The Jasper news., 1920-04-01

ID
Ing from me-" he told them.
"0h. the boys had notions. Miss
Kate argued with them and they saw
things different" the Bar Double M
rider explained.
But Cullison would not let II 60 at
that. He made them tell him the whole
story. When Curly and Maloney hsd
finished he buried his daughters little
hand in his big brown fist. His eyes
were dancing with pride, but he gave
her not word Of spoken praise.
Kate spoke to Curly. Father wants
me to tell you that we don't blame you
for shooting at him. We understand
just how 1t was. Your friend got ex-
cited and shot as soon as he saw he
was surrounded. We are both very
sorry he was killed. Father could not
stop the boys in time. Perhaps you re-
member that he tried to get you to
surrender"
The rustler nodded. "Yes, heard
him holler to me to put my gun down,
but the others blazed away at me-"
"And SO you naturally defended
yourself. Father wants 1t made clear
that he feels you could have done moth.
ing else."
"Much obliged. I've been sorry ever
since hit him, and not only on my
own account"
"Then none of us need to hold hard
feelings" The girl looked at her fa-
ther, who answered her appeal with a
grim nod, and then she turned again
to the young rustler little timidly. II
wonder II you would mind II asked
you question"
you've earned the right to ask as
many as you like"
ITS about We have been told
you know the man they call Soapy
Stone. Is that true7"
Flandrau's eyes took on a stony look.
II was as II something had sponged all
the boyishness from his face. Still try
ing to get him to give away his part
ners In the Fustling, were they? Well,
he would show them he could take his
medicine without squealing.
"Your boys were asking that ques.
tion about Soapy last night. They had
a rope round my neck at the time.
Nothing unfriendly In the matter, of
course. Just a casual interest In my
dolngs."
Cullison was looking at him with
the steel eyes that bored into him like
a gimlet. Now he spoke sharply.
i've got an account running with
Soapy Stone. Some day I'll settle It,
likely. But that amt the point now.
Do you know his friends-the bunch
he trails with?"
WEAKNESS still seemed to crouch In
the cool eyes of Flandrau.
"And If l say yes, I'll bet your next
question will be about the time and
the place last saw them"
Kate picked up photograph from
the table and handed 1t to the prisoner.
"Were not interested In his friends
except one Of them. Did you ever see
the boy that sat for that picture7"
The print was snapshot of a boy
about nineteen, q bright-faced hand
some fellow, little sulky around the
mouth but with a pair Of straight hon
est eyes.
Curly shook his head slowly. Yet he
was vaguely reminded of some one he
knew. Glancing up, he found Instant
ly the clue to what had puzzled him.
The young man In the picture was like
Kate Culllson, like her father. too, for
that matter.
Hes your brother" The words
were out before Flandrau could stop
them.
"Yes. You've never met himT
"No."
Culllson had been watching the
young man steadily. "Never saw him
with soapy Stonef"
mo"
''Never heard Stone speak of Sam
CullisonT"
"No. Soapy doesn't talk much about
who his friends are"
The ex.sheriff nodded. 'Tve met
him."
OF course he had met him. Curly
knew the story of how In one drive he
had made gather Of outlaws that had
brought fame to him. Soapy had
broken through the net. but the sheriff
had followed him into the hills alone
and run him to earth. What passed
between the men nobody ever found
out. Stone had repeatedly given 1t ou'
that he could not be taken alive But
CulIison had brought him down to the
valley bound and cowed. In due sea
son the bandits had gone over the
road to Yuma. Soapy and the others
had sworn to get their revenge some
day. Now they were back In the hills
| nk fhnlr old trInIra Was u rnanlhln