Connecticut western news., 1920-04-08

Two hours later he stole a horse iron an irrigated ranch near town. Within twenty-four hours he had reached the Soapy Stone horse ranch and safety.
 After this the plans for the raid on the Texas, Arizona & Pacific flyer moved swiftly to head. Soapy Stone and Sam dropped into Saguache in cOnSpicuousIy one evening. Next day Stone rode down to Tin Cup to look over the ground. Maloney telephoned their movements to the Circle c and Saguache Luck Cullison, Curly Elan drau and Slats Davis. Bucky O'COnnnr had been called to Douglas on impor tant business and could not lend his help.
 Luck, Curly and Dick Maloney had already ridden over the country sur rounding the scene of the projected holdup. They had decided that the robbery would probably take place at the depot. so that the outlaws could get the agent to stop the flyer without arousing suspicion. In a pocket of the hills back of the station a camp had been selected, its site well back from any trail and so situated that from it one could command a view of Tin Cup.
 The owner of the Circle C selected three of his cloSemouthed riders Sweeney, Jake and Buck were the ones he chose-to hold the camp with him until after the robbery. The only signal they needed was the stopping of the Flyer at Tin Cup. Then they would come pounding down from the hills in time to catch the robbers before they had got through with their work. Ma loney or Curly would be on the train to take a hand in the battle. Caught by surprise. SOapy's gang would surely be trapped.
 So they planned it. but 1t happened that Soapy Stone had made his ar engagements differently.
 Luck and his riders took their blan- kets and their traps down to Tin Cup according to agreement. while Davis. Maloney and Flandrau became very friendly with Sam. The boy. younger than any of them, was f1attered that three of the best known riders in the territory should make so much of him.
 Young Cullison had stopped drink ing, but he could not keep his nerves from jumping. His companions watched him so closely that he was never out of the sight of at least one of them. Soapy had decreed the boys death by treachery. but his friends were determined to save him and to end forever the reign of Stone as a bad man.
 It was one day when the four young cOwpunchers were sitting together in Curly's room playing poker that spe- cial delivery letter came to Sam. The others. to cover their excitement, start ed an argument. Presently Sam spoke. as indifferently as he could.
 "Got the offer of job down the line. Think I'll run down tonight as far as Casa Grande and see what's do- ing"
 This was about two o'clock in the afternoon. The game dragged on for a while, but nobody took any interest in it. Sam had to get ready for the work of the night, and the rest were anxious to get out and give him a chance. So presently Dick threw down his cards
 "Ive had enough poker for one ses- sion. Me, Pm going to drift out and see what's moving in town"
 Think I'll snooze for a while" Sam said, stretching sleepily.
 The others trooped out and left him alone. From the room rented by Davis the three watched to see that Sam did not leave without being observed He did not appear, and about six o'clock Curly went back to his room.
 "Time to grub," he sang out.
 'That's right" Sam agreed.
 They went to the New Orleans Hash House and presently Davis and Ma loney also arrived, The party u"l"rrA H ';Cad G.ur"r and ,o"k r'cney oE t;.'" 70 eat iT. s}lH W,.- Nv.r" ,." ;i"Hvu:l~. but eager to cover i..S uneasiness un- der a show of good spirits.
 Curly finished eating just as Sam's second cup of coffee came. Flandrau, who had purposely chosen a seat in the corner where he was hemmed in by the chairs of the others, began to feel in his vest pockets.
 'Darned if I've got a cigar. Sam, you're young and nimble. Go buy me one at the counter"
 Sure" Cullison was away on the instant
 Curly's hand came out of his pocket. In it was a paper. Quickly he shook the contents of the paper into the steaming cup of coffee and stirred the liquid with q spoon.
 Sam brought back the cigar and drank his coffee. Without any unnec- essary delay they returned to his room. When the party reached the room the boy was getting drOwsy. He rubbed his eyes, yawned and slumped down. His lids wavered, shut, jerked open