The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-06-17

knew better than to yield to Bucky too
easily. He fought the point out with
him at length. and finally yielded re-
luctantly, In such way as to aggra-
vate rather than relieve the anxiety OF
the convict.
"All right. You take him frst." he
finally conceded harshly.
Bucky kept up the comedy. 'Til
take him, Mr.. Culllson. But II 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. Un-
derstand that"
Metaphor.calIy 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-
tions." y
II want to know all about the W. &
s. robbery, everything, from start to
finish"
Honest, l wish could tell you.
But l. don't know a thing about 1t.
Cross my heart, don't"
"No use, Blackwell. II I'm going to
stand by you against Mr.. Cillison,
you'll have to- tell the truth. Why,
man, I've even got the mask you wore
and the cloth you cut II from"
II reckon It must a-been some one
else, major. Wisht could help you,
but can't"
Bucky rose. "AII right. II you can't
help me, can't help you. Mr.. Gull
llson, l reckon I'll run out and have
some supper. Do you mind staying
here with this man till l get backr
"No. That's all right, Bucky. Don't
hurry. I'll keep him entertained"
Perhaps 1t was not by chance that his
eye wandered to blacksnake whip
hanging on the wall.
O'Connor sauntered to the door. The
frightened gaze of the prisoner clung
to him as II for safety.
"Major-Colonel-you amt a-going," T"
he pleaded.
"Only for an hour or two. I'll be
back. l wouldn't think of saying good
by--not till we reach Yuma"
With that the door closed behind
him. Blackwell cried out. hurriedly.
eagerly: mister O'Connorl I-Tn tell
you everythlng-every last thing Mr.
CulHson-he,s aiming to kill me soon
as you've gone"
"Pve got no time to fool away,
Blackwell. I'm hungry. II you mean
business get to It. But remember that
whatever you say will be used against
you"
"Tn tell you any dog-goned thine
you want to know. You've got me
beat. I'm plumb wore out--sick.
man can't stand everything"
"Slt down. There's a good dinner
waiting for you at Clune's when you
get through"
His story was that he had found or
the street a letter that had inadver
tently been dropped. 1t was to Jordan
Of the Cattleman's National bank, anC
1t notified him that $4,000 was to bt
shipped to him by the w. & s. Express
company on the night Of the robbery
Blackwell resolved to have try fol
II. He hung around the office until th'
manager and the guard arrived from
the train. made his raid upon them
locked the door, and threw away hi
mask. He dived with the satchel int
the nearest alley, and came face t
face with the stranger whom he late
learned to be FendrIck.
Fendrick, who had heard the shout
ing of the men locked In the express
Office, stopped the robber. but Black
well broke away and ran down tn,
alley. The sheepman followed ant
: caught him. After another scuffie tn
convict again hammered himself free
, but left behind the hand satchel con
tanning the spoils. Fendrick ESQ h
, later explained to BlackwelD tied
] cord to the handle of the bag an,
dropped II down the chute Of laun
E dry in such a way that It could late
be drawn up. Then he hurried bacl
to the express Office and released tn
: prisoners. After the excitement ha
4 subsidized, he had returned for tn
I money and hid II. The original robbie
4 did not know where.
Blackwell's second meeting with tn
sheepman had been almost as startlin
3 as the first. Cass had run into tn
Jack of Hearts In time to save the If
: OF his enemy. The two men recognize
q each other and entered into a compaC
to abduct Cullison. for his share
: which the older man was paid on
: thousand dollars.
Both men asked the same question a
l soon as he had finished.
"Where is the money you got frol
Q the raid on the w. & 8. officer
"Don't know. I've been at Fendric