0
THURSDAY, JULY 1. 1920.
THE SPIUNGFTBLD NEWS
PAG Elf
T Tf f Tfff ????f TTTfTTTTTTTT
Crooked
Trails
and
I Straight j
t William MacLeod Raine
X 0f n(kk W lauiaaaaa. tlnaiaaa?
YNOPSIft.
Part I.
C'HArTr.R I Ad vstiint on art rrk
Miliar than nuiiiuai, anil nHrt li
liMiwr. Curly Hindi mi anil hia chum.
Mao. Wain aiai'lii ally waia !, b' otna
InvaUM In a hot aiantlng alanima
llafaia( f Ilia ai.ilau Much, In lha Inwn
af tatmcha. Aria, lh baml aafiarataa,
ly and Ma parmar alarlna In town.
Thar aia aftaaauart and lnl4 a poaaa la
In lawn In put anil of (ham. Thar eioda
flair aurauara Otarlakan nail day, Mae
M klu4 by It, a pnaaa and. Curly mada
aaatlva, aflr la t.aa aim! ona and him
self han wnmnted Tha man aliul la
Lurk Culllaon
t IIAI'TKIt II -Culllanae frlan.la, all
eatiJatuan, rt-tiniliia lo l nrh forty aa
an aiamnla t , a'tla tlilavra Willi tha
l"pa ar'Min.l ,ia (,a..k tia la a.nait liy Ida
Inlarvrnh..!! or Kaia Ciiiliaon, luck'a
eaughtar.
CflU'TKrt III -Ilia wound dr....1.
and fmli-r tltt!Mia iittt arfl,rit'f d.
I'uilv la rnl ir l,v I'tilllanii Ilr iii-a-liona
Mi l i'oiii-i tiitig a rintirt loua out
law, HoNpy Htoua. iru rl,, r ,( Hie Mia
llara aim I lirrn I'ufly'a million
I lamltaii Iniina dial H"uiy hmna la Oil.
Ilanii'a liiifr runny aii'l axrri !a-a a bala
ful InrtiirtK iiht Ilia r li ilfi"a ami
Ham Mho lii iiitrri! kiiii hla fathar.
Culiimin n't' luil for t'uil.
(.'IIAI'TKIt IV urly raai uaa Hnapy
Htmia fi"m a l- r Imp inl'i Mlili h lia haa
tiiiul.lod and 4''' ci a II. al Ilia miN
la Joniia. Ha in tual fur Ilia I and nf I. au
la IxmxI'iii Mia (l ra fully a nota lo
dMar lo Ham. and Klanrtiau and Htona
aal mil for lha laltar'a lamli.
HI fTIR V.-Thara Curlv ..ta Ma
ronjia nlona nf Ilia mailing mr1if inn and
dalltara I aura a noia In Ham Volitif
( ulllaon lu-haiaa Hiona la lila filxntt and
ava ha will allrk by lilin naiulrau aaa
aoina moa la hli t plarmad and hornmaa
ronln'ad l la Ira'n rolibory. Hm taavaa
Ika ram h lo o lo ftafuacli. Curly ao
campanlra him.
( TIArTKM VI - Kvdn.pr.ln al a
tnaailng plara. Curlv lirara HU'na and hi
Jlauirnanl. I.uia Hlarkaall, arranta in
old nt lha lialn al a rroaaina known aa
Tin Cup. and afiar Ilia rnlibary alirxil
yoiina ('iilliann and laava hla bixly on Ilia
'-ana, llmw lhn (lultln( hla ravanga on
tha a-aliarifr llirouah hla aon'a drain and
diaarrai a Curly la a'iiad hy Hlona of
bainf a apy nf l.in k Ciilllaon'a Tliay ara
awpaialad. hul pari a llh Ita undaraiand
Inc llial thalr nail niaatlng i will maan a
fahl lo lha ia". Curly djjkra a ion
fldanl of DI' U Mulnnav, i ailt'iimn. and
lhay Infm tti I tic U CulUann of Wluna a plui
atainai hla a-m.
Part II.
