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Bell saw steel flash behind Alasdair MacDonald

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ISAAC BELL WHISKED HIS OVER-UNDER, TWO-SHOT derringer out of his hat in a blur ofat Alasdair MacDonald’s back with a knife The range was close, nearly point-blank The heavy44 slug stopped him in his tracks, and the blade fell frounfire sent patrons sta for cover, the dandy with the bloody nose was thrusting another knife at the Scotsman’s belly

MacDonald gaped, as if astonished that a friendly braould turn deadly

Isaac Bell realized that he itnessing a pre spectator blocked his vision Bell slaain Above MacDonald’s bloody nose, the knife wielder grew a red hole between the eyes His knife fell inches short of Alasdair MacDonald’s belt

Bell’s derringer was empty

The re killer, the one floored, rose behind MacDonald with a fluid ease that showed him neither hurt nor slowed by the blow he had taken to his ear A long-bladed knife flipped open in his hand Bell was already pulling his Browning No 2 semiautomatic from under his coat The killer thrust his knife at MacDonald’s back Tucking the pistol to his body to shield it fro men, Bell fired He knew that he would have stopped the killer dead with a shot to the brain But soer

He did not ht shoulder But the Browning’s pinpoint accuracy was gained at the cost of stopping power, and the killer was left-handed Although the380 caliber slug staggered hied to sink his blade into Alasdair MacDonald’s broad back

MacDonald still looked astonished His eyes ht him in his arms “They tried to kill me,” he marveled

Bell eased the suddenly dead weight to the sawdust and knelt over him “Get a doctor,” Bell shouted “Get an ambulance”

“Laddie!”

“Don’t talk,” said Bell

Blood was spreading rapidly, so fast that the sawdust floated on it instead of absorbing it

“Give me your hand, Isaac”

Bell took the huge splayed hand in his