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Show I SPEARMAN I f-WWr FRANK H. SPEARMAN W. N.U. SERVICE for help?" he thundered nt Sawdy. Alnt never learned liow yet" retorted the wounded man majestically. majes-tically. Carpy reached the box stall ten minutes later. The doctor held tip the lantern. 'Holla bells!" he exclaimed to McAlpin Mc-Alpin and the hostler. "Don't leave tbe man lying In this dirt. Henrv," be knelt nt Sawdy's bead "what have they been doing? Who stuek yon?" "Doc," declared the notorious bachelor, "you might say I stuck myself. Sew me up and send the bill to my fnther-ln-law after I get married, will you?" "I wouldn't want to Impose like tbat on a decent father-in-law, Henry Hen-ry ; It'll be bad enough for any man to have you hitched Into his family. Lift hhn out of here, bovs give me "Doc, I'll confess, I couldn't see much just a blur." '"And your eyes ache and sting now. don't they?" "They burn a little, Doc." "I'll say they burn a little! Flow many mornings has this been going on?" , Denison was silent. "Only yesterday yes-terday and today, doctor," confessed con-fessed Jane, hesitatingly. "Well, don't try it any more," said Carpy to Denison. "If you do, I'll put you back in a dark room. I only let you out here on the theory you'd behave yourself." Carpy picked up his bag. He was part way down the corridor when he was waylaid by Lefever. CHAPTER XI "POME Into Sawdy's room a min- ' ute, Doc," pleaded Lefever, HAPTER X Continued 12 -,'s your horse, Barney. bolter she lilm a bit of e;ore you go ... . NoV "t and Sawdy had ''into the stall with McAlpin ;frvimin led the horse on: , started to follow. Sawdy Mtid on his shoulder. "Just "I ,"e I want to talk to you. ly t ffe'U join you in a min- t ;l,C3 opr asked Rebstock. .."sawdy closely, and always- LA .'US. ifij was standing backed ipse 'one side of the box stall, ust ,. he said la confidential J j 'Td like to have just a r irse-to-horse talk with you." "'i'' it d'yon mean, horse-to- talk?" snapped Barney. :Jts ,: this : Do you feel just ex-5 ex-5 ( .-tit, leavin' your money with iYWand?" t Ho vou mean?" Hash, and knew he was facing the most dangerous man with a knife :llon ,lle Spanish Sinks. Ten .youthful years spent among Mexican Mex-ican bandits, together with a lean and jumpy physical make-up, had given Barney Nonstock the name of a mean man with a knife, and Sawdy Saw-dy had no Intention of adding to the outlaw's reputation as a killer if he could help it. The light was In the lap of the sods. 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. It was soon a question as to whose wind would give out Brst Sawdy, heavier, heav-ier, was at a disadvantage in endurance. endur-ance. While they feinted and jumped about, his foot slipped. Barney saw the opening. He lunged forward. Sawdy instinctively instinctive-ly whirled sidewise and threw tin a hand. We've got to get him up to the office. What's that noise out in the corral?" "Notbin' at all," blustered McAlpin, McAl-pin, struggling along the gangway with Sawdy's feet. "Just a few bucks from the Reservation, Inltiat-Ih' Inltiat-Ih' Barney Kebstock into the tribe. Henry, you're heavier than a ton of bricks. I can't hold on much longer." Not until the doctor had nearly finished dressing the cowman's leg did the wounded man begin to tell the story. And he had hardly been made ready to send to the hospital when John Lefever and Bob Scott appeared at the box office door with Barney Rebstock, white and scared. "What's a-matter with the rest of you?" exclaimed Carpy testily, as he eyed the three. "Why, Barney," explained Lefever blandly, "fell off his horse a few minutes ago and broke his wrist. Fix him up, will you, doc?" "What the devil's this cutting and squawking all about?" asked Carpy of Lefever later that night. The two were seated in the doc- "Ile'd like to talk this thing over with you." Sawdy, propped up In bed, led the talk. But the talk was not to Dr. Carpy's liking. "Yes," he muttered mut-tered scornfully, "I expected that's the way it would work out. If there's a mean job to be done in this town, put it on me." But the pair now working on the doctor's sympathies knew their victim vic-tim pretty well and, having once brought him to refuse their request, needed only to persevere in order to make him grant it. This brought Carpy back that afternoon to Denison, Deni-son, alone. "Doctor," said the injured man, "I couldn't be sure this morning when Jane was here whether you were talking to encourage her and me, or whether yon really think you can save my sight." "Bill, I was honest In what I said," returned Carpy. "I believe and hope I can save your eyes. But it's not all In my hands; I told you that, too. If Nature's willing, we're going to get through all right does that satisfy you?" t'TlmPo oil T o nlr Tr "Bill," said the doctor suddenly, "Sawdy and Lefever have found out who burned the ranch house and why it was set afire." "Who was it?" asked Denison violently. vio-lently. "Keep cool, Bill ; keep cool. It's a mean mess." Denison was on fire. "Why don't you tell the story?" he demanded angrily. "What did they do?" "First," responded Carpy, determined deter-mined not to be rushed, "they found that Barney Rebstock had a pocketful pock-etful of money since the fire. They lured him down to McAIpin's barn. When Sawdy began to question him, he showed fight. The upshot 'H wa feel safe? I ask you as ? 