CIIAPTKH l-Aflar an all-Pllit aaa
Ion at lha itoundup i-luli, In whh h Cutll
B'tn Haa Inal heavily ihvra la an axrlianga
of aharp wold haiariu l.nc U arid a
hrapman. (' l-'andrluk. with whom
Culllanti haa a f'ud
CM,'TF:n ll -Hn iacha ala.lrlflad
by Ilia lira a nf lha holdup of ftp'
niraain(ai a. lha hiiridlta a nrlnf $,'VI
Ciililauii paa hla po. ar iliMa. ami ahnr'ljr
afterward Matrnla anl Alan l-'laiiclrau,
hla rlnaaal filnnU Ir.irn t la aimi-ar'al
of lh- apfra i"l.iciv, hla I. ill da . Ing
barn fnuinl on the m ene and ha bring
milling
CHAI'TKrt lit - Kl- (! m Hugimrha
for a roiiaiillntlon with Maikanxla A In
I'laiidiau and Cntlv All ara ronvlni'rd
of l.m k'a liumrr'K i- Tha aliprlrf iaaal
Hint haauh-a Hit- nn ll'ii; of CulllHon'a hat.
and hla i.iymi-iii of hla ilehla. ' p't-n-llrl'
k liml wrn l"" rohlmr an l l iilmol
crrtMlu II . I."'k Culllaon la hiioiiI to
anlar a liiiiin-Mlt-inl cl iim H hl h will prac
tically put IViulrick nut f bimlnaaa.
CAI"n:il IV -Iwta'a alirdnra ra-
vanla how I'nllia in had lukaii I'cndrlrk'a
hill a lien ha h-M I In' Itoiindnp i lull, and
anapU'lnn poiiua Nlriuiuly In a framrilp nil
1 Vlnlrli k a (mil m l In hla hln laatuMi
al for I ji. k'a iIIh ippaarani a. Tha ahar
rf lainlvaa a a.-.'tia nf nniaa turning on
lha ".lark ol llmrta." Curly rlnda a l
tr alora hy Unit naiiin and aai iirra ri
1-iii llial lha rrlriraaa. Mia. Wylla.
knowa what happonad to lurk.
IIAI'TKIt V In tha rallar or tha rl
gar alorx r'lainltvu Hilda a rlphar maa
a.i(a laft liy Ci.lllooii. and follnwa the
ai nt l.ui'k la lialil pi lannar hy Kamlrli-k
nd HlarkwaSI In a ahi-p hanlrr'a ratiln
In Ilia iiioiinlalna I'riidihk wanla him In
algn a rahiiiila!iiiunl of lila Iminaataad
rlghla. coml 1 1 Ion d I to hla rcleuae.
fit AI'TKIt VI. r I'lifaay ovar Ilia po
alhla rraulla nf hla klilmiplng of tha rat
lli'iiian. I'Vndtlik trlla Kata Culllaon
aiio'igh of tha aloiy to Induce har In ai -iniuPMiiv
hlrn to liar fniliar. Culllami
fi-ailna fur hla iliiuglitar'a aufaly alinulci
aha ha rft at Ilia niariy of Hlarkwrll.
aitfiiN Hi'- iallnfUiHliiiiint and acconipaiilea
ata hnnia.
