Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-12-06

The woodsman sprang back. warded
the blow with ready Quickness. and
whipped vicious jab to the chin that
pitched the intruder backward to the
floor. But the blow, quick as 1t was,
had come the flick Of an instant too
late, the knife had found his flesh,
grazed the left side Of his neck. ripped
through collar and tie and gashed his
shoulder halfway to the armpit.
Right there the Flatwoods showed
Its teeth. Fifty pistols leaped into
view. AL Counterman, far back in the
crowd, snatched a long-barreled six
gun from somewhere under his blouse
and his lanky body stiAfened to bal
ance. a light In his one eye no man
there ever seen before. Uncle Nick,
with a vigor that set at defiance his
weight Of years. hurled younger men
aside and sprang into the cleared
circle.
But with so many women and chill
dren present pistols were out of the
question. The desperate doubtless
counted on this very fact. Stung to
madness by the blow, he leaped up
and lunged again with the knife.
This time he ran square into the
preacher. With a readiness and cour-
age hardly looked for In one Of his
cloth. he had stepped In front Of Jack
warhope. his tall figure erect and su
perbly dominant.
Fifty fiatwoodsmen, half crouched
and straIning forward, stood staring
The eyes of the dark-faced man
stretched so wide that they appeared
to bulge from their sockets. He lifted
a dirty hand, brushed II across the
why stubble Of his face and. like Q
man half dazed. slowly shut the clasp
knife and put II back In his pocket
Fifty natwoodsmen relaxed, straight
ened; fifty pistols went back into
hiding.
( The preacher slowly raised an arm
and pointed toward the open door.
The desperado's eyes dropped; he
rubbed his lips together as II to loosen
them; turned and stalked from the
room.
"Mebbe we ortn't e let I'm git
away" muttered a voice.
Jaw leave 'im CO." grunted Uncle
Nick, curiously puzzled expression
on his face as he gazed ut the open
door through which the renegade had
gone. He's llcked-an' e Amt wo'th
hangin'."
The old man turned away. still with
the puzzled expression on his face.
motioned Jack to chair at the side
Of the room and began examining his
hurt.
At that moment Texie slipped
through the crowd. some white strips
Of torn tablecloth In her hand, and
approached the woodsman. A smile
twisted his lips, and the girl. dipping
one Of the strips In the cold water
Aunt Liza brought began to wash the
blood from the gashed shoulder and
make II ready to be bandaged.
The preacher looked on q moment.
turned away and went back among
the women who were gathering again
about the punch bowl. The elaborate
frock cont and stiff neck stock had
again asserted themselves. The stoop
had come back to his shoulders: the
fare had left his eyes.
The girl. with fingers trembling.
glanced through the open door Into
the square Of darkness that had swal.
lowed up the desperate: bent low
over the bandages, and brought her
face close to the woodsman's ear.
Jackie looked like-like-Ken
would a looked"
The woodsman started; looked into
The square Of darkness; and then into
The girls face.
mo, mol" he whispered. Even II
he was alive, he wouldn't "a come
down that-low--i"
ITO be continued)