there came the sound of the kid's feet grating on the road, as he turned, and, as he heard it, mr. parker for the first time lost his head. with a vague idea of screening john, he half-rose. the pistol wavered. it was the chance john had prayed for. his left hand shot out, grasped the other's wrist, and gave it a sharp wrench. the pistol went off with a deafening report, the bullet passing through the back of the cab, then fell to the floor, as the fingers lost their hold. and the next moment john's right fist, darting upward, crashed home.