CI I A rTKTt VII.-iii ky O Connor, of
tha Trna It.iiigfia. Ilf.-lnng frland of Cul
lixim, lukfx a liund In tha gama, ha and
Curly imikliiir n aaiiri'li for tha nilaalng
iiiiiii. o'Ciinunr i ranta IVihIi ii k, chirg
Ing lilin Willi tin aliiliKlluii. Culllaon
NtaUa I'l-nili'lrk will) lha ohtoi't nf puulaU
Iiik tha Mhi'cpiiiiin urHnillv. hut O'Con
nor frirlilila, hnlillhit I'UiuliUk under ar
rrat. CIIAI'TKH VIII.-O'Cnnniir apprahands
Itlaajlv I'll on IiIh wav to hoiipv Himii' l
rum h ii ml hrlnna him to SiiKuiu lia Hhirlc
will HitinllH I ln rvpnHH roliharv. i liiliiilng
I'lMiilrtik took llm uiniii'V fro 1 1 1 him. Ha
alno i'viiIiiiiih I lui ciit'uiiiMiiiiu'aa of Culll
aon'a alulu. tlnn
Fi'mlrli'k. '1ki Inn) lionnl iln shunt-
till) of tlx ini'll Iim UimI In tin pxpri'Hs
ulllci'. muin'il the rohl.cr, hut IHiuk-
veil broUi' nwny nml ion ilown tin-
iillpy. The hIiim'hhii follow cd nml
tiiUKht til in. Aflor nnoihrr nciillh tin
convict nuiiln hiiiuint'i'iMl hlmsi'lf fioc,
hut loft hi'hlnd lli hniiil Hiilchcl con-
tnltilnu lhi spnllx l''ciiilrl( k (ho he
Inter cJcrilMlnod to Ithickwcll) Ih'il u
cord lo tho hnmllf of the him nml
dropped It down I In' chiito of it hinii-
tlry In kih'Ii ii wny ilitit II could hili'i-
lu) driiwn tii. Then h hurried IhhU
In the pxjtri'wa ollii'o Htid ri'li'ifi'd tin'
tirlkoiici'a. AfUT I hi PXi'ltiMllcnt l.:id
uimMed, he had returned for Ihe
mone nml hid It, The original robber
lll nf know where,
iSliK'kwcH'a icoiii oii'clliif with (hi
alii'i'piiiiin hnil heen nIiiionI pa alarlllnu
J Na tin ftrf. Cna luid run Info Oil
.litcl. of llciirla In I Inn n anvp ih llf
of M piw'in, Tin lw men reeoitnl.ed
eneh other nml enter)! lulu a coiupucl
f nhdiiel Culllaon. for hi kliHr In
nhli'ti the older in ho - pkld out
llioiiaatid doHnr.
r.nlh men nake Hie anme qtieatlon
wini i mr ha hnd flnlahad.
"Where I Hie money ynu gnt trtm
the mhl on ine W. k 8. office f
"Don1! know. fVe heen at Fenrlrlck
aver alnre to tell me, lle'a r"t It unit
ed aoinew here. Toil're Hilnf In put
on behind tti bara, and he'a the. man
that really tlnle If."
I'rotn Ihli Ihey could not ahake Mm.
a a , a a a
Kendrlrk, rldlns on Meaa Verde, met
younf ftoh Culllaon. and tiefpre he
knew what had happened found a tun
thrown on him.
TWtn't yon tiw," the hoy warned
' "What rloea ihl tommy rot meanT"
tlx aheepman demanded angrily.
''It mean that yon are coming hack
with me (o the ranch. Tha fa what It
VrWIrJ."
What for?"
"Never yon mind what for."
"Oh. go to Maxlen." Cnaa, flung bark
In pnllenlly. "Think we're In koine
foul moving -picture play, yon lilntned
toiiiig Idiot? Put tip liml tun."
Shrilly I'.nb relortiit. He wna eclred
einiiit'li to he diinaeroiia. "Ihni't yon
ft the wrung Iden. I'm gulng to
turke (hla allrk. You'll turn and go
lmk with ine to the Circle (5. You're
unfed for the V. A S. exoreaa role
her)'. I'luekell hit folifcKaed.'
I Cnaa ant liniiiovnlilo na tin noliln?.
' id- nk thinking Ihnt he misht n m il
i.ii'e ine ciuirge now nanny lime, .iiore
oier, lie hud repaona for uul lug to )
vUlf the Circle C. They hud to do j
llli tl (nil, allni girl who never looked
nt ti I in ivlihoiit acorn In her dnrk, fluh
tl Z eea.
"All rlsht. I'll go hnck with you. but
not under a gun. I won't f;md for
nny gun-play mptnri."
"Y'oull have to atam! for It."
