The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-04-26

my myers tOun0 niS elDOW ana MS
wrist. | gave scant heed to his
kicking, or to his left fist that drove,
mallet like, into my face again and
again chung to his right arm. bring
Ing the fingers of both hands together
around his wrists. We stumbled over
the PROSTATE figure OF Manuel. and
fell, but | held on, and we arose
again together.
The daylight had come slowly. and
as | looked into his blOodshot eyes
new hope possessed me. remem-
bered that Madrela had walked many
of the dreary miles that lay between
| Mexico City and Cuernavaca, while
had ridden; | remembered that he had
Travelled through the night. while
had gained refreshing sleep. This
! meant, TO ME. a vast advantage an
advantage which | FASTENED to use
had pushed him hack to the wall;
| his right arIn-holding the knife
above his head, while both my hands
were upon his wrists. had noticed
| thar the plastered walls were IN
| finished. and as rough, therefore as
file. With all my strength pressed
the knuckles of his gripping fingers
against this roughened surface, and.
| wherever they touched they left a
| print of blood lie scared me with
a rasping curse. but his face went
| pale with the pain of his injured
hand Finally he relaxed. and the
| evil blade clattered to the floor.
loosed him and reached for the
weapon. | had 40 thought of trick
| in that clever brain of his, yet
| should have known. And now, half
stopped to pick II up, saw his de-
sign, and threw myself upon him
again, for a pistol had appeared by
seeming magic. in his hand
Struggling for possession of the
gun we swept back and forth across
| the bare floor. Each of US had both
| hands on the weapon-7our bodies
| swaying, our muscles tensed-anf
| murder in our hearts; red rage of
fury and destruction overwhelming
us. A blood-feud seemed to exist be-
tween US. a killing hate that only
| death might allay.
Even as he had begun to exhibit
signs of firing my finger found the
guard, and praying that the pistol
| might be pointing toward my adver-
sary, pulled the trigger. With the
report of the gun he drew in a deep
sigh-almoSt of contentment-and az
| relaxed my hold, his body crumpled
slowly to the floor. the weapon fall
ing unnoticed beside him. He
stretched out his arms and lay still.
Turning, | bent over the PROSTATE
figure of the fat Manuel, and, holding
his wrist, felt of his pulse for long
anxious minute. | was grateful that
he lived.
Even as studied him deep soft
laugh behind me brought my face to
the window again. where Madrella-
whom | had thought dead-stoOd,
with pistol In his hand. Had he
been ghost think should not
have been more surprised
"You use everything, Francois, bul
your head" said he. This time |
shall keep out of reach of those cap
able hands of yours. You will take
your stool and sit upon it.
Fine; now we can talk"
"Neville?" | questioned.
Ere this the buzzards have found
him, as they will doubtless find you
| tomorrow"
had no difficulty I'm reading the
evident murder in his face, or in that
menacing pistol of his. Surely, this
time, would use my head.
You will tell ME, captain. how you
came to know of this trip of NINE"
| laughed. when two men. senior,
love the same woman, is 1t conceiv-
able that they will deal fairly with
each other? Colonel Lopez, who Is
not so faithful TO his majesty as he
should be. knew of your projected
| journey. and as you well know, he
| loves La Anita. He told Captain Le-
strange. and Lestrange. who worships
the senOrita, told me. Ii seems to
fit in well with the plan of Lopez and
Lestrange that you meet Neville and
De Vigny on the road. Surely one of
the two will kill you. The field for
the hand of Anita must be narrowed
down."
LOPEZ Is out of my reach, but Le-
strange-ah, shall deal with Captain
| Lestrange
"Such personal hatred. senOr," said
[. ''seems out of place. Lestrange
has never yet failed in any of his
en,leavors. He has the ear of the en-
peror."
"And the heart of blackguard."
Madrella rasped. do you not know,
senior, that Captain Lestrange has
gone over TO the revoluti0nistsY
| knew it, but this was no time to
admit that knowledge. ale aims, In
very truth then, to win the heart of
SenOrita Arrellanos," said. IF be
imagines necessity for such ges-
ture he will make it: yet II is but
gesture after all. for Lestrange is not
a creature of impulse. nor is failure
found In his lexicon. II was his plan
that we kill you; II was his plan to
supplanf her cousin In the heart of
Anita. and in half of that at least he
has succeeded"
He breathed potent oath. "Le
strange then. has spoken of this-to
your"
AYE more than that" said iCok
ing beyond Madrella to the window
where the welcome head Of Pasqual-
who would fight for me-had ap
peared; la Anita told me-"
absurd. senior: you Jest"
moi at all; now II Is the worth,
cousin who fails to use his head"
ITO BE CONTINUED)