The diamond drill., 1920-02-14

II That was Just happenstance.
U Curly shot to save his bacon. Luck
don't hold any grudge."
Bolt belonged 10 the political party
opposed TO Cullison. He had been
. backed by Cass Fendrick. sheepman
10 feud with the cattle interests and In
4 particular with the Circle @ outfit. But
4 he could not go back on his word. He
j and Maloney called together on the
district attorney. An hour later Dick
1 returned 10 the jail.
"It's all right, kid" he told Curly.
"you can shake Off the dust OF Sa-
4 guache from your hoofs till court
meets in September"
To Flandrau the news seemed too
\ good for the truth. Less than twenty
N four hours ago he had been waiting
. Tor the end of the road with rope
4 around his neck. Now he was free to
sllp saddle on his pony Keno and
n gallop or as soon as he pleased.
a While he and Ma.oney were sitting
Xopposlte each other ut the New
Y Orleans Hash House waiting for big
& steak with onions he asked questions.
q II don't savvy Culllson's play. Why
Cor is he digging UP two thousand for
meV How does he know ! won't cut
|imy stick for Mexicol Do you suppose
Miss Kate made hlm7"
Il reckon maybe she Influenced him.
&But why did shei You don't figure
THAT curly topknot of yours is disturb
3ing her dreams any. do your"
"Quit your joshIng and tell me
kwhyT
II can't tell you for sure. But here's
|my guesa. Don't cost you cent II ycu
sin't satisfied with IL. First off. there
was poor Mac shot by the Circle q
boys. Course Mac was a horse thief.
but then he was kid. too. That wor-
ried the little girl some. She got to
blinking about Brother Sam and how
me might be In the same fix one OF
these days as you are now. He's on
>her mind good deal. Sam is. Same
way with the old man too. / reckon.
though he don't say much. Well, she
decided Soapy Stone had led you
hstray like he's doing with Sam. II
yot TO worrying her for fear her broth
ir might need a friend some time. So
he handed over her worry to the old
IAN and made him dig up for YOU"
THAT'S about It. Tell me what you
now OF Sam"
"Sam Is all right. but he has got of
rong foot first. lie and the old man
ot to kind OF disagreeIng. for the kid
as a wild colt. Come by II honestly
om the old man. too. Well, they had
row one time when Sam got into
ouble. Luck told him he never want
4 sxt folks knew he was trailing with
'apb's gang"
Looks like some one ought TO be
lle 70 pry him loose from that bunch"
Irly mused aloud.
Maloney grlnned across at him.
IYou try II, son. You've always led a
pod plous life. lie sure would listen
| YOU"
lie had said II as Jest. but Curly
not laugh. why not7 Why
ouIdn't he hunt up Sam and let him
Dow how his folks were worrying
}out him7 He was footloose till Sep
tnber and out of job. For he could |
so back to the Map of Texas with
hat in his hand and repentant
hine on his lips. Why not hike into
hills and round up the boy1
Damn IL don't take a crack at H."
phe man on the other side OF the
pie stared at him.
Meaning that. are your"
YEP
Might be some lively II Soapy gets
se 70 your intentions" he said Ia
lnal sort OF way.
Y don't aim 20 declare them out
w."
That was all they said about II at
Y time. The rest OF the evening
devoted TO pleasure.
Since their way was one for several
|es xaIoney and Curly took the road
ptTr next morning at daybrcak.
eir ponies ambIed along side BY
at the easy gait characteristic OF
Southwest
Four plalnsmnn n tnclturn indi-
Qai- TIRE I51 rode for an hour