T IrleU'a fnci act. "Will I? Ifa
up to you.. then. I.ct'a ace you mnke
j ine.
j Silling there wllh hla gnre Memlllv
, mi the hoy. Ciim. hud Hub nt a dla.-id-
i . . n .. I ll... . I . .... ....M I. ...I ,HI...I
' ,i in.- ,i- p. ,.no- i,i I I li-i
to tircfik nwny Into the chnpnrral, Bnl
could have blared anny nt him. but he
could not aliooi a mini looking nt hint
wtlli cynical. anniHed eyea. He could
i.nderMnnd .he. a.ln. of vl.-w f l.l.i
! adverMiry. If Fciulriek mile Into the !
i Circle C under coiopuNlon of n gun In i
I the bund of a hoy he would never
I henr the end of the Inilli on him.
' I'.uli put up hla hl Mm cun reluc- j
j tHtitly. Never before hild It been j
j tniloed on h Iiiiiiiiiii In-lug. 'iml It wna i
a renih to give up the llmuuhl of
hrltitflng In the enemy na a prlinner
Bui be auu lie coiilil not pull It oft i
They turned tnwnrd the Circle C
Kute m oenled on I lie mi i'Ii new I
'trig. She inso In NiirprNe when hei
cousin ti nil the hhi-cpiii'in tippeiired
They came with Jingling niiir ncrn
i Ik pliiii lowiird her.
"Wh.'ien t'nile I. ink. als? I've
lirotlghl thia t'ellinv luii'k With til-.
Cinllit liini mi the nie-i," cxphilueil
the liny aulklly.
Fi'liilrtck bowed alher eMr.'ivimnnl
i . "H'"i ipmlify lux for a tiiuvlng pic
ture iiiw ni'ior, Mis CiiIIIsiiii. I
hnilu't the lieu It to ilNitppoliit hlin
when be gol'lluil ciinimn trnlned on
me. Sn here I am."
Knte looked at It I ill and then let her
gnr.e travel to tier cousin. She Koine
how go the cflVrl of Juduliig him
f negllgihU vain.'
"I think he'a In hla ofllce. Bob. I'll
go PI."
She went swiftly and presently her
futlier .'iiine out. Knte did not return.
I. nek looked -at might at Cn with
the iiucomproiiiiKlng hostility ho chnr
BcterKflc of him. Neither of ihe men
spoke. It was Bob who nuide the nec
anry explanations.
"I've been looking for you,'" Luck
ald bluntly, after hfs nephew had fin
ixhi'ii "So giirhercd frHii young .Jchu
-lnines. Anything piirtlculur. or Just
a pleiiMiht hocIiiI ciill?"
"You're in hiitl on this W. ,t S. rob
liery. I reckoned ynii would he Hiifcr
In Jiill till Hi den ifil up "
"You Ktill nhcriir. Mr. Culllson?
oiueliow I had got a notion that you
hnil null the Job."
"I'm nn Inlercsted party. We'll take
the Hinge Into town and see what
O'Connor says that Is, If you've got
time to go." Luck could be Hi formal
in hla siireiisiu na his neighbor.
"With fctich good company on the
way I'll have to make tline."
The Mage did not usually leave till
Hlinut half past one. I'rt'sciitly Kate
announced dinner. A little uwkwnrdly
Luck Invited the Hhocpinau to Join
them. lYiulrlel; declined.
His bout hung In I ho doorway. Sol
dnm nt n loss to express himself, ho
did, not quite know how to put Into
words what he was thinking. His cuo
my understood.
"That's ull rljihl. 'You've satlslled
the demand of hnapltallly. Co est
your dinner. I'll be right here on the
J porch when on jet through,"
Knte, who wn atandlng beahle her
father, atoke quietly.
"There a n (dace for you. Mr. r'end
rick, f We ahonld be very pleaaed to
have yon Join na. I'eople who happen
lo be at Hie Circle C at dinner time are
eipected to eat hre"
Tendrlck looked at the young rola
treaa of I he ranch, 'lie meant to de
cline once more, but unaccountably
found hlmaeir accepting Inatead. Some
thing In her face told him aha would
rather have It ao. .
