The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-04-01

the pastures, with Barney on the
sorrel!'
"Story enough" grunted McAlpin
'But," he continued, "Barney's pref
ty cute. If he was goin' to start a
fire, wouldn't he take somebody
else's horse?"
81 thought that way for a WHILE"
interviewed Pardaloe. "But Barney
can be careless, too-you know that,
boys. So I asked Bob to find out,
was Barney out that night of the
fire; was the sorrel out. Old Bull is
a nighthawk around Gunlock-you
know that. He may have suspected
what was in Bob's mind, but he
wouldn't give whoop anyway. He
hates Barney like poison. He told
Bob that Barney was the only man
outside the clubhouse that night.
And he heard him ridin' away"
Sawdy stopped the general dis
cussion. Boys, what you goin' to
do?"
Pardaloe rose. Some experience
in frontier courts of this kind had
convinced him that it was time for
a sheriff or an ex-sheriff to be NOV
ing on.
run along, Bill" added Sawdy.
well see you later-maybe.''
With the ex-sheriff gone, Sawdy
called for opinion as to what, if any,
action should be taken.
eff any!" exclaimed McAlpin,
echoing the words scornfully. MAN
aline, you know it amt question
of if any action. It's a question of
what kind of action
Got rope here, McAlpin?"
Got 'em big and little, old and
new"
Don't misunder stand me, boys"
interposed SAVOY. II want to string
him up and down few times to get
the story out of him. A little argu-
ment like that'll bring it."
"Boys," said McAlpin, give an
idea you can catch Rebstock right
here in town. If he set the fire, he's
got money aplenty. It's burnin' holes
in his pockets. Catch your cat in the
Red Front saloon; call him out the
, back door; set him on horse and
ride him down to the bridge-that's
gentlemanly and private"
cts the first time in your life, but
I guess you are right, McAlpin," said
SAVOY. "We've just got to set the
rope watch on Barney"
Ten minutes later found the
worthless concealed-except Meal
pin, detained at the barn-lined up
at Jack Spots bar.
"Have you seen Barney Rebstock
this evening"" asked Lefever, casu-
ally.
Spots face darkened-he, too,
hated Barney. 81 amt seen him, and
don't ask nothin' like that to make
me swear. Boys" he added address
ing the group, "you know Panama
spent whole year tryin' to break
me of my bad habit of swearin'.
Now. when it's too late for him to
know, I'm goin' to quit swearin'. I
give public notice, here and now, If
any damned man gets me so angry
I've got to swear, I'm not goin' to
cuss him out, like I used to. No! I'm
Just goin' to lick hell of out of him
then and there, so you fellows can
tell the boys what to expect"
At that moment the back screen
door banged on it's hinges and Nc
Alpin, sharp-facted, keen-eyed, and
out of breath, rushed into the room.
, With much celebrity and many pam
toreimic gestures, the Scotsman
drew SAVOY far into an empty cor
ner of the saloon. whats up,
Scotty?"
sHe's in there" whispered Meal
pin. 'eHe's in there right now!"
'Who?"
Barney"
'sWhere?"
"In Boland's saloon! I seen the
sorrel standin' at the hitch rack in
front when I come along up street,
to join you here, so went in. Hurry,
he's there!"
SAVOY pulled moment at his
mustache. mo hurry" he said re-
flectively. cts early yet for him. If
he's our man, he's got a pocketful of
money to blow" He thought min
ute further. Look here, Scotch! Tell
our boys over there at the bar to
string out quiet and meet back of
the barn. Watch your chance. Sneak
around to the hitch rack and get the
sorrel down to the barn on an old
feed-bill claim. I'll tackle Barney in
the saloon and see what chance
there is to gettin' him down there.
Got rope ready?"
"T have"
ssVamos!" =
McA1pin joined the men at the
bar.Sawdy slipped out the back door
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