The Coolidge examiner., 1934-04-20

Z
hand upward and Frauzs pistol
lenping as u harkcd
Steve was poised on bent knees.
clapg.aE the stock of the rife TO
his shoulder ~ the other ared. Il
vas as II n aledse had struck The
barrel ~ his gun. as though hot
iron scared the thumb - bis left
hand and the !mpact SET him reel
Ing. saESiug. dghting 60 stay IN the
canoe. but. despite bis e~orts.
pitching over sideways wiz a
mighty splash
The gun slipped from his sight
hand as the butt raked the gun
walc he was Ia The water. on his
back. the riao slipping through his
weakened fingers. sinking down
into the depths 10 leave him IN
armed.
Tie came up, the canoe screening
him FOR the moment. and again be
heard The girl scream. A bullet
tore through the canoe ST arms
length TO the right % him. and he
sank az opce. feet foremost. beneath
the surface.
Kate Flynn. in fermcnt of
fright. had lifted her bound hands
10 the handkerchief across her
mouth as Franz rose for his first
shot. one jerk and the gag was
about her throat and. needless OF
the penalty that might be exacicd
from her. she had screamed her
warning.
"D--n your Franz snarled.
"You'n pay for
But be did no, look at her. He
stood watching. waiting. having
more important matters than her
disregard for his threats 20 occupy
him a. the moment The girl
,uggcd fran,lcally at the belt hold
ing her hands,
Stop :" she cried after that sec
0nd shot stop lti Hes helpless
and you
Her voice failed her as Franz
shot again and still again. drilling
the empty canoe With lead.
lie waited after that fourth shot.
poised. pistol ready. lie hoped that
he had BIT 10 kun. but was not Ger.
tain and took no chances.
Steve. bis lungs bursting. ceased
his struggle % remain submerged.
looked upward 70 locate his canoe
and shot 10 the surface.
lie all but gained that meager
shelter without betraylng himself.
only the dip Of one hand beyond
the bow gave him away. but that
vas enough and Franz tensed as
he took careful aim 10 bore the
canoe ~ the point where be knew.
now. The other hung gasping for
breath.
Kate saw and understood. She
felt the tremor which ran through
Franz's body as he steeled himself.
Aud then as his hand squeezed 20
send the bullet speeding 10 where IL
surely would ilnd n mark. she threw
her whole body 10 the righ, as
sharply. as vigorously as she could
aud drove the rail OF his canoe to
the waters edge.
The pistol exploded The bullet
tore up the water harmlessly a few
yards beyond the rushes and Franz.
With retchlng oath. stepped into
shallow water. The rising gunwale
caught hls toe and he sprawled into
the rushes. throwing out bis hands
10 save himself
"D-n you" be cried again.
lunging TO his feet Ills hands. his
wrists. were thick with mud aud
A. he foundered up be turned the
pistol 10 look into the barrel and
swore again as be saw silt clogging
H.
And Kate called shrllly:
Quick Quick. He can't shoot /!
lie can't"
Franz shook the gun sayagely.
tore at the slide 10 make II func-
tlon and looked back 10 see Steve
showing the canoe recklessly from
before him. striking out toward the
rushes In long. swift crawl stroke.
Franz. rappIng the pistol on the
canoe. watched Steve's rapid ap-
proach as he worked the slide fran
tically. II began TO slip easier. He
gave the weapon one more dip and
mud from the barrel spattered the
water about his knees. He turned.
as Kate. with a desperate wrench.
freed her hands. He laughed and
raised his arm once more. His
man was there, wholly exposed.
coming closer all the time.
Come on, :" Franz called thick
~. Come on 10 hi"
And Kate was on her knees,
wrenched one upended paddle from
It's place In the lake bottVm. She
tore ii free. swung il with all her
might and Franz. seeing from ths
tail OF his eye. ducked sideways.
But he was too late. The edge OF
the blade hit his arm. slhouetted
down the sleeve to his hard. caught
the pistol barrel and ths weapon,
with a spin and plop. disappeared
into the roily water.