Preaently a young man came Info the
dining room and aat down bealde Kate,
lie looked. the laaat In tha world ur
pilaed at alght of the ahcepuian.
"Mornln', C'aa." he norlded.
"Morning. Curly." anawered Frnd
rlck. lidn't know you were riding for
the Circle C."
"Hi'i my foreman." t.nck explained.
Cas ntmerved that he waa quite one
of the family. Boh admired him open
ly and without aliaine, hecatine he waa
the beat rldr In Arizona ; Kate aeemed
to be on the beat of term with him
and I.tiek treated him with the off
hand blnlTneaa be might have uned to
w"ard a grown aon.
The aiaji- brought the two men to
town almrtly after aundown. Luck
railed up O'Connor and made an ap
pointment to meet him aflr supper.
Tbere' a nintier that necda ei
plnlnlng. C(iks. Acconllng to lllack
well'a atory. you cnught him with the
good at the time of the robbery, and
In milking lila get-away he left the
loot with you. What have you done
with It?"
"isipckwi ll inld you tlmf. did he?"
"Yes.V
"Ihm't doubt your word for n nio-
ment. Buck, , but before I do anv talk-J
.1... ... u . . .. . . .. ....1
Ing I d like to henr hlin uuy ho. I ll
nt round on hlin until I know he's
given hlmaeir away."
The convict waa aent for. He atib
i a nt la led (he ranger reluctantly. He
wh ao hemmed In l hut l.e did not
know how to play hla cards so aa to
make the most of them.
'Cass heard him ont with lifted
cpner lip and his moat antnnolent tiger
cat expreMilon. After Black well had
flnlahed and lieen withdrawn from clr
ctilHtiou lie rolled anil lit m clgnrette.
"By Mr. Blink well'a my-ao I'm the
gout. By th way, has It eer oecurreil
to you ueiiiteiuen tliHI one ciin't bi
I'nnvlcii il on the lestlmony of a alngle
i ncconipllie?"
i "Wee got a little clrcumatiintlal
"Vd.-nce t.. Ch. Bitcy augBit-
ed pli'jisnui y.
.Vol eiitiuuh not netirly enotigh."
Tlmt will tie for a Jury to decide,'
Culliiou chipped in.
j Fendrick Khriiggcd "I've a not Inn
; to lei it go to thHt. Bui what's the
uieV Lmh't'oiaml this. I wasn't going I
III Liw I'.Imi-L u ell iiuiiv tin! fcllice he I
has talked I may tell what I know.
It's true cniuu'li what he mivs.
relieve him nf flie plunder."
"Sorry to bear that, t'as."
JjJ 1
I
. I
K"'y !
comniei.tr. I griiM'ty. "What did you i
.In Willi liV j
The Hhecp owner flicked his cigar- j
etle nsll Into I he tray find looked nt the )
lleiiteiiiiut out of half-shuttered. Indo- !
"Gave It to You, Bucky."
lent eyes, "tiavo It to you. Bucky. fsoi
that Idler I siai ded you the oihel
day?" I
The olllccr produced It from his Hate.
"Open fl."
With a pnper knife Bucky ripped the
flap and look out n tdicct of paper.
"There's something else In there,"
Fendrick suggested.
Thm Koincihliig else proved to be a
piece of paper folded tlghlly, which,
being opened. dls?'losei a key.
O'Connor read aloud the letter!
"To NIcliolaR Bolt, Sheriff, or Bucky
O'Connor, Lleuicmini of Bankers:
"Having conic into possession of a
llltlo valise which Is not mine. I hii
gotilng rid of It In the followliMi man-
ner. 1 have rented n large aafety-de-
poaij box it the. Cattleiimo'a National
brink and have put Into it the vallae
with the lock atlll unbroken. The key
l Incloaed herewith. 8liaw, the caah
ler. will tell ou that when thia loi
wna rented I gnve explicit ordera It
ahould he opened only by the men
whoie nnme are given In ait envelofie
left with hlin, not even excepting my
aelf. The vallae waa deposited at ex
actly 10:.TO a. m. the morning after
the robbery, aa Mr. Khaw will alao
teat If 7. I am writing thia the evening
of the isme day.
