The Lamar register., 1920-03-24


With them were most of the train
crew.
Were cutting of the express car
and going forward to 'Dobe Wells with
#. 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 riddllng him, his false
friends would do 1t while he was run
ming forward to get aboard. Nothing
could have been simpler-lf he had not
happened TO have had inside lnfOrma-
tion of their intent.
lie had to think quickly. for the
plans Of him and his friends had been
deranged. They had reckoned on the ex
press car being rified on the spot. This
would have given Cullison time 10
reach the scene Of action. Now they
would he too late. Unless Curly could
according TO the program Of Soapy
and not of his enemies.
The decision OF Flandrau was in
stanianeous. He slid down beside the
track into the long grass. Whipping
up one Of his guns, he fired. As II in
answer TO the first shot his revolver
cracked twice simultaneously. he let
out a cry of pain. wriggled back for
dozen yards through the grass. and
crossed the track In the darkness. As
he crouched down close to the wheels
Of the sleeper some one came running
back on the other side.
"what's up, Saml You hit7" 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
not move.
sam" he called again; then. Hes
sure got his"
That was all Curly wanted to know.
Softly he padded forward, keeping as
low as he could TIL he reached the
empty sleepers. A brakeman was Just
uncoupling the express car when Curly
dived underneath and nestled close TO
the trucks.
From where he lay he could almost
have reached out and touched Soapy
standing by the car.
what about the kidf" Stone asked
Blackwell as the latter came up.
They got him. Didn't you hear him
yslpf"
"Yss. but did they put him out OF
businessf See his bodyY
Blackwell had no Intention OF going
back into the fire zone and making
sure For his part he was satisfied. So
he lied.
yep. Blew the top OF his head on
Good" Soapy nodded. That's a
receipt In full for Mr.. Luck Culllson."
Before many minutes the engine be
gan to slow down. The wheels had
hardly stopped moving when Curly
crept out. plowed through the sand. up
the rubble OF little hill. and into a
draw where a bunch OF scrub oaks Of
fered cover.
voice from In front called to him.
Just then the moon appeared from be
hind drifting clouds.
'oh. It's you. Sam. Everything all
rightf"
Right as the wheat. We're blow.
ing open the safe now" Flandrau an
swered.
Moving closer. he saw that his ques-
TONER was the man in charge OF the
horses. Though he knew the voice. he
could not put a name to Its owner.
But this was not the point that first
occupied his mind. There were only
four horses for five riders. Curly knew
now that he had not been mistaken
Soapy had expected one Of his allies
TO stay on the field of battle. had pre-
pared for II from the beginning. The
knowledge OF this froze any remorse
the young vaquero might have felt
He pushed his revolver against the
teeth of the horse wrnngler.
Don't move. you handy-legged
maverick. or I'll fili your hide full Of
holes. And II you want 10 keep on
living paddock that mouth of yours"
In spite Of his surprise the man
caught the point at once. He turned
over his weapons without word.
Curly unwound a rope from one Of
the saddles and dropped loop round
tu,. neck Of his prisoner. The two men
mounted and rode ont Of the draw The
OUTLAY leading the other two horses