The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-04-10
Crooked
Trails
and
Straight
William Macleod R1ine
Copyright sy a. W Diiiinss.n COMPANY

mistake--go of half cooked. / didn't
do right That's fac. can explain
all that, but I'm sick now-awful
sick"
Cullison laughed harshly. you'll be
sIcker soon"
You promised you wouldn't do any
thing II we turned you loose" the man
plucked up courage to remind him.
Il promised the law wouldn't do any
thing. You'll understand the distlnc-
ton presently"
Mr.. CuIlison, please admit I
done wrong. hadn't ought TO have
gone In with Cass FendrIck. He
wanted me to kill you. but wouldn't"
Bucky had let CuIlison take the CEN
ter OF the stage He had observed
growing distress mount and ride the
victim. Now he stepped In TO save
the man with an alternative at which
Blackwell might be expected not TO
snatch eagerly perhaps, but at least
20 be driven toward.
"This man is my prisoner. Mr.. Gull
iison. From what can make out you
ought to strip his hide Off and hang II
~out to dry. But I've got first call on
him. If he comes through with the
truth about the w. & s. robbery I've
got to protect him"
Luck understood the ranger. They
were both working toward the same
end. The immediate punishment OF
this criminal was not the important is
sue. II was merely a club with which
to beat him into submission, and at
that moral rather than a physical
one. But the owner OF the Circle O
knew better than to yield to BucSy too
easily. He fought the point out with
him at length. and finally yielded re-
luctantly. I'm such way as 10 aggra-
vate rather than relieve the anxiety of
the convict.
"All right You take him flrst," he
finally conceded harshly.
Bucky kept up the comedy. "Tn
take him. Mr.. Cullison. But IL he tells
me the truth--and II find out It's the
whole truth-there'll be nothing doing
on your part. He's my prisoner. I'M
derstand that"
MetaphorIcally Blackwell licked the
hand OF his protector. II aim TO do
what's right, Captain O'Connor. What
.ever's right. You ask me any ques-
lions"
II want TO know all about the w. &
s. robbery. everything, from start to
tinIsh."
Honest. l wish l could tell you.
But | don't know a thing about IT,
Cross my heart. ! don't"
'No use. Blackwell If I'm going to
stand by you against MIR. Cullison,
you'll have TO tell the truth. Why,
man. I've even got the mask you wore
and the cloth you cut II from"
IL reckon It must a.been some one
else. major. wisht | could help you.
but can't"
Bucky rose. "Ail right. If'you can't
help me. | can't help you. Mr.. Gull
olson, I reckon I'll run out and have
some supper DO you mind staying
there with this man tin get backT
mo. That's all right, Bucky. Don't
hurry. I'll keep him entertained"
Perhaps II was not by chance that his
eye wandered 10 a blacksnake whip
hanging on the wall.
O'Connor sauntered 10 the door. The
frightened gaze OF the prisoner chung
60 him as II for safety.
'Major-Colonel--y ain't a-going,"
ne pleaded.
''Only for an hour or two. I'll be
eack. wouldn't think OF saying good
4 ttff ssyn raoah Wuft4o
with that the door closed behind
lhim. Blackwell cried out, hurrIedly.
eeagerly: Mister O'Connori I'm tell
, you eveTything-every last thing. Mr..
CuilIson-he's aiming to kill me soon
as you've gone"
1--WE got no time TO fool away,
BLACKWELL. I'm hungry. II you mean
Business get 10 II. But remember that
whatever you say will be used against
you."
-TTi tell you any dcg-goned thing
you want 20 know. You've got me
beat. I'm plumb wore out--sick. A
man can't stand everything"
"SIt down. There's n good dinner
waiting for you at Clune's when you
get through"
Ills story was that he had found on
the street a letter that had inadver.
tently been dropped. II was TO Jordan
OF the Cnttleman's National bank. and
II notified him that $4,000 was TO be
shipped to him by the w. 4 s. Express
company on the night of the robbery.
Blackwell resolved to have a try for
II. He hung around the Office until the
manager and the guard arrived from
the train. made his raid upon them.
locked the door. and threw away his
mask. He Owed with the satchel into
the nearest alley. and came face TO
face with the stranger whom he later
learned 10 be Fendrick.
Fendrlci. who had heard the shout |
ing OF the men locked In the express |
Office. etonpcd the robber. but Black