"CASS FKNDR1CK."
Tmn't believe a word of It," Culllaot)
exploded.
"Seeing bellerlng," the aheepmao
murmured. Me waa enjoing greatly
the dlacomfltnre of hla foe.
"Makea a likely fairy tale. What for
would yon keep the money a.nd not
turn It back?"
"That'e an eaay one, Lnck. He
wanted to throw the harden of the
rohhery on you." Bucky explained.
"Well, I'te got to be hown."
Jn the morning he wag ahown. Shaw
cofiflrmed exactly what Fendrick had
aald. He produced a aealad envelope.
Within lhl waa a aheet of paper, upon
which were written two linen:
"fiox 211.1 la to be opened only by
Sheriff Bolt or Lieutenant Bucky
O'Connor of the Banger, and before
wltneni.es.
' "CASS FEXimiCK."
f rom the anfety-depoxlt vault Hin kT
drew h liirge pnckiige wrapped In yel
low piiper. lie cut the airing, tore
aiwiy tin: covering und disclosed a
le.-ither aiilchtl. Terry llnwley, the
loi-nl miiniiger of the Wemern Sic Soul ti
eni i;prevs conipnny. fittiil to this
a kt mi,i took out n aealed bundle.
Thl he i.pped oren before them all.
V'' "" r t enty
th"'initid dolhirs In crinn new b s.
I.. :.l i ... . . .
CHAPTER IX.
A Cleanup.
A slight accident occurred at the
Jail, one o unimportant tint Scanlan
the Jailer did not think It worth re
porting to his chief. Black well, while
eating, knocked a glass from the table
and broke It on the cement floor of bis
cell.
From the little table In his room be
pried loose -one of the corner braces.
At night he scraped away at this with
bin hit of glass until the wood began
to take the shape of a revolver. Thl
he carefully blacked with the Ink
brought him by his guard. To the end
of his weapon he fitted an Iron washer
taken from the bedstead. Then he
waited for his opportunity.
HIh chance came through the good
nature of Scanlan. Blackweil pre
tended lo be out of chewing tobacco
and asked the guard to buy him some.
About fen o'clock Scnnlun returued
and brought the tohncco to- his pris
oner. As be passed the plug through
til., i.t-iiffi.if. I!ln..l.- ...! I'u tl i.n.... A.,c.n.l
..i.....,. i.vni no,,, -in .o.j-t-u
around his wrist and drew the man
close to the iron lattice work. Siinul-
.. ...... -. -- .
ii. iivoiiiji cool run was prcsseii
against the temple of the guard.
"Don't move, or I'll rill you full of
holes." the convict warned.
Scanlan did not move, not until the
man In the cell gave the word. Then
he obeyed orders to flie let ten. His
right hand found the hunch of keys,
tilted the correct one to the door and
unlocked It ticcord:ng to Instructions.
Not until he was relieved of his weu
pon did Blnckwell rolense him. The
Jailer was hacked Into the cell, gagged
with a piece of torn bedding and lefi
J locked up as securely as the other had
! been a few minutes earlier,
j The convict made his wny down
I stairs, opened the outer door with the
! hunch of keys he had taken from Scan
j Ian. locked it behind him and slipped
j Into the first alley that offered refuge.
Two hours later he stole a horse from
tin irrigated ranch near town. Within
! twenty-four hours he had reached the
Soapy Si one horse ranch and safely.
After this the plans for the raid on
ihe Texas, Arizona ft I'aclfic flyer
moved wlftly to a head. Soapy Stone
and Sam dropped Into Saguache In
conspicuously one evening. Next day
Si one rndu, dow n to Tin Cup to look
over the ground. Maloney telephoned
their movements to the Circle C and
in I lie llushknifc. This brought to
Saguache Luck Culllson. Curly Flan
drau mid Slats Davis. Bucky O'Connor
Und been called to Douglas on impor-
iint business and could not lend his
elp.
