The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-03-09

face turned dirty white: his Jaw
dropped; he would have shrieked If
Gale had not hit him. The blow
swept him backward against his men.
Then Gales heavy body, swiftly fol-
lowing with the momentum of that
rush, struck the little group of rebels.
They went down with the table and
chairs In sliding crash.
Gale, carried by his plunge, went
with them. Like n cat he landed on
top. AS he rose his powerful hands
fastened on Rojas. He jerked the
little bandit Off the tangled pile Of
struggling, yelling men. and, swinging
him with terrific force, let go his hold.
Rojas slid along the floor, knocking
over tables and chairs. Gale bounded
back, dragged Rojas up, handling him
as If he were a limp sack.
A shot rang out above the yells.
Gale heard the Jingle Of breaking
glass. The room darkened percep-
tibly. He flashed glance backward.
The two cowboys were between him
and the crowd Of frantic rebels. One
cowboy held two guns low down, level
in front of him. The other had his
gun raised and aimed. On the instant
II spouted red and white. With the
crack came the crashing of glass, an
other darkenlng shade over the room.
Roias from him. The bandit struck
a table, toppled over 1t, fell, and lay
prone.
Another shot made the room full of
moving shadows. with light only back
of the bar A Whitehead figure rushed
at Gale. lie tripped the man, but had
TO kick hard to disengage himself
from grasping hands. Another figure
closed in on Gale. This one was dark,
swift. A blade glinted--described a
circle aloft. simultaneously with n
close. red flash the knife wavered; the
man welding 1t stumbled backward.
Then pandemonium broke loose. The
din became a roar. Gale heard shots
that sounded like dull spats In the
distance The big lamp behind the
bar seemingly split, then sputtered
and went out, leaving the room In
darkness.
Gale leaped toward the restaurant
door, which was outlined family by
the yellow light within. Right and
left he pushed the cropping men who
jostled with him. He vaulted pool
table, sent tables and chairs flying,
and gained the door, to be the first
of a wedging mob to squeeze through,
One sweep Of his arm knocked the res
taurant lamp from Its stand; and he
ran out, leaving darkness behind him.
A few bounds took him into the par.
lor. 1t was deserted. Thorne had
gotten away with Mercedes
II was then Gale slowed up. For
the space Of perhaps sixty seconds
he had been moving with startling
velocity. He peered cautiously out
into the plaza. Under a street lamp
at the far end of the path he thought
he saw two dark figures. He ran
faster, and soon reached the street
The uproar back In the hotel began
to diminish, or else he was getting out
of hearing. The few people he saw
close at hand were ali coming his
way, and only the foremost showed
any excitement. Gale walked swiftly
peerlng ahead for two figures. Pres
emily he saw them-one tall, wearing
cape; the other slight; mantled
Gale drew a sharp breath OF relief
Thorne and Mercedes were not far
ahead.
He began to overhaul them; and
soon, when the last lamp had beer
passed and the street was dark, he
yentured whistles Thorne heard
1t. for he turned whistled a low reply
and went on. Not for some distance
beyond, where the street ended N
open country, did they halt TO walt
Then he came up with the fugitives.
"Dick Are you--all right3- pantet
Thofne. grasping Gale.
'Tm--out Of breath--but-O. K
replied Gale.
-soedi Goodi- rhoksd rhornA =