The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-03-08
copyrish. by Little, Brown, and Co.

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 IL swept
over the heads Of the pines.
Then why are you waitlng?" Bruce
asked.
$50 you can understand everything.
Blu | guess hat 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 answer"
His voice dropped a note, and he
spoke more quietly. I'm going to kill
you, Bruce"
Then try It," Bruce answered stead
lily. I'm In a 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
Hailed. then i~nterlocked; 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
II was like trying to tear a tree from
the ground.
But surprise at the others power
vas 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 10 reach Bruce's
throat, but the mans strong shoulder
held the arm against his side. ST
mons great hand reached To pin
Bruce's arm, and for the first time he
discovered the location OF his weak.
ness.
He saw the color sweep from
Bruce's face and water drops that
were not melted snow come upon Il.
II was all the advantage needed be-
tween such evenly matched contest
ants. And Simon forgot his spoken
word that he wished this fight 70 he
a test OF superiority alone. His fury
swept over him like a food and eff
faced all things else; and he cen
tered his whole attack upon Bruce's
wound.
In a moment he had him down. and
he struck one 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 10 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 I'm.
consciousness lowered above him,
ready to descend.
Strangely. he seemed to know that
Simon had crepr from his body and
was even now reaching some dread
full weapon thar lay beside the dead
form Of the horse. I'm an instant he
had II, and Bruce's eyes opened In
time to see him swinging 1t aloft. II
was his rifle, and Simon was aiming
a murderous blow at him with its
stock.
There was no chance to ward II of.
No human skull could withstand Its
SCATTERING 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 flurries. 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. II was the
Killer In the full glory of the charge:
and he had caught up with them al
Bruce saw only his great figure
looming just e him, Simon. with
amazing agility, leaped TO one side
just In time, them battered down the
rife stock with all his strength. But
the blow was not meant for Bruce.
II struck where aimed-the great gray
| shoulder Of the grizzly.
luen, ulufthtu uuu uHfI -oiiScuTeU
by the snow fiurries. there began as
strange o battle as the great pines
| above them had ever beheld. The
Killers rage was upon him. and the
| blos at the shoulder. had arrested his
| charge for q moment only. Then he
wheeled, a snarling. fighting monster.
| with death for any living creature IN
the blow Of his forearm, aud hinged
| toward Simon again.
II was the Killer at his grandest
simon had no chance to sheot his
rifle. In the instant that he would
raise II those great claws and fangs
would be upon him. He swung II as
a club, striking 6gain and again
strsskiisg tie sirdge-hnmmer blows and
sprlnging aside In the second Of the
Killers iunges. He was fighting for
his life. and no y could bemean that
pfYorr.
simon himself seemed exalted. am'
for onre II appeared THAI The gtizzly
had found an opponent worthy OF his
might. They were az enc Kind. md
they seemed 10 understand earh OTHER
The lust and passion and fury Of bat
tie we're upon them both