I uck, Curly and Dick Maloney had
ilt'fiidv ridden over the country sur
I'ounillng the scene of the projected
holdup. They had decided that the
I'obhery would probably lake place at
ihe depot, so that the oullaws could
get the agent to stop the tlyer without
arousing nusplclon. In pocket of the
hills hack of the elation a camp had
been selected. Its site well back from
any trail find so situated that from It
one could command a view of Tin Cup.
Tho ovvneoof the Circle C selected
ih ree of his close-mouthed riders
Sweeney. Jake and Buck were tue
oni's he chose to hold the ctunp wllh
him until alter (he robbery. The only
signal they needed was the Mopping- of
the Flyer nt Tin Cup. Then they would
cuinc pounding dow n f n in ihe luIU in
time to catch tb robbera bfve fte"
hud got through wllh their work. Mo
loney or Curl would be on the traia
t take a hnnd In the buttle. fn't;:M
by surprise, Soapy a gang would surely
be trapped.
Ho they planned It. but It happened,
that JtoHpy Stone had made hla a
rangetnents differently.
Luck and bit riders look their blan
kets and their traps down to Tin Cn
according to agreement, w hile Da via.
Maloney and Flandrau beennw vry
friendly with Sam. The boy, younger
than any of them, was flattered that
three of the best known rhWa In tb
territory ahould make ao much ef fclm.
Toung Culllson had stopped drink
ing, but be could not keep hit Darren
from Jumping. Hla companion
watched him so chmely that he waa
never nut of the sight of at leant nn
of them. Snap? bad decreed the boy' -death
by treachery, but bla -friend'
.were determined to save him abd 't "
end forever the relgo of Stone at '
bad man. ' '
It waa one day when the four yooof
cow-punchers, were aittlng together fa ,
Curly'a room playing poker that a spe
cial delivery letter came to Kam. Th
others, to cover their excitement, atatt
ed an argument. Presently Sam spoke.' .
as Indifferently as be could.
"Cot the offer of a Job down the
line. Think I'll run down tonight a
far as Casa Grande and see what's do
In?." Thia was about two o'clock In the
afternoon. The esme dragged on for
a while, but nobody took any Interest
In It. Sam bad to get ready for the
work of tle night, and the ret were
anxious to get out and give him a
chance. So presently Dick Uirew down
his cards.
"I've had enough poker for one se- '
slon. Me. I'm going to drift out and
see what's moving In town."
"Think I'll snooze for a while," Sam
said, stretching sleepily.
The others trooped out and left him
alonu. From the room rented by Davla
the three watched to see that Sam did
not leave without being observed. H
did not appear, and about six o'clock
Curly wentf back to his room.
"Time to grub," he sang ont.
"That's right." Sam agreed.
They went to the New Orleans Hash
House and presently Davla and , Ma
loney also arrived. The party ordered
a good dinner and took plenty of time
to eat It Sam waa obviously nervoua.
hut eager to cover his uneasiness un
der a show of good spirits.
Curly finished eattng just as Sam,'
second cup of coffee came, flandrau,
who had purponely chosen a aeat la
the corner where he was hemmed In by
the chairs of the o titers, began to feel
In his vest pockets.
"Darned If I've got a clgnr. Sam."
you're young and nimble. Go buy m '
one at the counter."
"Sure.". Cullison was away on tit
instant.
Curly's hnnd came out of his pocket.
In It was a paper. Quickly be shook
the contents of the paper into the
steaming cup of coffee and stirred the
liquid with a spoon.
Sam brought back the cigar and
drank his coffee. Without any unnec
essary delay they returned to his room.
Wlen the party reached the room the
hoy was getting drowsy. He 'rubbed)
bis eyes, yawned and slumped down. r
His lids wavered, shut. Jerked open
again, and closed slowly.
"Wake me up, Curly time for
train." And "with that he was sound
asleep.
They took off his boots and settled
hi i
W
In His Pocket They Found a Black
him comfortably. In his pocket they
found a black mask big enough to
cover his whole face The registered
letter could not be foiiud and t li-?jt dl
Cided he tntist have destroyed it.
(To be continued.)
VANTEI OU rags at News office.