Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-04-03


TO falter. There was bright fash In
the candle-llght: Black Bogus. hid
eous grimace upon bis trnculent face.
seemed to shrink together; the revoi'
yer that he had not had time to raise
fell from his fingers: he pitched for
ward upon his face; lay still
Before he struck the floor. almost be-
fore the bullet that finished forever his
wild career had found It's mark. Jack
whrled his weapon upon the other
man. His head had been deep In the
safe-a fact that probably saved the
woodsman's life. Like viper out Of
his coil the head flew out Of the safe.
and with 1.-THE lvory-handled six-gun
But the split fraction Of the instant
had lost him the advantage. His
weapon had hardly left its holster he
fore Il was shot out OF his hand
pieces Of the ivory butt few about the
room, and blood streamed from the
shattered fingers that held IT.
But Hopkins was not a coward That.
at least. could not be set down against
him. Instead of leaping for the still
open window, he spraDg straight at
have shot him down; instead, he
damned the revolver back into its
holster and met the oncoming rush.
II was a battle the like OF which the
Flatwoods had never seen. No two
such men can clash and come through
unscathed. But II Is doubtful II Hop.
kins at his best could. have matched
the tremendous strength and quickness
and skill Of the big woodsman With
his right hand shattered by the bullet.
II soon became apparent that, for all
the wild fury Of his onset. he was fight
ing losing battle. He realized 1t. and
the despair bereft him OF his caution.
The woodsman realized II, too, kept his
head. frightened his guard and watched
for the opening that he knew was
bound to come.
II came sooner than he thought
Hopkins. desperate and breathing
thick. swung al the woodsman's head.
but missed The attempt had for the
instant exposed his stomach. and the
woodsman took advantage Of II. The
blow weakened Hopkins; he tottered.
gasped. instinctlvely lowered his guard
Like lightning the woodsman swung
his terrific right to the point of the
bearded jaw. and Hopkins went down
like beef under the mallet.
But Loge Belden was still unaccount
ed for, circumstance the woodsman
had not forgotten. that had puzzled
him no little. Bruised and painting
himself. he dragged Hopkins back Of
the safe out Of rnnge OF the window
as II CHANGED. near the candle on the
floor and stood over him.
His heavy mass OF black hair had
fallen across his brow--amongst the
black. one lock OF glaring red The
woodsman snatched up the candle bent
closer and covered the lower part Of
the bearded face with his hand.
MY Godl" he muttered-"the red
lock--it's Ken
He set the candle down; straight.
ened; stood staring at the PROSTATE
figure on the floor. for the moment
swept beyond his habitual calm and
polse. The transformation that the
one lock OF red wrought on the beard.
ed face was unbelievable--cruel; SIMS.
ter; brutal--as II the face OF Red
Colin, the old sea pirate. had sprung
out OF a long dead past.
The fallen man stirred, ratified his
heels on the floor. moved his arms. sat
up and stared about him. Suddenly
aware OF the hard eyes upon him. he
hurriedly raised hand and hastily
brushed the mass of hair back into
place.
1T amt no use. Ken" came from
the other side of the candle. ~ seen
H."
The man on the floor scrambled 10
his feet; glanced toward the window.
az the candle within reach of his foot.
as II meditatlng some desperate move !:
frowned at the shattered fingers: stiff
fened, leaned against the safe door.
"Well-r
The old arrogant haughtiness that
the woodsman remembered so we'll
that used to awe him, dominate him
was In the expressive monosyllable.
But II didn't awe him now-it rasped
him; crawled NJ through his blood
and struck a spark from his eyes He
was long time answering: when he
did. II was with another question.
"What have y'u got. 4 say why I
oughtn' Z hand y'u over Z Jerry
BrOwnr'
"Not a d-n' thing. though I'd rath.
er be pinched anywhere else in the
world than here"-a shade Of the
haughtiness left his tones-"on &C
count of-Sis."
The big woodsman winced-which
the other. with his quick wits. Just
then strung to keenest pitch, doubt
less noticed.
Live while y'u may; e HI when
y'u must--it's q game Of chance any
how. with the odds on the man with
the quickest fingers. I've seen twenty.
seven years Of it--a game not westh
the candle
tn ~ ~onttnueaN