White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1926-03-12
Compelling Story Of the Romantic West
THE FIGHTING RANGER
BY F. J. MCCONNELL and GEORGE W. PYPER
Copyright 1925

a trapped naimal, then whipped out
his gun. Terence made leap for
him and knocked it out Of his hand.
The men rolled about in the treasure
in mad rough-and-tumble.
1--WE licked you before, and I'm
going to get you again-with my bare
hands," Terence threatened, as they
lay, temporarily separated, after
whirlwind of wild blows.
The two men jumped at each other,
and the combat was on in earnest.
Buck, realizing he was no match for
Terence, and in fear, was maneuver-
ing for a break to the entrance and
escape. But Terence blocked the way.
At each attempt Buck made to run
for it he was met by a row of hard
knuckles which sent him flying back
into the cave.
Buck gave up that alley of escape
finally, and retreated back into the
cave. Terence followed He was
dazed and startled by the untold
heaps of glittering treasure that lay
about him, so far SURPRISING even his
widest expectations, but he kept his
mind nevertheless to the business at
hand-to get Buck!
Finally, as Buck fell farther and
farther back in the cave he noticed
a hitherto unseen crevice through
which the daylight streamed, lead
ing up and out of the cave. He dart
ed for it and started to climb through,
but Terence, close behind, seized him
and pulled him back. Seeing he must
fight his way out, Buck started for
Terence He was knocked down by a
crashing blow to the jaw. Coming to
his feet he picked up handful OF the
gold and jewels and flung them at
Terence.
Cant use your hands, eh?" NUT
tered Terence.
He made a flying leap for Buck,
battering him mercilessly as they
went down together, Terence on top.
Both men were torn, bleeding, dis
heveled. Buck struggled, managed to
shake Terence off, and both staggered
to their feet again. They met head
on. Terence delivered terrible
thrashing, and after several minutes
of fierce fighting, Buck went down
again and lay still-licked-beate
broken-cowed. Finally he scrambled
to his knees, raised his hands suppl
catingly. Terence seized him by the
throat, his face set sternly, and with
grim menace gasped:
Buck McLedo-if you want to live
answer me one thing-QUICK!
Buck begged for mercy, nodded and
stammered that he would answer any
thing.
"Who killed Michael O'Rourke, my
| father?"
Buck, breathing hard, gasped:
Spade Sinclair-his partner-shot
him down in cold blood-for the to-
paz-"
TELL me the whole story"
"They were hunting the Yaqui gold
from an old map" Buck went on. eyer
dad found how to read the signs. We
wrote the secret down-and sealed 1t
up in the topaz with wax. Sinclair
knew the stone had something to do
wifi 1onf-h,,t IiIntt w of
was in it.
"And it was this Sinclair-the same
man-as killed Black Benwell But
old Marshall was driven from his
ranch, hunted for years, and finally
convicted fer it. Sinclair fired the
shot from hiding while Marshall and
Benwell grappled-jes' when Mar
shalls gun parked by accident. Sim
clair wanted MarshalPs ranch-fer the
treasure he knew was on It,"
who is this Sinclair?" Terence de-
manded. Where is he?"
Buck snarled, with hate:
"The snake-he changed his name
an his looks. The double-crosser.
He is"
Buck paused. Terence's hand,
clenching his throat, frightened, men
acingly.
"Speak-quick-wh is he?" he de-
manded.
"He's-Topaz Taggart!"