The diamond drill., 1920-02-21


NEE; and just where"
Curly gave Stats quarter Of an
hour before sauntering back 10 town.
AS he was passing the Silver Dollar
saloon a voice called him. Stone and
Blackwell were standing Ia the door.
Flandrnu stopped.
Soapy's deep-set eyes blazed at him.
'You didn't tell me II was Luck Gull
Iison went bail for you. Curly. SO you
and him are thick. are your"
'rye met him once. II that's being
thick. That time shot him up"
Funny. And then he went ball for
your"
"Yes.-
snow. wonder why"
The eyes OF the man had narrowed
to red slits. His head had shot for
ward on his shoulders as that OF
snake does. Curly would have given
good deal just then for the revolver
lying on the bed OF his room. For II
was plain trouble was in sight. The
desperado had been drinking heavily
and was ready to do murder.
AhA~D tdcg W tAHlulAlt OOuDJs u
shot him because was driven 10 IT,
He's too much of a man to bear a
grudge for what 1 couldn't help"
you're a liar. He did Il because
you promised 10 sneak up TO my ranch
and spy on us. That's why he did It."
With the last word his gun jumped
into sight. That he was lashing him
self into fury was plain. Presently
his rage would end In a tragedy.
Given a chance. Curly would have
run for II. But Soapy was dead shot.
or a sudden the anger In the boy
boiled up over the fear. In two jumps
he covered the gro;S2d and jammed his
face close to the cold rim of the blue
steel barrel.
"rm not heeled. Shoot and be
damned, you coward. And with my
last breath I'll tell you that you're
liar"
? Flandrau had called his blum, though
he had not meant 1t as one. A dozen
men were In sight and were watching.
They had heard the young man tell
Stone he was not armed. Public opln-
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-flush-
er. and I'll whale you TIL 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 Its tail be-
tween its legs"
The taunt diverted his mind, Just as
Curly had hoped 1t would. He thrust
reached for his foe.
Then everybody, hitherto paralyzed
by the sight of deadly weapon. woke
up and took a hand. They dragged
the two men apart. Curly was thrust
into a 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 n 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 friend
and explain.
The young man laughed grimly.
Explain nothing, I've done all tho
explaining I'm going TO. And I'll not
leave town either II Soapy wants me
he'll sure find me-"
'Dont be foolish. kid. He has got
four notches on that gun Of his. And
he's a dead shot" rg1 slSsssS
The tongues OF those about him gal.
loped. But Curly was excited, pleased
with himself because he had stood up
10 the bogey man of the Southwest
and too full OF strength TO be afraid.
MHloney came into the barber shop
and grlnned at him. Il hear you and
Soapy are aguring on setting Off some
fireworks this Fourth"
1t did Curly good TO see him stand
ing there so easy and deliberate among
the excitable town people.
"Soapy Is doing the talking"
II 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 10 the hotel the two ran.
When Curly buckled on his revolver
and felt II resting comfortably against
his thigh he felt good deal better.
"Tve seen Stats Davis" Maloney
explained. "He has gone 10 find
Luck. who is now at the Del Mar"
'IIad any talk with SlatsT
"No. He said you'd do the talking"
"Im TO wait for him on III Molino
street 10 learn where I'm TO meet Cul- |
llson."