"He Slashed and Smashed with the Gun, Pistol-Whipping Men Already Unconscious"

"New Year's Duty."
By Johnston McCulley (1883-1958).
First appearance: Detective Mystery Novel, Winter 1948.
Short story (11 pages).
Formerly on Pulpgen.

"Deputy Sheriff Retland is ready to retire—but not before walking into the gunfire of two killers in the line of duty!"

What starts out as a routine New Year's Eve for Lew Retland turns into anything but ordinary when a jealous gangster decides to eliminate the competitor for his girl's affections, and the girl, and anybody else who might get in the way—which just happens to be Lew . . .