The Lamar register., 1920-01-14
PART I
Curly.
CHAPTER I.
Following a Crooked Trail.

been moving for hours. II rolled Into
Snguache M the brisk heels of bunch
of horses Just about the time the town
was settling itself to supper. From
out OF the heart of II cantered n rider.
who swung his pony as on II half dol
lar, and DETECTED the remuda toward
Chunn's corral.
The rider was in the broad trimmed
felt hat. the gray shirt. the plain leath-
er chaps of vaquero. Under other
conditions he might have been col
lege freshman for nge. but the c0npe-
tent confidence OF manhood sat easily
on his broad shoulders. Curly Flan-
drnu had more than once looked into
the chill eyes OF death.
The leaders of the herd dribbled into
the corral through the open gate, and
the others crowded on their heels.
Three more riders followed Curly into
the Enclosure. one Of them n red
haired young fellow Of about the same
age as Curly. swung stifiy from the
saddle.
Me for square meal first on" he
gave out promptly.
mot Till we've finished this business,
Mac. Wen put a deal right through II
warren's here" decided a third mem
ber OF the party. He was a tough-look-
ing customer OF nearly fifty. bad BIZ
Cranston he was called. and the man
looked as II he had earned his sobri-
quet.
"And what II he amt here1" snarled
Lutte Blackwell. Are you aiming to
sit down and wait for himf"
"we'll cross that bridge when we
come TO IT," Bad Bill answered. Curly,
want TO ride up to the hotel and ask
II Mr.. Dave Warren is therei Bring
him right down II he is"
The young man cantered up the
dusty street toward the hotel.
Thought you'd fixed It with this
Warren to be right on the spot SOS
we could unload on him prompt"
Blackwell grumbled at Cranston with
out looking toward the latter.
Il didn't promise he'd be hanging
round your neck soon as you hit town."
Cranston retorted coolly.
The owner of the corral sauntered
from the stable and glanced over the
Drive all the way from Bar Double
Mt" asked the keeper. his eyes on the
brand stamped on the flank OF a pony
circling past.
"Yep."
Bad Bill turned away and began to
unsaddle.
Looks like you been hitting the rond
at q right lively gait"
Mac cut In shoulder OF my bronc's
chafed from the saddle. Got anything
thatIl heal itf''
"You bet I have" The man hurried
into the stable and the red headed COW
puncher wlnked across the back Of his
horse at Bill.
The keeper OF the stable and the
young man were still busy doctoring
the sore when Curly arrived with War
ren. The buyer was round-bodied
man with black gimlet eyes that saw
much he never told. The bargain he
drove was a hard one, but II did not
take long TO come to terms al about
one-thlrd the value of the string he
was purchasing. Very likely he had
his suspicious. but he did not voice
them. No doubt they cut a figure In
the price. He let II be understood
that he was a supply agent for the
rebels In Mexico. Before the bills were
warm 10 the pockets of the sellers. his
yaqueros were mounted and were
moving the remuda toward the border.
Curly and Mac helped them get
started. As they rode back to the cor
raj a young man came out from the
stable. Flandrau forgot that there
were reasons why he wanted Just now
to be a stranger in the land with his
Identity not advertised. He let out a
shout.
"Oh, you. Stats Dsvisi"
Hello, CURLY How are things
a-comin'I"
"Fine. When did you blow In to
saguachei Amt you or your run
somer
They had ridden the range together
and had frolicked around on dozen
boyish larks To put II mildly the
msstins vas likely to prove spbafrsss