The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-02-19

liar"
/ Flandrau had called his bluff, though
] he had not meant it as one. dozen
men were in sight and were watching.
| They had heard the young man tell
| Stone he was not armed. Public opin-
ion would hold him to account if he
| shot Curly down in cold blood. He
hung there undecided. breathing fast,
his jaw clamped tightly.
The lad hammered home his de-
fiance. "Drop that gun, you four-fush-
er, and TIL whale you till you can't
stand. Sabe? Call yourself a bad
man, do you? Time I'm through with
| you there will be one tame wolf crawl
| ing back to Dead Cow with it's tail be-
tween it's legs"
The taunt diverted his mind, just as
| Curly had hoped it would. He thrust
| the revolver back into the holster and
reached for his foe.
Then everybody, hitherto paralyZed
| by the sight of a deadly weapon, woke
up and took a hand. They dragged
| the two men apart Curly was thrust
into barber shop on the other side of
the street and Stone was dragged back
into the Silver Dollar.
In two minutes Flandrau had made
| himself famous, for he was a marked
| man. The last words of the struggling
desperate had been that he would
shoot on sight. Now half a dozen
talked at once. Some advised Curly
one thing, some another. He must get
out of town. He must apologize at
once to Stone. He must send q friend,
and explain.
The young man laughed grimly.
Explain nothing. I've done all the
explaining I'm going to. And I'll not
leave town either. If SOapy wants me
he'll sure find me-"
Don't be foolish. kid. He has got
four notches on that gun of his. And
he's dead shot,"
The tongues of those about him gal
lOped. But Curly was excited, pleased
with himself because he had stood up
to the DOGGY man of the Southwest
and too full of strength to be afraid.
Maloney came into the barber shop
and grinned at him. 81 hear you and
Soapy are figuring on setting off some
fireworks this Fourth"
ing there so easy and deliberate among
the excitable town people.
"Soapy is doing the talking"
81 heard him happened to be at the
Silver Dollar when they dragged him
In"
Maloney's eyebrows moved the least
bit. His friend understood. Together
they passed out of the back door OF
the shop into an alley. The others
stood back and let them go.
Back to the hotel the two ran.
When Curly buckled on his revolver
and felt it resting comfortably against
his thigh he felt good deal better.
give seen Stats Davis MalOney
explained. HE has gone to find
Luck, who is now at the Del Mar"
Had any talk with Slats?"
mo. He said you'd do the talking"
I'm to wait for him on Ell Molino
street to learn where I'm to meet Cul
lison."
"That won't do. You'd make too
tempting target. I'll meet him in
stead" i
That suited Curly. He was not hunt
ing trouble just now, even though he
would not run away from it. For he
had serious business on hand that
could not take care of itself If SOapy
should kill him.
Nearly an hour later Maloney ap-
peared again.
"We're to go right over to the Del
Mar. Second floor, room s217. You
are to go down Ell Molino to Main,
then follow it to the hotel, keeping on
the right hand side Of the street.
Stats will happen along the other side
of the street and will keep abreast of
you. Luck will walk behind you. Un-
less I yell your name don't pay any
attention to what is behind you. Soon
as we reach the hotel Stats will cross
the road and go in by the side door.
You will follow him few steps be-
hind, and We'll bring up the rear cas-
ually as if we hadn't thing to do
with you"
They moved down the street as ar
ranged. Every time a door opened in
out of a store or a saloon, Curly was
ready for that lightning lift Of the
arm followed by a puff of smoke.
The news of his coming passed ahead
of him, so that windows were crowded
with spectators. These were doomed
to disappointment, Nothing happened.
The procession left behind it the Sill
yer Dollar the Last Chance, Chalk"
eyes Place and Pete's Palace.
Reaching the hotel first, Davis dis
appeared according to program into
the side door. Curly followed, walked
directly up the stairs, along the cor
ridor, and passed without knocking
into room PIT.
A young woman was sitting there
engaged with some fancy work. Slen-
der and straight, Kate Cullison rose
and gave Curly her hand. For about