Plentywood herald., 1933-03-23
Thought so." he said with sharp

=
as John relinquished his grip. Hi!
foot dropped and upset him again. bu
he came up with an agile scramble
cursing, clenching his fists.
| But man. even a fighting man. 8
bullying fighting man. doesn't wade liz
and crush man who stands before
him, mind on something other than
| lighting SO completely that he paws
no attention to the drawing back OF
your fist.
| Baxter remained poised, ready to
strike, but not striking, facing the tor.
rent of words from young John Belk-
nan who stepped closer, one hand,
palm upward. extended In business
like sideways gesture.
IF you'd put 1t up, It'd saved Won
being set down on your tail, Baxter.
| wanted to see the bottom of your
new rubber because / found a track
In the snow couple of hours ago
and. put alongside of other things I
found out, | figured your rubber made
that print. You've got reputation to
uphold, suppose, but hereafter when
tell you to do thing / want You
to do tt
Don't get ready to fight yet ~ John
went on, as he might have talked to
an enraged child Maybe there'll be
some fighting between us. but not I'M
til you've had your chance to get out
of It."
"Chance!' Baxter shouted. ..Sav.
you got lot of CUTS. talkin' of givin'
me chance to get out of fighting
you!"
John nodded "Yes, / have. Enough
CUTS SO you don't scare me very much.
Baxter And plenty to tell you what
I've come to tell"
Baxter's eyes swept d segment OF
the circle about them; he swallowed
quickly. This was something new in
the way Of an encounter.
"Tell2 What you got to tell me7-
he demanded.
This. Probably you've heard the
boys saying that | came pretty near
getting mine this evening out at the
mill. load LET go and | had to take
to the pond. I'd trusted those stakes.
Baxter. They're the best patent
stakes made. ! didn't think they'd
LET go.
My guess seems to We been pretty
good. In the fresh snow behind that
car We're a mans tracks. He'd come
from between lumber piles where no
body else has been for weeks. He
stood for quite a time In the shadow
OF the trucks; he stopped down there
TO see what was going on on the other
side Of the car When the thing hap
pened that he'd waited and watched
for. ne tiptoed to the trips and let 'em
go. Then he ran =
He paused moment and his eyes
for the first time, smoldered.
lie didn't get me, Baxter. | got
out and found his tracks in the snow.
measured his foot: | saw the print
OF stars on the heel and crepe sole.
They were new rubbers. So are yours.
Yours have the stars and the sole. |
haven't measured yours yet. because
| want to give you a run for your
money.
I've got this proposition to make.
II you weren't the man In those rub
bers, stay right here in Kampfest. If
you're here tomorrow night at this
time LIN coming In here and take your
rubber or and measure 1t and If it's
the same size as that worn by the man
VINO tried to make pulp of me with
saw logs, I'm going to make pulp OF |
you with the only things know how
20 night with 80. Thesetr
lie extended his hands.
Baxter. you don't know what
hard bird Isl You've got by In some
oI your fracuses because people were
AFRAID OF you. A man who's afraid ii |
licked before he makes his first punch.
I'M no more afraid of you than / am |
u the sweet west wind | don't like
FOUR Kind. I'd get a lot OF satisfaction
'nt Of knocking your block off and
Using 1t as o football. That's all I've
sot to say. Good nightl'
tie turned and In an amazed silence
made his way towards the door.
Baxter hitched at his pants and
urned, looking into the faces about
Tim. But now he read there not the
nIveling admiration of the admitted
inferior, not the apprehensiye
'lances Of men who feared him. He
aw only contempt and rising smiles.
lie knew we'll enough what they
we're thinking: that at last he had en-
ounfered fear by finding man who
Iad no fear. He fell into a morose
Hence from which he reused now and
gam to mutter threats Of what would
appen II John 10 much MS stuck his
ace inside that door tomorrow
light. But he was afraid, this
saxter; caught between two fires.
rom behind. Gorbel, with club over
rs head, was goading beyond waited
youth who dismissed his threats as
usually as he would brush at a
uzzing fly.
anu when the way freight went
through Kampfest at two the NEXT
norning heavy man with grain
ack over his shoulder boarded fhe
aboose.
/