Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-05-15


Even in the dim light thers wss NO
nistaking them. That powerful figure
with the swart face could be bat oa1a
man in the world-Black Bogus. The
| pointed beard, the frock coat and neck
stock, the tall hat on the floor, dis
closed with equal positiveness the far
more dangerous identity of the other
the formidable and mysterious man
who called himself Caleb Hopkins-the
third man of the mountain girls warn
| ing
| Although the man creeping around
the door-jamb made far less sound
than the rattle of the money. yet Black
Bogus caught the alarm; whirled on
the instant, his hand at his hip.
Fate figures in split fractions at ouch
time-and the odds were two to one,
with probably third somewhere out
side. The half haunting resemblance
that had so puzzled the woodsman
never seemed stronger than at that
| dangerous instant, but 1t meant death
| to falter There was a bright fash in
the candle-light; Black Bogus, a hid
eous grimace upon his truculent face,
seemed to shrink together; the revol-
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 its mark, Jack
whirled his weapon upon the other
man. His head bad 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 ivory-handled six-gun.
But the split fraction of the instant
| had lost him the advantage. His
weapon had hardly left its holster be-
| fore it was shot out of his hand
pieces of the ivory butt flew about the
room, and blood streamed from the
shattered fingers that held 1t.
But Hopkins was not a coward. That,
at least. could not be set down against
him. Instead of ieaping for the still
open window. he sprang straight at
Jack Warhope. The woodsman could
have shot him down; instead, he
| jammed the revolver back into its
holster and met the oncoming rush.
| 1t was a battle the like of which the
Flatwoods had never seen. No two
such men can clash and come through
unscathed. But 1t is doubtful if 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,
it soon became apparent that, for all
the wild fury of his onset, he was fight
ing losing battle. He realized it, and
the despair bereft him of his caution.
The Moodsman realized it, too, kept his
head. frightened his guard and watched
for the opening that he knew was
bound to come.
1t came sooner than he thought
Hopkins. desperate and breathing
thick, swung at the woodsman's head,
but missed. The attempt had for the
instant exposed his stomach, and the
woOdsman took advantage Of 1t. The
blow weakened Hopkins; he tottered,
gasped, instinctiyely 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 range Of the window
as 1t 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 Cod" he muttered-"the red
| lock-its 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
poise. The transformation that the
one lock of red wrought on the beard
ed face was Northumberland; slnis-
| ter; brutal-as If the face of Red
Colin the old sea pirate, had sprung
out of 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
hurrledly raised a hand and hastily
brushed the mass of hair back into
place
ut amt no use, Ken came from
the other side of the candle, II seen
| It,"
| The man on the floor scrambled to
his feet; glanced toward the window.
at the candle within reach of his foot.
as if meditating some desperate move:
frowned at the shattered fingers; stiff.
fened, leaned against the safe door.
"Well-?'
The old arrogant haughtiness that
|