The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-07-22

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but it was for chips that are all
| back in the racks now, seem he
| lost as fast as he borrowed
Hammond changed the subject.
"You don't happen to know where
| this Lew shade lives?'
Around the World Annie screwed
up her enameled face.
"Well. now, let's see if can tell
you how to get there. Know that
trail that leads off to the left after
you're well along toward Sap
| phire?"
A half hour later, Jack Ham
mond crept slowly forward toward
the little cabin set deep in the
forest For a moment, he left the
trail, in hiding, yet watchful. The
door had opened, revealing Lew
shade. who paused to say some
thing to a remaining occupant, then
hurried out along the trail; Ham
mond could have touched him as
he passed. Jack waited long min
utes after that. Then he moved
slowly. carefully, through the tam
| gled underbrush until he could look
into the candle-lit cabin A glance
assured him, he ran for the door.
A kick and it flew open. Across
the room, white-faced, hastily pull
ing a chair before him. as if for
defense, was Bruce Kenning.
There was moment of glover
ing survey. Neither spoke; there
was no sound, in fact, save the
queer, blastlike sounds of heavy
breathing. Then Jack Hammond
fiexed the muscles of his heavy
shoulders. His head set, peculiar
forward attitude. brows lowered
over watchful eyes, slowly, DELHI
erately. he started forward.
Suddenly he lodged. A queer cry
had come from Kenning's throat,
as though restraint had broken I'M
der the pressure of tensity. His
hands had frightened about the back
of the chair; suddenly he raised it
and threw it with all his strength.
Hammond moved only enough to
| allow it to 60 harmlessly past,
| gathering against the opposite wall.
Kenning grimaced, his lips pulling
back from parted teeth.
well, say something" he broke
forth. Staring at me like that"
The answer was only low rum
bic of hate. Kenning turned dazed-
ly, as if seeking escape. But Jack
Hammond was between him and
the door, still coming forward slow
ly, as if he took joy in this creep
ing approach.
Yet, he knew he was not going
into an easy battle. They were
matched men, in height, weight and
agility. One was fired with revenge,
the other burned with desperation.
Foot by foot, Hammond went on.
Then suddenly, they met in slug
ging combat.
There was little science. What
boxing ability they might have pos
sessed had been overwhelmed by
rage; now Hammond bored in with
a series of straight-arm punches
which drove his antagonist, gasp
ing, to the wall But there, Bruce
Kenning took new strength. Now
it was he who, laying himself wide
open to the thudding thrusts of his
enemy's fists, swung blow after
blow against Hammond's face and
head.
Suddenly Hammond began to use
strategy. staggering, pretending to
sag at the knees. Kenning shouted
and rushed him.
Instantly, Hammond leaped aside
and thrusting forth leg, tripped
the other man off balance. Then
the prospector was on him, catch
ing him with one arm about his
neck, and sending his free fist
against Kenning's face with crash
ing force which seemed to drive
his knuckles into his wrist bones.
Kenning WINGED. He cried out. Ham
mond, gasping for breath, allowed
a grunt of triumph to pass his lips.
This was joy-to hear an evidence
of pain and suffering. Desperately
the geologist strove to turn in the
other mans grasp; slowly he began
to succeed. Now, in better position
for defense, he began a counter
attack upon Hammond's midriff;
the prospector retaliated by driv-
ing blow after blow against the
other mans face until his hands
were Shiny.
They had begun to tire, stagger-
ing now, their punches losing some
of their power. At last, Kenning
gave up his attempts to knock the
other man out by body punches;
soon he ceased striking entirely,
and clasping Hammond tight, tried
to wrestle him from his feet.
A blood smeated pair, they
crashed from one end OF the room
to the other, throwing each other
clear, rushing together. again, arms
failing, only to clinch and strug-
gle, striving desperately to kick, to
bite, to claw: all sense of contest
had become lost. Now this was
struggle between two great ami
mails, each enduring great suffer
ing, but content if he could give q