The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-07-30
Chapter 81


gun duel He schemes his revenge.
Chapter 81
A Fight For Life
bending down, Josh Hastings
- loosened the fingers Of the hand
that still gripped the gun Kay had
given to Ted. He held it gingerly
with his bandanna, so that no
touch of discriminating fingerprints
could possibly get on it, and slow
" drew it from the loosened grip.
Suddenly, and without any
warning, he felt Ted's dark eyes
upon him. Then, as suddenly again,
the lids dropped, and the body he
was bending over seemed as inert
and lifeless as before.
Josh Hastings doubted the evil
dence OF his own senses. But with
his heart pounding suffocatingly
il his ears at the memory of that
strangely seeing look from those
dark eyes, he held himself rigidly
still. pfua gon Isl fiye fsts
The weird beauty of the scene
was entirely lost on him, but some
thing Of the eery quality of that
mysterious spot from which waters
eventually flowed to the Atlantic
and the Pacific made his breath
come quicker and raised momen-
tary panic in him.
He stared at Ted C.aynor's white
face, watching for any further
sign Of life, but it lay still as death
in the moonlight.
His breath coming more nor
mally again, and eursing himself
for a fool, Hastings lifted up Ted's
gun. Then he walked half way
back toward Scrap Johnson, took
careful aim and fired.
The shot reverberated from the
rocky walls Of the pass behind
him, intensified by the preceding
silence, so that it sounded like the
blast Of cannon.
Scrap Johnson's body gave a
convulsive jerk, horrible to see. A
dark spot stood out on his temple,
and slowly spread like a thirsty
stain.
Ted Gaynor continued to lay
utterly quiet. He could not have
been more remote from this scene
Of violence had he been as dead
as the man who had just been murs
dered.
Dropping the gun from which he
had fired the fatal shot, Josh Has
tings knelt down and deliberately
craWled back TO the spot where
Ted Gaynor lay.
Rising to his feet, he looked
back critically over the trail Re
had beaten through the grass. He
could see Ted's gun cleaning
where he had let II fall, and a cruel
smile twisted bis lips.
He had framed Ted Gaynor,
dead or alive. Whoever discovered
the two bodies would find Ii in-
possible to escape the implication
Of that dropped gun. AT one stroke,
he had been able not only to get
complete revenge on Scrap, but to
wipe Ted Gaynor from his path
forever.
No matter what Kay might have
thought Of Ted, she was not the
kind TO let her thoughts linger over
q proved murderer. From now on,
he felt sure the way with Kay
should be clear sailing.
Walking slowly over 70 his
horse, Josh Hastings swung into
The Saddle. and headed back to-
ward the pass. 81
Burning Thirss And pain
THE moon hung low in the west
4 ern sly. and moonlight and
dawn were nlingling in a cold gray
light before Ted Gaynor opened
bis eyes again.
For a long interval he lay STAR
ing straight ahead, his eyes g.ark-
ened with pain. Gradually the gene
tie triclle Of the water penetrated
% his consciousness. and he be-
came suddenly aware Of his burn
ing throat, and the fever that
hlazed through him.
He tried 10 pull himself over 10
the water, but fell back with a
groan at the intolerahle pain in
bis chest.
A wild look came into his eyes,
and he muttered incoherently.
Slumping down again by the water
that was 50 near and vet SO far. he
seemed on the point of givin up.
But with a mighty effort. he reused
himself and rolled over so that he
was able to reach the edge Of the
stream.
Sucking in a great gulp Of the
life-g giving drink, his mind cleared
for q moment. He remembered
distinctly where he was and what
had happened in his third encoun-
Ter with Scrap Johnson. on his way
over 70 the Clear Water basin 20
collect his family.
Ted had dlSmounted % get 3