
stock.
There was no chance to ward 1t off.
NO human Skull coulQ WltnStanQ 1tS
shattering impact
But that war Of life and death in
the far reaches Of Trails End was
not to end SO soon. At that instant
there was an amazing Intervention.
A great gray form came lunging
out Of the snow fiurries Their vision
was limited to a few feet, and so
fast the creature came, with such in
credible, smashing power, that he was
upon them in a breath. It was the
Killer in the full glory Of the charge
and he had caught up with them at
last.
Bruce saw only his great figure
looming just over him. Simon, with
amazing agility, leaped to one side
just in time, then battered down the
rife stock with all his strength. But
the blow was not meant for Bruce.
1t struck where aimed-the great gray
shoulder of the grizzly.
Then, dimmed and half -obscured
by the snow fiurries, there began as
strange battle as the great pines
above them had ever beheld. The
Killers rage was upon him, and the