The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-11-25

err not SAY anything about MY E,iaup
.s-ith his folks. I'm not looking for any
trouble with him"
All right. Curly
Curly sat down on the porch and
.old an edited story of his adventures
ID them. Before he had finished
young fellow rode up and dis,nouhted.
After he had unsaddled and turned his
pony into a corral he Joined the others
on the porch
Young cullison had seated himself in
the chair next to Flandrau. He had.
so Curly thought. strong family re
se,ni,lance to his father and sister.
Still !, hoy In his ways, he might any
day receive the JOLT that would trans-
form him into man.
Curly studied the characters of
these present. Bill he knew already
fairly well as tough nut to crack.
game to the core. and staunch to his
friends. blackwell was bad lot.
tre:,cherous. vindictiye. slippery as IN
eel Even his cOnfederates did not.
trust him greatly. But it was Soapy
and young Cullison that interested
Flandrau most. Sam was at an inn
questionable age. inclined to be led by
amy man whom he admired. Curly
knew that he could gain no influence
over him by preaching. He had to live
the lnugh-,,nd-tumble life of these men
who dwelt beyond the pale OF the law.
to excel them at the very things Of
which they boosted. But in one re-
spect he held himself apart. While he
WAS nj the horse ranch he did not
touch II drop of liquor.
Laura London's letter was not deliv-
cred until the second day, for, though
she had not told her messenger to give
| 1t to Sam wlieir he was alone, Curly
guessed this would be better.
Sam ran over his letter two or three
times. 1t was such a message as any
hrave-hearted, inipulsive girl nigh,
send TO the man she loved when he
| seemed to her to walk i'm danger. Cul
lisOn loved her for the interest she
took III him. even while he ridiculed
| her fears.
As they rode back to the ranch
Curly mentioned that he had seer
Sans people 4 day or two before.
t'ullison asked no questions. but h
listened intently while the other tolt
the story of his first rustling and o
how Miss Kate and her father h:,,
stood by him in his trouble.
IF / had folks like you have. TIN
salt of the earth. and they were worry
ing their hearts out about me. seem
to me I'd quit helling around and s
hack to them" Curly concluded.
i .rhe old man sent you to tell m
that. did hep Hard and bitter wa
/ the Voice Of the young man.
.NO, he didn't. He doesn't knO,
TN here. Hut he and your sister f:,v
done more for me than | ever can pa,
That's why I'm telling YOU this.
Sam answered gruffiy, as a man doe
when he is moved. Much obliEet
Curly. but / reckon can look out fo
+ myself"
Just what T thought, anil IN Sci
tember | have ito go to the penitel
tiary. They've got me cinched. BY
with you It's different. THERE'S notl
ing TO this sort Of life. The bunch u
here is no good. Soapy don't nlea
right by you. or by any young felio
: he trails WITH
'Ill not listen to anything again'
So:,py. He has been good friend
me- I'm not going to throw him down
Would It be throwing him down
go l,nck to your peOple?'
Eyes. It would. We've got plan
|. Soapy is relying on me. No matte
what they are, hut I'm not going to
down on him. And I'm not going bat
to the old man. He told me he WI
through with me. I'm not begging hi
to tnke me back, not on your life"
Curly dropped the matter. But !
the days passed he kept one thing
his mind, NOT to miss any chance
win his friendship. They rode togeth
good deal, and Flandrau found tn
Sam liked to hear him talk about Z
Circle G and its affairs. But often
was discouraged, for he made no pro
ress in weaving him from his loyal
to Stone. The latter was a here
him, and gradually he was filling h
with wrong ideas, encouraging him t
while to drink great deal. That t
man had some definite purpose Cul
was sure. What 1t was, he meant
find out.
Because he could not persuade h
to Join in their drinking bouts, Sto
nicEHamed Curly the good bud man.
~