Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-11-15

freeing his right hand, restrained till
then by Solwood's left, slipped 1t from
the leash of muscles, and whipped
out his knife.
But In gaining this deadly advan-
tage he had laid himself open to an
unlooked-for danger. AS boxer, de-
feated In every tactic Of defense, sees
himself going and turns to the at
tack, Selwood's right hand, releasing
Starbuck's left, shot out and clutched
Starbuck's windpipe. The sinewy fin
gers closed relentlessly on Starbuck's
throat, and, squirming from under
him, Selwood threw himself across
his enemy and overlap the arm slash
ing at him with the knife. Pardaloe,
wild with anxiety, knew the end was
In sight. But could Starbuck infiict
q fatal injury before he should sue
cumb to the grip that had cut off his
breath?
Throwing himself frantically about
az he felt consciousness going, strik-
ing blindly at Selwood from the fore
arm, Starbuck tried to land a fatal
thrust. But Selwood, as Starbuck,
plunging and rearing, slammed him
from side to side to shake loose the
deadly grip, took the slashing as best
he could, clinging all the while like
a panther at the throat Of his foe.
Above the din about him, Pardaloe
shouted and yelled. Hope had re-
turned. he saw how the fight went.
And, stamping his clumsy feet In
frenzy, he watched Selwood's left
elbow gradually straighten and saw
his left hand slide slowly, unevenly,
but certainly up to Starbuck's right
wrist. Again the two men meshed.
Pardaloe could see their straining
muscles shiver in climax Of strug-
gle. Then, Selwood had wrested the
haft of the knife from his strangled
foe, let 60 his throat, and raised his
arm to strike.
Not till then did Pardaloe jump in.
He caught the uplifted arm. The
gambler, covered with blood, looked
angrily up. "Not yet, john" cried
the big fellow, low and ferociously.
"Hang him!"
Painting as II dazed, Selwood looked
again to see who spoke. The voice
that entered his ear sent no message
to his brain. He shook away the
matted hair that fell before his eyes.
Pardaloe, gripping his arm. looked
intently at him and repeated his
words. Whether Selwood understood
or not, he knew Pardaloe. He looked
down on his gasping enemy, and,
stretching out his left hand, laid the
ugly knife in Pardaloe's hand.
With q cracked laugh, he stag
gered to his feet, cropping about with
his hands for support.
Pardaloe steadied him. "Cut much,
John?" he asked, bending anxiously
over him.
"Why-no." Trying to pull himself
together, Selwood painted the words.
II guess-not."
you're Clipped little" comment
ed Pardaloe, taking hold Of his blood
soaked left arm and peering with
melancholy sympathy into the
strained eyes.
With the fingers of his left hand,
Selwood felt uncertainty around his
heart. zone jab," he said, breathing
hard, 81 thought went through me.
His grip must have slipped" he
added, as his fingers ran vacantly
over his chest, trying to find par
ticular spot, cor something = turned
the knife. What's here, BillT" he
asked, feeling blindly at the slit
breast-pocket of his wooden shirt.
Pardaloe set down his lantern, and,
using both hands on the slashed
pocket, succeeded in fishing out the
remains Of pack Of cards. He
stopped to examine the cards by the
light of the lantern; the point Of
Starbuck's knife had gone half way
through them. "My cards, by gum!"
exclaimed Pardaloe, as his face fell.
plum cut to pieces, too. That deck
amt worth shucks to nobody now
look at 'emr' He held the pack up
for inspection and looked Indignantly
down at Starbuck, whose wrists and
ankles were already bound by Lefever
and Scott. 'No matter, old boy" he
growled; "we1l fix you In a minute
so you won't cut up no more cards
for nobody"
Such of Starbuck's following as
could escape the clutches Of Lefe-
ver's angry men were scattering In
the thickets along the river, where
most of them had horses hidden, and
by fording or swimming the stream
could spur out on the Sinks for Gala
basas.
Smoke was billowing from the
doors and windows Of Bartoe's place.
Flames were lighting for the last,
time the interior Of the empty bar
room and licking its evil trappings.
Selwood, steadied by Pardaloe,
looked blankly at the scene before
him and backed away.
The teamsters were dragging of
their prisoners. In the crowd that
closed in on the scene there rose up
sudden bosses, and confusion Of or
doro as m how Starhuck aShou1d he