Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-03-22
"Who saws sol"

Gerard recognized the burly brute
who lurched forward as one of the
two men who had deserted to Gallo
way. Had he driven and dumped
the truck?
always merry and bright, aren't
you, Kusciko? Keep back! You're
not in this! I'll talk with my own
men"
"Sez he! He's givin' you the razz-
berry. You guys back there goin' to
be told what you can do when you're
not on the job?"
The men surged forward. Their
muttering was an angry undertone to
the bedlam in the clubhouse. Gerard
counted. Eleven of them against
three. Armstrong and Schuyler had
closed in behind him. Why didn't
they stay out of it7 This was his fight.
His and Calloway's. That last name
steeled his muscles. Somewhere Len
was gloating over the situation, might
even now be looking on. He stepped
forward. The shouting and singing
inside the bunk house ceased sudden
ly. The world was weirdly quiet; he
could hear the hiss of q meteor over
head.
"Quit this fool business and 60 back,
men. If you don't you'll lose your jobs
tomorrow
"Yeah! Listen, you guys" Kus-
ciko swayed forward and leered into
Gerards face. who'll this fella you
call the Big Boss get to finish the job
if he gives you your time? Let's teach
this white-collar gent to keep out of
other guys business when the days
works done. What's he here for"
Gerard caught the braggart by the
collar of his plaid shirt, dragged him
from his feet, and with stupendous
effort flung him among the men.
That's what I'm here for!'' The
words gritted between clamped teeth.
anyone else want to know"
For an instant the crowd hesitated,
then with concerted growl it lunged
forward Gerards blood chilled. Ugly
faces. Cruel faces. What would it
feel like to be torn to pieces. A man
died but once. He wasn't man If he
let a lot of dirty DRINKS tell him
where to get off. His eyes narrowed.
Which head would he punch first?
He doubled his fist. He'd begin on
that chinless mug and make it nose
less.
Boy! What crack! He got his
man. Northwest Mounted stuff. Why
didn't Jim keep out Of this?
Look out!'
Someone yanked him aside, someone
struck something that glittered out of
Kusciko's hand. 1t lay, long and keen
and cruel, on the trampled snow.
keep out of this Rodney" David
Schuyler pulled him back. 'Quit
pounding that man, Jim. This is my
job now"
He walked toward the silent men
who, jaws dropped, stared at him with
bleared eyes.
enough, boys" He clamped his foot
down on the glittering knife. His
voice was steel in velvet sheath.
Nothing doing, Kuscikow
The man, who had crawled forward,
glared at him from his knees and
snatched back his dirty hand.
Spiritual force against brute force.
l seem to remember that as noble
experiment in far-off country"
painted Jim Armstrong at Gerard's
shoulder.
Rodney nodded without moving his
eyes from the group ahead Every
muscle was tense, he was ready to
spring If hand were laid on David
Schuyler. The cool voice went on.
"McGowen, roll Kusciko in the
snow. Cool him off. Better all of you
play Polar Bear. YOU"
eli there!" yelled man on the
steps Of the bunk-house. Bring along
that"
Shouts behind him drowned his
words. The sounds of scuffling fol-
lowed, then crash. Ominous silence
for second. Then yells of fright.
One voice pierced the tumult:
"Look out! The stove! Fire Fire !"
"I'll take care of the snooper hiding
in here!"
AT Calloway's harsh threat Pru-
dence flung herself fiat on the dirty
floor behind the wood pile.
A light on the wall How soon
would Galloway grab her? 1t was
coming her way Had she better crawl
out and appear nonchalant? Nearer
Nearer-a door banging!
The lean-to went pitch-black.
"Tried to walk out on me- have you,
Walt? You-Milly! What are you
doing here?" 1t was Calloway's voice,
shaken, ugly.
"You tell me-"
you'll tell me. Where's Walt Ger
ard?"
In his surprise the snooper in the
lean-to had been forgotten. Prudence
tptoed to the door. 1t was like look
ing at scene in play. Galloway
held the lantern high; the motion of
his unsteady hand sent a little whirl
of drab smoke against the glass Chin
new His black ewes FILTERED In the