11 j man, Barney, and an old do von feel safe, leaving a II J a Boland?" 1" ey fumbled mentally. "Why ;t I!" he countered bluntly. , bate to see you. after this -you've had, lose your mon-S: mon-S: :b" Harry Boland," persisted I raan. "I'll tell you honest S yon can tell the critter hiin-S hiin-S : yon like I wouldn't never 2. five hundred of my money Harry Boland." J(0 rer had it to leave, did you?" INK 1 no foolin', Barney, jn't do It. So that's what I B man to man keep your pM - in the hank, not in a dive. Ian yon got a receipt for your :eco i much money are you leav- y-J him?" ie of your damned business, j tow much. I'm headin' up ijj :st. Get out of the way." ft get sore, Barney. I'm V j tbe best for you. Just wait his knee to save his stomach. The savase thrust of Barney's knife caught the calf of his leg. As the cowman went down, his fingers gripped Barney's wrist. With a mere twist of the deadly grip learned long ago In Tanhandle 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 confederates 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 unlatched the gate of the stall as he called and hastened inside with Scott and Page at his heels. McAlpin ran down from the office. It was a moment before Lefever could make out just what was happening on the floor, as Bar- tor's office about midnight. "Doc," explained Lefever, "the boys are pretty sore about Bill Denison's ranch house gettin burned down. The day after the fire Barney Kebstock Keb-stock left two hundred with Harry Boland. Where'd he get it? The boys made up their minds to find out. Sawdy got him down to McAIpin's Mc-AIpin's barn, but when he began to pump Barney the cuss showed fight. You know Henry. He'd never used a gun on a shrimp with a knife. So the rest of us, waitin' in the corral, carried Barney out of the barn, showed him a rope by the light of the lantern, and asked him how about that fire." Carpy shook his head. "Dangerous "Danger-ous business, John. Did you string him up?" "Hell no. I hadn't no more'n adjusted ad-justed the noose and asked him was it comfortable under his ear, when he told the whole story. McCrossen hired him to do it for Van Tam-bel Tam-bel " Carpy muttered an angry epithet. gave him two hundred and promised two more when the job was done. What do you think of that, Doc?" "You fellows ought've asked me that afore you began stringing Barney Bar-ney up," added Carpy, after a moment's mo-ment's thought, "there's only one thing I know of you can do now. Bill Denison is the man most interested in-terested in the situation the way it stands." "I guess we can't get away from that," admitted Lefever. "Lay the whole mess before Bill and ask him what's to be done." Lefever was doubtful. "I don't know what the boy will say, doc." "And I don't care a hang." retorted re-torted Carpy. "That's all they'll get from me." Nest morning Carpy was making his rounds at the hospital. In the carridor he encountered Lefever. John took off his hat and scratched his head. "Well, doc!" he exclaimed. ex-claimed. "Well," echoed Carpy, "what you doing up here?" "We talked It over." "Who's we?" "Why, Sawdy, McAlpin, Bob Scott, Ben Page, 'n' me. We talked it over 'n' concluded to follow your talk nut It up to Bill." of it was, the two went at it hammer ham-mer and tongs in a box stall. Barney Bar-ney had a knife he drove it through Sawdy's leg, and Sawdy was choking him to death when McAlpin and the boys heard the noise and stepped in to save the thief. Then they took him out behind be-hind the barn till he told his story. "Mind you, this now Is Barney's story might or might not be the facts. He claimed he was paid two hundred dollars to set the house afire, with a promise of two hundred hun-dred -more after he'd burned it." Carpy paused. He thought the sickening truth must have already begun to penetrate Denison's mind; it had not. "Who," asked Denison, with a fell epithet, "paid him to burn me up?" "As Barney tells It," continued Carpy deliberately, "it was between McCrossen and Gus Van Tambel." Denison sprang from his chair. He tore the bandage from his sightless sight-less eyes. From his disfigured lips poured a stream of bitter words. "Not too