The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-10

r But before Lees finger frightened or
. the trigger, a hand upon his shoulder
made him leap to his feet and start
up, his rifle dubbed, ready to strike
, He thought Railways men had sur
prised him.
But to his amazement It was a
woman standing at his side; then In
that cloaked and hooded figure that
confronted him he recognized-Estelle
once more.
She looked at him fxedly; she was
deeply agitated, and caught at her
breath before she was able to find her
voice.
"You fool I" she exclaimed bitterly.
"You fool! You had her in your hands
and you let Jim Railway take her
away from you! You couldn't hold
her-and now I come upon you to find
you planning cold-blooded cowardly
murder-you, a policeman
AT that something broke In Lees
heart The realization Of the act he
planned came over him. He would have
killed Railway as heedlessly as any
bloodthirsty forest beast. But Es-
telle's reference to the police touched
his pride.
He let the rifle drop, grounding the
butt.
"Listen to what I've got to tell you,
Lee l love him. Do you understand
that? l suppose you think it's not my
nature to love. But it is 1t was you
who couldn't hold my love. I hated
and despised you. | never knew how
much l loved James Railway till I
found out how much l hated you that |
morning when you came to our camp
and struck him down so treacherously. |
"Oh, yes, have love and passion,
and constancy in my nature, Lee An
derson. 1t was only you who couldn't |
draw them OUT"
Her voice was vibrant, hoarse with
passion.
'That girl will make fool of you
too, Lee Anderson, just as I did, she
cried. you'd be made fool Of any
where, by any woman!"
But her words passed Lee by like
the wind.
II could have killed you that morn
ing, as 1 could kill you now, only
love James Railway. And he'll love
me again when you take this new at
traction away out of his sight, where
he can't find her. I thought you'd got
away-but here you are, back again
with her, and all the works got to be
done over again.
II was crouching near and 1 over ,
heard your dialogue, you and she, and =.
he priest, and James Railway. You :
gave her up-the woman you love
because she'd stood up before the altar
With the man she hated and called :.
herself his wife. I'd hold the woman :.
loved, were man, against God a
HIMSELF and all His cohorts y
"Oh, If only could find words to 8
lurt you, Lee Anderson, to pierce that =
ough skin Of yours! But l haven't q
line. Listen to me, now! You don't "A
AVE to commit murder to get her.
,ou fool, you blind fool, shall I tell "
our"
She laughed with haunting menace.
Shall l tell you, Lee Anderson?" she
epeated.
And suddenly came the sound OF
oyce, screaming within the house.
here came the noise of a struggle.
Even as Lee turned, Joyce was run
ing along the passage toward the
DOR. Instantly Estelle glided away
ito the shadows.
Joyce flung the door open; and then
athway caught her from behind and
vung her back toward him. His black
card hung over her face.
Lee Lee! Come to mel"
Joyce ceased to struggle.
"Here!' answered Lee, and dashed
$ fists into Railways face, sending
m staggering. Z
Railway hOwled and felt for his
stol. Lee was upon him, pinioning Il
arms to his sides, before he could II
aw it. But Railways men came j
FRYING along the passage. In an in x
mt there was a furious melee Lee
pped over leg thrust out, fell heav-
upon his back, and struggled in
in under the weight of his four adj
rsaries.
quickly he was reduced to helpless
IS, his limbs held firmly. Momentum
he ceased to struggle, nursing his q
ength for more violent effort
lie looked up into the grinning faces. III
halfway standing over him leer- r
5 arms outstretched, gasping for II
ath and consciousness. =
pathway pulled his pistol and COW .
d Lee. Pierre! Shorty Kramer, '1 =
Ire witnesses that you saw this ho-
spying outside this house." h.
hey assented. Pierre grinned. ror
'rty swore, spat, and scowled, and q,
saw the haf-healed scar of his
ol butt upon his cheek.
You saw him assault me-" Railway sho o,
tinued. "Well, Anderson, l guess ~.
choose to shoot you like the dog ~
are, the law wouldn't have much r,
ay about It. But I'll be reasonable. o,.,
back to your quarters I" he snarled Con-
Ills aides, and the three men In 49,,
rise released Lee and went down ;,,,S,
passage. -