White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-04-08
/ GUNLOCk RANCH
by FRANK HI. SPEARkAN
H. pearman Service
by FRANK HI. SPEARMAN
wNU Service

of the lantern, high In the gang
way, SAVOY caught the flash Of the
blade of a knife.
Both were quick. Rebstock,
smaller and lighter, could strike and
spring like wildcat, but he faced
a foe who, though larger and heav-
Ter, was esteemed among his fell
lows as one hard to corner. Sawdy
held the door side of the stall
with his back to the light. He could
see Rebstock's eyes flashing green.
Rebstock wanted to get close
enough to SAVOY to cut him and
jump through the door.
SAVOY carried his gun-Reb-
stock had left his own with Boland
but he disdained to use it on
partly unarmed man. 1t was no
part of his program to get himself
embroiled with the law by shooting
the criminal; what he and his cro-
MES wanted from Rebstock was in
formation.
In moment, both men, one big,
the other small, were jumping about
the stall like boxers stripped for
the ring. But SAVOY, though big,
was the fastest on his feet among
the cowmen that rode the Gunlock
ranges. He had little alcohol
aboard, was naturally as quick as
flash, and knew he was facing the
most dangerous man with knife
along the Spanish Sinks. Ten
youthful years spent among Mex
lean bandits, together with lean
and jumpy physical makeup, had
given Barney Rebstock the name of
a mean man with a knife, and Saw
dy. had no intention Of adding to
the outlaws reputation as killer,
If he could help it.
The fight was in the lap of the
gods. A misstep or a foot slip
might end it any second.
Barney, enraged at his plight, was
breathing hard, and wind was too
precious to waste in words. This
silent struggle for the one slight
advantage that would end the fight
went on to the music of jerky
breaths and nimble footing. 1t was
soon a question as to whose wind
would give out first Sawdy, heav-
Ter, was at disadvantage in endur-
ance. While they tented and
jumped about, his foot slipped.
Barney saw the opening. He
lunged forward. SAVOY instructive
'ly whirled sidewise and threw up
his knee to save his stomach. The
savage thrust of Barney's knife
caught the calf of his leg. AS the
cowman went down, his fingers
gripped Barney's wrist. With
mere twist of the deadly grip
learned long ago in Panhandle knife
fights, he snapped like matches the
two bones of Barney's forearm.
The wiry outlaw screamed. He
was through;- $. the rear gangway
doors were flung open, and the con-
federates came running in from the
corral.
From the darkness Of the box
stall came only the swish Of hard,
breathing. and the oaths and cries;
Of Barney. Lefever grasped the bail
of the lantern and threw. the light
rays within.
"Henry!" he yelled in alarm.
"What's a-matter, pard?, What's
wrong?" He Unattached the gate Of
the stall as he called and fastened
inside with Scott and Page at his
heels. McAlpin ran down. from the
office. 1t was a moment before
Lefever could make out just what
was happening on the floor, as Bar
ney, half choked, awrithed under the
remorseless grip that closed his
windpipe. Sawdy, spread out on
his stomach, lay, a huge bulk, with
one arm over his antagonist. Only
his heavy breathing indicated life.
"Henryl" exclaimed Lefever. "What
the heu's happened?"