The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-03-25

him comfortably. In his pocket they
found black mask big enough to
cover his whole face. The registered
letter could not be found and they di.
ctdcd he must have destroyed It.
The sight Of the mask had given
Curly IN idea. He was about the same
build rs Sam. Why not go in his
place? 1t would he worth doing jus,
/" catch sight of Soapy's face when he
took the mask Off after the robbers
had been captured
"Wlat's the use?" Davis protested
IT'S nn unnecessary risk. They might
'hoot YOU in place Of Sam"
"l'll look out for myself. Don't wor.
ry about that. Before the time for
getting rid Of Sam comes Mr.. Sonpy
and his bunch will he prisoners"
They argued 1t out, but Curly was
set and could rot be moved. He
dressed In young Cullison'S clothes and
with Maloney took The express at
A:5I Davis remained to guard Sam
Cur!''s watch showed 10:17 when
III" W IS began 10 grind from The set
ding Of The air brakes. He was In the
last sleeper, Dick IN the day coach
near the front. They had agreed that
DICK was to drop on us soon as the
train slowed down enough to make Il
safe. whereas Curly would go on and
play Sans part until the proper time.
The train almost slid to halt from
the pressure of the rd-jammed
brakes. A volley Of shots rang out.
Curly slipped the mask over his face
and rose with a revolver In each hand.
lie had been sitting at the end Of the
car. so that nobody noticed him until
his voice rang out with crisp order.
Hands up! Don't anybody move I"
An earthquake shock could not have
alarmed the passengers more. The
color was washed completely from the
faces OF most Of them.
"lteach for the roof. Come, punch
hole in the skyi" To do II thorough
~. Curly flung couple OF shots
through the ceiling. That was enough.
Hands went up without any argument.
most OF them quivering as from an
Arkansas chill.
Presently Cranston herded the pas-
sengers In from the forward coaches.
With them were most Of the train
crew.
Were cutting Off the express car
and going forward to 'Dobe Wells with
1t. There we can blow open the safe
uninterrupted" Bad Bill explained.
You herd on the passengers here
from the outside till you hear two
shots. then hump yourself forward and
hop on the express car"
Fine! Curly was to stand out there
In the moonlight and let anybody in
the car that had the nerve pepper
away at him. If they did not attend
to the job Of riddlng him. his false
friends would do 1t while he was run
ming forward to get aboard. Nothing
could have been simplcr-if he had not
happened to have had inside informa.
tion of their intent.
He had to think quickly, for the
plans of him and his friends had been
derangcd. They had reckoned on the ex-
press car being riiled on the spot. This
would have given Cullison time to
reach the scene OF action. Now they
would he too late. Unless Curly could
stop It, the holdup would go through
according to the program Of Soapy
and not of his enemies.
The decision of Flandrau was in
Simultaneous. He slid down beside the
track into the long grass. Whipping
up one of his guns. he fired. AS If In
answer To the first shot his revolver
cracked twice. simultaneously, he let
out cry Of pain. wriggled back for
dozen yards through the grass and
crossed the track i'm the darkness. AS
he crOuchCd down close to the wheels
OF the sleeper some one came running
back on the other side.
whats up, Sam2 You hit?" he could
hear Blackwell whisper.
No answer came. The paroled con-
vict was standing close to the car for
fear OF being hit himself and he dared