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

venturer stepped out of the back
door of one saloon and in at the front
/ door of the other, a curious change
! took place. He had left Spots place
sober-Sawdy was in fact a very
moderate man. He strobe into the
! Red Front Keeling.
! The bar was we'll filled. SaWdy
saw at a glance that among the men
lined up there were number of
town loafers who never drank ex-
cept at somebody's expense. When
Sawdy caught sight of Rebstock
with the loafers around him, infer
ence was swift and correct. Barney
had money.
The soloonkeeper, Harry Boland,
foxy-eyed and alert at the head of
I the bar, saw Sawdy stagger in
through the green baize; he watched
the big fellow closely. SAVOY zig
Jagged back toward the loafers
among whom Barney was holding
forth.
He greeted Barney gravely, then
ordered drinks or everybody in Bar
ney Rebstock's honor. Having ling
cred over the round, Sawdy cast his
eye approvingly upon the thirsty
crowd, passed the forefinger of his
right hand thoughfully under each
wing of his mustache in turn, drew
from vest pocket a gold double
eagle, and made a general proposal.
'Tll match any man here for
twenty-dollar gold pieces" 1t was a
fairly safe offer, because he well
knew all the loafers put together
could not raise twenty dollars.
Barney, after some shilly-shally-
ing, accepted the challenge. He ask
ed Boland to lend him gold piece.
When Boland produced a twenty
dollar coin and tossed it out to Bar
ney, it did not take Sawdy long to
figure out that Barney had money
and that it was in the keeping of the
saloonkeeper. Sawdy, VIGOROUSLY
lucky at matching, lost out after
several trials: he quit forty dollars
to the bad. But he had Barney
greatly inflated by his triumph, with
the whole room crowding eargerly
! around the contestants.
After a round of drink at Barney's
charge, SAVOY brought the talk
around to a fine-looking sorrel out
side at the hitch rack. Barney claim
ed it. SAVOY wanted to buy it. Bar
ney demurred.
Boland heard the talk. He drew
Barney to the rear end of the bar.
'Sell it to him, you fool" whispered
; Boland. "Don't you see he's drunk
as fiddler? You can get twice what
The horse is worth"
Thus encouraged, Barney stepped
out of doors with Sawdy, followed
y little circle of the curious.
The horse was gone. This fact
caused no great excitement; Sawdy
suggested he had got loose and
strayed up or down the street and
that they take look around to find
him. The curiosity of the crowd
weakened, and they re-entered the
saloon, hoping for another chance to
get drink. SAVOY and Barney
walked down the street together,
wrangling as they went over the
nischance and the merits of the
missing horse. AS the pair passed
McAlpin's barn it occurred to Saw
dy they had better look in and ask
/ for information.
A managing lanter lighted the bar
gangway dim1y. Sawdy's call for a
hostler was answered by McAlpin
himself,w no, lantern in hand, am
bled in his peculiar gait briskly for
ward.
Hello, Mac" exclaimed Sawdy,
waving like tall tree in number
four breeze. "We're looking for
Barney's horse" he continued gruff-
ly-"got loose up the street just now
seen anythin' of a stray?"
McAlpin, raising his lantern, look
ed at Rebstock. "Why, yes, seen a
stray" he admitted sulkily.
"Was it a sorrel?" asked Sawdy
with some hope.
ut was a sorrel, Sawdy; saddled
and bridled. What about it,"
otis probably Barney's horse.
Let's see it. Where is it,"
McAlpin jerked his head back
over his shoulder. "In the box stall.
Your horse, Barney?"
"Sure, it's my horse"
Right this way, Barney" return
ed McAlpin. "Put out your cigars,
boys, and come along with me-" he
added, lantern in hand. He scuttled
down the gangway, Rebstock and
SAVOY after him, stopped at the
stall box, hung his lantern on a high
gangway hook, Unmatched the stall
door, and pointed within.
There's your horse, Barney. May
be better give him a bit Of oats be-
l IL.