The Jasper news., 1920-06-24

AtplNrs AiiN - 1Ou WINK 10 AttN On
living paddock that mouth Of yours"
In spite OF his surprise the man
caught the point at once. He turned
over his weapons without word.
Curly unwound a rope from one OF
the saddles and dropped a loop round
the neck Of his prisoner The two men
mounted and rode out Of the draw, the
outlaw leading the other two horses.
As soon as they reached the blum
above Flandrau outlined the next step
in the program.
''we1l stay here in the torniila and
see what happens, my friend. Un1ess
you've fancy to get lead polsonins
keep still"
"who in Mexico are your" the sap
tured man asked.
ITS your showdown. Skin or that
mask"
The man hesItated. His own t6-
volver moved few inches toward his
head. Hastily be took on the mask.
The moon shone on the face OF the
men called Dutch. Flandrau laughed.
Last time they had met Curly had a.
rope around his neck, Now the situa-,
tion was reversed.
An explosion below told them that
the robbers had blowp open the safe.
Presently soapy's voice came family
to them.
Bring up the horses"
He called again, and third time.
The dwarfed figures Of the outlaws
stood out clear in the moonlight. One
Of them ran up the track toward the
draw. He disappeared into the scrub
oaks, from whence his alarmed voice
came In a minute.
"Dutchi Oh, Dutchi I"
The revolver rim pressed little
harder against the bridge Of the horse
wrangler's nose.
"He amt here" Blackwell called
back to his accomplices.
That brought Stone on the run.
"You condemned idiot, he must be
there. Amt he had two hours to get
here since he left Tin CrpT
They shouted themselves hoarse
They wandered up and down in vain
search. All the time Curly and his
prisoner sat in the brush and scarcely
batted an eye.
At last Soapy gave up the hunt. The
engine and the express car were sent
back to join the rest Of the train and
as soon as they were out OF sight the
robbers set out across country toward
the Flatiron ranch.
Curly guessed their intentions. They
would rustic horses there and head for
the border. II was the only chance
still left them.
After they had gone Curly and his
prisoner returned to the road and set
out toward Tin Cup. About a mile
and a half up the line they met Guilt
son and his riders on the way down.
Maloney was with them. He had been
picked up at the station.
Dick gave a shout of Joy when he
heard Flandrau's voice.
"Oh, you Curiyi I've been scared
stiff for fear they'd got you"
Luck caught the boys hand and
wrung 1t hard.
They held a conference while the
Circle G riders handcuffed Dutch and
tied him to horse. Soon the posse
was Off again, having left the prisoner
in charge OF one of the men. They
swung round In a wide half circle, not
wishing to startle their game until the
proper time.
When they reached the edge OF the
mesa that looked down on the Flatiron
tho moon was out and the valley was
swimming In light. They followed the
dip Of road that led down to the
corral Passing the fenced lane lead
ing to the stable, they tied their ponies
inside and took the places assigned to
them by Cullison.
They had not long to walt. In less
than half an hour three shadowy fig-
ures slipped round the edge Of the cor
raj and up the lane. Each Of them
carried a rife in addition to his hip
guns.
They slid INTO the open end of the
stable. culllson's voice rang out coidly.
drop your guns"
startled oath, shot, and before
one could have lifted hand that silent
moonlit valley Of peace had become
battlefield.
The outlaws fell back from the
stable. weapons smoking furiousIy.
Blackwell broke into run, never look
ing behind him. but Soapy and Bad
Bill gave back foot by foot lighting
every step Of the way.
Dick and Curly rose from behind the
rocks where they had been placed and
closed the trap on Blackwell The
paroled convict let out one yell.
Il give up. Goddlemighty, don't
shooti'