The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-08-13
CHAPTER TX.
is
A Cleanup.

S"GAAS 0NNAdIilL OCGuIGth al III
5sA. ~ 81 unimportant that ScanlaI
TIE taifer did not think ii worth re
porting to his chief. Blackwell, Will
eating, Knocked a glass from the tabl
and broke IL on the cement floor of hi
ee2l.
TF1m the little table in his room h,
DftSd loose n of the corner braces
AZ night he scraped away at this Will
his bit Of glass until the wood begaI
20 take the shape OF a revolver. Thi,
he carefully BACKED with the inE
brought him by his guard. TO the END
of his weapon he fitted an iron washer
taken from the bedstead. Then he
waited for his opportunity.
His chance came through the good
nature Of Seaman. Blackwell pre-.
tended to be out Of chewing tobacco
and asked the guard to buy him some.
About ten o'clock Seaman returned
and brought the tobacco to his prls,
ener. AS he passed the plug through
the grating BlackweH's fingers closed
around his wrist and drew the man
close to the iron lattice work. Stimuli
taneously a cold rim was pressed
against the temple Of the guard.
Don't move, or I'll ill you full of
holes" the convict warned.
Seaman did not move, not until the
n IN the cell gave the word. Then
he Obeyed orders TO the letter. His
right hand found the bunch OF keys.
Atted the correct one to the door and
unlocked it according to Instructions.
Nae until he was relieved OF his wea-
pom did Blackwell release him. The
1aiaer was backed into the cell, gagged
with . piece of torn bedding and left
locked up as securely as the other had
eeen n few minutes earlier.
The convict made his way down
stairs, opened the outer door with the
bunch Of keys he had taken from Scan
Ian, locked 1t behind him and slipped
into the first alley that offered refuge.
Two hours later he stole a horse from
an Irrigated ranch neal town. Within
t~wenty-four hours he had reached the
Soapy Stone horse ranch and safety.
After this the plans for the raid on
Che Texas, Arizona & Pacific flyer
moved swiftly TO a.head. Soapy Stone
and Sam dropped into Saguaciie in
conspicuously one evening. Next day
Stone rode down TO Tin Cup to look
ever the ground. Maloney telephoned
their movements to the Circle G and
20 the Hashknife. This brought TO
Soguache Luck Cullison, Curly Elan
drau and Stats Davis. Bucky O'Connor
had been called to Douglas on impor-
tant business and could not lend his
help.
Luck. Curly and Dick Maloney had
already ridden yer the country sur
roundfng the scene of the projected
hoidup. They had decided that the
robbery would probably take place at
the depot, so That the outlaws could
get the agent 10 stop the flyer without
aronsing suspicion. In q pocket of the
Hills back Of the station a camp had
Been selected, its site we'll back from
any trail and so situated that from it
enc could command a view of Tin Cup.
The owner Of the Circle G selected
xAree OF his close-mouthed riders
sweeney, Jake and Buck were the
snes he chose-to hold the camp with
Aim 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
honey or Curly would be on the train
20 take q hand In the battle. Caught
by surprise, Soapy's gang would surely
be trapped.
So they planned 1t. but it 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
friendiy with Sam. The boy. younger
than any Of them. was flattered that
Ahree OF the best known riders in the
serritory 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
q them. Soapy had decreed the boys
aenth by treachery. but his friends
were determined to save him and to
<rd forever the reign of Stone as a
BAD man.
It was n day when the four young
eowpuaehers were sitting together In
pussy's room playing poker that a spe-
E1nl delivery letter came to Sam. The
efhers, to cover their excitement, start
"a an argument. Presently Sam spoke,
IS imdiirerently as he could.
sGot the offer of a job down the
nne. Think I'll run down tonight as
fnr as Casa Grande and see what's do
ing,r
This was about two O'clock in the
afternoon. The game dragged Oh FOR
. while, but nobody took any interest
in IL. Sane had to get ready for the
WEEK. OF the night, and the rest were
anxious to get out and give him 4
chance. SO presently Dick threw deN /
~ cards.