The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-10-01

steps backward brought Bob to the
bar, and with little spring he seated
himself upon it. He was looking
down, now, upon those upturned
faces. A sea of tense. hostile faces
all turned toward him-all except
Ted's who still stood watching the
menacing form of Tito.
"You have gone somewhat out OF
your way to force this fight, Tito
mio," Don Bob began, and he laid
the automatic beside him on the bar.
"Well. there is no place better than
this. no time better than now if this
must come. since you, Jito, would
have it So" His voice rose little.
Meanwhile, whatever happens, let
no man take any part. The first who
interferes with knife or gun or fist
dies quickly" He smiled in his
friendly. quiet fashion down on the
vaqueros. II hope in this ! am quite
clear. amigos"
Tito laughed. He whipped off the
belt that held the long knife and
threw it to Don Bob. He kicked off
his spurs and hurled them with his
sombrero and chaps across the room,
and now he stood. his great form
unencumbered, his eyes happy with
the coming conflict.
"You fool" he called up to Don
Bob. "You fool, to think this boy
can live against me. We play no
game tonight. Tonight we fight for
life and not to push each others
shoulders in the dust" He raised
both bearlike paws on high. Tonight
l know no rules, and with these two
hands. Senior Don Bob, l tear to
pieces your Eastern boy who comes
among US with his woman's face and
with a woman's ways"
Ted had stripped off his coat. As
he laid it beside Bob the older man
whispered: ION your guard for every
low trick in the game, and if you get
him, don't let up. There's the hate
of death itself in his eyes"
| Ted nodded. II know" he said,
and turned toward his adversary. In
the face of danger Radcliffe had be-
come calm again. Once more he
was the cool, watchful fighter, alert
and unafraid.
The room was still with the silence
of death, and beyond the cleared cir
Gle before the bar every man stood
motior'ess and tense, their breathless
gaze fastened on those two figures
who held each others eyes beneath
the blazing lights. Their shadows
lay huddled beneath them as they
stood now. barely an arms length
apart. watchful and deadly. They
seemed greater than human, crouch
ing there. They seemed not human
at all. More like two primeval forces,
two storm gods out of some legend
OF past heroic days. Tito spoke in
his low. growing voice.
"Cuidado. Americana. We feht
now in game where all is fair, and
think this time tear you apart
Are you ready?"
| Ted smiled.
Quietly Jito stepped sidewise, with
his great torso bent forward and the
pig arms swaying loosely in front of
h'rn' like the arms Of a gorilla. Alert
ana without a sound he began that
sidewise. slouching walk of his. max.
ing kind Of shutting circle about
Fed. watching him. waiting his
chance. A quarter of a circle he had
made. while Ted never moved. ex-
cept to turn little. Unheeded. the
cigarette in Don Bob's mouth had
gone out. Not = vaquero breathed
The very soul Of every man was out
there in that silent circle of waiting
death. -
Then. without warning. Ted
!eaped. There was quick thrush Of
breath from the spectators. None or.
pected it. All had thought the 6r.t
move would come from Tito. With
the leap of a panther, the mans
neavy body hurled itself through the
air. his arms shot forward. and like
pistol shots his fists rang out against
Jito's Jaw. The MexicaL stumbled
back, and now the lights cleaned an
a long. cruel cash below his mouth.
r.. darted back, but like lightning
J'to's right hand had closed over his