The diamond drill., 1920-04-17
Crooked
Trails
and
Straight
William Macleod Raine
'cepynsh. sy " Dininsh.1 Company


businessf See his bodyr
Blackwell had no intention OF going
back into the fire zone and making
sure. For his part he was satisfied. So
ne lied.
"Yep. Blew the top OF his head on
"Good," Sonpy nodded. "That's n
receipt In full for Mr.. Luck CullIson."
Before many minutes the engine be-
gan TO slow down. The wheels had
hardly stopped moving when Curly
crept out. plowed through the sand. up
the rubble OF little hill. and into a
Draw where bunch Of scrub oaks Of
fered cover.
A voice from in front called TO him.
lust then the moon appeared from be-
mind drifting clouds.
"oh. It's you. Sam. Everything all
rightq"
"Right as the wheat. We're blow
ing open the safe now." Flandrau an
swered.
Moving closer. he saw that his ques-
toner was the man in charge of the
horses. Though he knew the voice. he
could not put name 10 It's owner.
But this was not the point that first
occupied his mind. There were only
four horses for Ave riders. Curly knew
now that he had not been mistaken.
Soapy had expected one OF his allies
to stay on the field OF battle. had pre-
pared for It from the beginning. The
knowledge Of this froze any remorse
the young vaquero might have felt.
He pushed his revolver against the
teeth OF the horse wrangler.
-Don't move, you bandy,legged
maverick. or TIL Gil your hide full OF
holes. And II you want 10 keep on
diving 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 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 bluff
above Flandrau outlined the next step
in the program.
"we'i stay here in the tornIila and
See what happens, my friend. Unless
you've n fancy to get lead poisoning
keep still"
"who IN Mexico are your" the cap
tured man asked.
'1t's your showdown. Skin off that
mask"
The man hcstated. His own re-
volver moved few inches toward his
head. Hastily he took or the mask.
The moon shone on the face OF the
man called Dutch Flandrau laughed.
Last time they had met Curly bad
rope around bis neck. Now the situa-
ton was reversed.
An explosion below told them that
the robbers had blown open the safe.
Presently Soapy's voice came family
to them.
bring up the horses"
lie called again. and a 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.
s'Dutch Oh, Dutch I"
The revolver rim pressed little
harder against the bridge OF the horse
wranglers nose.
-Tic aln't here" Blackwell called
Gack 10 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 CupT"
They shouted themselves hoarse.
TFey wandered up and down in a 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
stlll left them.
After they had gone Curly and his
prisoner returned 10 the road and set
ont toward Tin Cup. About n mile
and half up the line they met GULL
SON and bis riders on the way down.
Maloney was with them. He had been
picked up at the station.
Dick gave q shout OF Joy when he
heard Flandrau's voice.
"Oh. you Curlyi I've been scared
stiff for fear they'd got you"
Luck caught the boys hand and
wrung II hard.
They held conference while the
Circle O riders handcuffed Dutch and
| tied him to a horse. Soon the posse
was on again. having left the prisoner
l in charge Of one Of the men. They
l swung round In wide half circle. not
| wishing to startie their game until the
/ prcIber time.