fast, Bill not too fast. Remember there'll be another to suffer like hell if this thing ever gets out." "Oh, I know it must never get out. But that man! Doc, he ought to be roped and dragged to death by a wild horse. If ever a robber and a thief and a murderer deserved de-served stringing up, that man does. He's killed, or had killed, every man that ever stood in his way of stealing land or cattle, or anything a man had that he wanted." "Cool off, Bill, cool off." Denison sat down with his hands over his face. It wrung Carpy's heart to see him suffer. "I can't Doc. I can't!" (TO DE CONTINUED) JI1 ::te an' I'll walk up the street v, ""'n gettin kind of thirsty my-.jjjjj my-.jjjjj Kd yon hear, Barney, about you a 'Bison's place gettin' burned ilia ' m about a fire out that :re0E, hat about it?" demanded the ss ' lture ?, nothin' nothln at all. IflJil !ey' thls Is why 1 wanted to you : There's folks here js hi TD that don't know you as A P 5 ' do, are mean enough to tnow a lot more about iedw "e than you want to tell. I tboti tley're wrong what'll I tell , 1 'em to go to hell." ?se they won't do It, Bar-,0 Bar-,0 asked Sawdy calmly. (Ml shuffled angrily. "Look WfM Sawdy. You can't bunk me 6 "re. If they don't want to ysfD bell, you go for 'em." j"V ; this suggestion, Kebstock itf jj ; again for the stall door. hand came down a bit g; M Barney's shoulder. ,ddiif '3eJ, I want to be friends :f What's the facts about tao : 1 volley of oaths, Rebstock ..Art a.- - ' An "SM'rr trom Sawdy's grasp, AditJ.'. urrledIy away, and tried airtj ,'ln8 over the side wall. !fi! '. Was to Quick. He jumped conght him by the arm, and :i hiai halfway across the - Barney landed on his hands -es. sprang to his feet, and Ws old-time acquaintance ""ITj e(1 eyes. In the dim light &h antem, high in the gang-ffZ gang-ffZ 5 caught the flash of the knife. '. Were quick. Rebstock, -5 ; '"i lighter, could strike and nlS t wildoat- but ne faced W H though larger and heav-nDfUl heav-nDfUl iS esteemei3 among his fel-$W fel-$W , e ham to corner. Sawdy rB Side 0f the Sta11 nit ' , k t0 the "Klit- He could & jock's eyes flashing green. -""V wanted to get close ETA1 .i Sawily to cut him and .: ronSh the door. m?F LiCarrle(1 his gl,n Reb" b& 'eft his own with Boland yi ' disdained to use it on a j Plate1 ' y man. It was no jf" 's Program to get himself ,j CO' ij(r,'th the law by shooting : 1,1 "a : v'hat he and his cro-UJ cro-UJ from Rebstock was in- ot r!'!et' botn men, one big, SP j "all, were jumping about , lke boxers stripped for fa te'tSaW' th0Ugh big' , men !u D his feet among '5lf H 1 rode tne Gunlock a ha" llttle alcohol i' 1,8 naturally as quick as a He Could See Rebstock's Eyes Flashing Green. nev, half choked, writhed under the remorseless grip that closed his windpipe. Sawdy, spread out on his stomach, lay. a huge bu k, with one arm over his antagonist. Only his6 heavy breathing Indicated life "Henry !" exclaimed Lefever. W nai the hell's happened?" keod .'mighty I It's in your leg. HeLerfever started to draw it out Hod on. John! Don't touch ha hm vou eet a tourniquet on. A ho s 7 ll heavy bloodshot eyes her n Scott "Bob! Look-see r?erUCOs.lt an artery ore vein." . onnrtln" from SCOttT Hetl.oa tourni-the tourni-the wound. He ra quet from a thon or r ..Get up and got Carpy 1Duttered Mc Alp o Page jg you moonin auouw cut. Run, BenP Barney.. gled-e, burning over his "meJCOtlSn 'stock, gave McAlpin, erlPPln Iiveryman al-orders al-orders to J"' 'ifienry !" he WayVr in his excitement "Lay shouted in ma ,t st!r tm right where you are Carpy comes, ny " "Sit down there In the office till I see him myself." "0. K., Doc. I'll go In and set with Sawdy." Dr Carpy opened the door or Denison's room. Close to Denison, who sat, with bandaged eyes, in an armchair, stood Jane, arranging some briar roses in a vase. Jane turned. "Oh, here's Dr. Car-ry Car-ry Bill Good-morning, doctor!" "Any morning's a good morning when a man can set eyes on an up-an'-coming girl like you," said Car-nV Car-nV "Bill " he continued brusquely, 'you're too slow. If I bad as good a sight for sore eyes as she Is, rl-ht close to me, I'd take a peek at her If I had to go blind the rest of my life." . t jane turned away with a protesting protest-ing smile, Denison looked confused. .Say!" exclaimed Carpy susp.cious-lv susp.cious-lv "what's been going on here? What have you two been up to? Bill" he said suddenly, "yome been moving that bandage!" -Wliv I did lift the bandage for a few seconds," confessed Denison. "What for?" To look at the roses. "Bill, you're a blamed liar. Ton lifted it to look at tins girl- d.dn t be Jane?" Carpy thundered How do I know, doctor?" asked Tane demurely. Bill" he said, sitting down by bis patient, "tell me just what and bow much did you see when you lifted that bandage. |