The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-04
CHAPTER TWELVE

W. haa heen in the game nearly two
wa re Twn hundred and some oda
tbonsanda had passed through our
hands. 1t had passed Quickly al
our partnership was caplohlizeu az
&c. 600 one particular evening whgn W.
struck across the panaanul from o. Nav
we had gone there IN the trail OF
Ho,,ston and Love, We had never given
up the hope of evening up our score
with them. But by that time our busi-
ness connections had become generaiiy
known, II became Increasingly dttticuit
To gain an entree into any law abiding
city. Marshals In New Mexico fogged
US a cargo OF lead In the streets as a
sort OF salvo OF welcome. We let IL
go as a farewell tribute and a
quick getaway.
Fear and Unbearable Quietude
The Panhandle q Texas was forgot.
was the bleakest, poorest, ionlest
tongue OF mesquite grass In All the
Southwest. Deserted duRouts with their
dingy chimneys sticking above the
ground marked the spots where men a
settled, struggled and failed.
The loho wolves hid In the apahs
doned dobe holes, At the sound Of the
| horses they would leap to the grass
their eyes, tlmid and frightened as a
ooyote's-one lope and they were gone
There was a breath OF fear n deser-
ton and unbearable quiet about that
mile OF prairie, 1t seemed isolated IKE
an outlaw,
do with ~quickening Franks SUSCEPTIBLE
ties. For when we saw a ripple OF
smoke coming from a chimney about a
half mile distant 1t seemed ike
a flag Of life waving us back from q
| graveyard. Both OF US laughed and
spurred u horses to the dugout.
As we rode UP a girl n n little fell
| low about five came out TO meet us,
as though they had expected our ar
rival, She was a tall, slender, bright
eyed bit of calico, with q Kind OF pa
thetio smile that went straight to
| Franks heart, Her husband had gone
| to town a week before to buy the din
/ turn.
Had Not Eaten for Two Days.
Frank and I had not eaten for two
days. Neither had the lady nor het
| little SON. II was fifteen miles to the
nearest neighbor. | made the trip and
brought back grub for the family, Frank
the kid sitting on that train robbers
lap and running his small fingers over
Franks face in a trusting way that
made my brother foolish with pride and
hapiness.
The lady cooked UP the fastest meal
we had eaten In many months. She
served with the grace OF q duchess,
Frank sat back and wat he'd her. his
l eyes tightening With pleasure at every
trifling word she said. This glimpse
OF home life was the first real adven'
ture we had known In two years,
THE banker down there skinned tina
poor little mite out OF $4,000" FTanl
signing some papers and then foreclosed
on the mortgage, I'm going after the
damn thief and bring the Doodle back
to her"
Bank in Desert Town.
The bank was in the little desert tow
IN West Texas, where the husband hat
gone for provisions. We arrived there
Just before closing time the next day
With the help Of our sixshooters In lie'
OF a ~checkbook W. induced the cashie
20 turn over the lady's s 700 and abou
sS6 900 additional as interest.
ldlers stopped In the street, marshals
n the sheriff made our exit difficult
They sent a ball OF lead after us TO coa'
the money back, They traiied us Z
the prairie and lost us In the dugout,
IL would have been a brilliant get
away, hut for the lady's husband. He
had been In town when the robbery was
pulled off, As soon as he came to th,
dugout he sized us up and tipped Of
the posse. In the shooting that fol
lowed he was killed. We escaped. re,
turned later and took the lady and her
little fellow with us,
IL was a long trip across Oklahoma
and the Indian Territory into Arkansas
When II was over Frank was finishes