The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-10
CHAPTER ee-KNTGHT.ERRANI

CHAPTER 66-KNIGHT-E -ERRANT F USE heard Hendricks voice and E stepped out into the candle-light. Kendrick looked up, his face alight with eager, and as he looked Brunei jumped.
 Elise screamed. Kendrick tried to dodge, but was too late. Brunei hit him fair and square, and down they went together, with Kendrick under heath and all Brunel's great weight asprawl across him.
 In those first seconds Kendrick thought the fight was lost. He knew he could expect no assistance from Jules, for, even if Jules had been will ing to fight-which he probably was not-he was outside the high gate, his back nearly broken where Kendrick had jumped from it to 'sclutch at the gate top.
 In falling. he kept his head up, so that his skull had not come in contact with the flags, but, for all that, he was badly shaken.
 He writhed beneath Brunei, and felt Brunel's right hand creeping up his chest, He got q handunder Brunels wrist, but was unable to stay the up- ward movement of the hand. His legs were locked in Brunel's, and he strove to heave the man over and sideways, but without success.
 The fingers were at his collar. He heard and felt the linen give.
 He put forth all his strength, and, temporarily stayed their advance. Then they were at his throat-fingers and thumb at his throat, pressing hard.
 The hall was spinning and his chest was bursting. His right arms, imprison- ed beneath him, was useless. Yet he must get it free if he were to stand the least chance. Kendrick heaved. He was near the end of his tether. Brunei was choking his sense from him.
 All the strength of desperation went into a second heave, and, with it, he felt the weight lift from his right arm He did not roll Brunei over, he dil not shake Bruners grip on his throat-but he got his arm from under him.
 He punched, viciously, dreadfully, at the side of Brunefs head, and heard the clean smack of his knuckles as they connected with bone and flesh. He punched again and again. Brunei clung doggedly.
 Once more he punched and once more the fingers at his throat relaxed for an instant He felt Brunei limp for an atom of time, and, heaving and roll. ing, he flung the man off.
 They were on their feet.
 On the gallery Elise hung to the 1alustrade in silence.
 Brunei flung out hand, pointing al Kendrick, and snarled something vile
 Kendrick laughed and jumped at him.
 Brunei tried to evade it. Kendrick got hip square in the mouth, and Brunels head went back. Hendricks hook missed and Kendrick whirled side ways and away, with Brunei clutchine at him.
 They went across the hall, and as they met Brunei snatched one of the great chairs and flung it. Eli9e scream ed. Kendrick dropped flat on his face The monstrous thing crashed Nacross him, hit the table, and dropped to pieces beside it.
 From the ground, leaping like a tiger, Kendrick came inflow.
 He got Brunei in the body, and Bru- mel caught him before he could gel away, caught and held and crushed him.
 They went against the table, rolled over to its top, with Brunei endeavoring to get his throat grip again, and Ken drick puching like a madman.
 Across the table they went, while the dust came up in clouds, and they dropped at the far side over a chair which tipped and eflung them apart to the flags.
 They lay for a few breathless mo- ments, watching each other, Kendrick on his side, Brunei on his stomach.
 Brunei moved and Kendrick instantly got to his feet. Under the table went Brunei, diving like some monstrous bear stirred to action by fear, and when he strengthened himself at the far side he had in his hand a great piece of wood snatched from the debris of te broken chair.
 "Now!" he snarled. Now"
 He Turched at Kendrick and struck. Kendrick, flinging himself backwards. felt the end of the timber whirl past his face like the sweep of giants fist. It was the end. That piece of wood