Connecticut western news., 1920-02-05

shoulder and looked at him with friendly smile in his eyes, just as if he knew that this was no wolf but poor dog up against 1t hard.
 Doc thinks he'll make 1t all right"
 But there were times when Curly wondered whether 1t would make any difference to him whether Cullison got well or not. Something immediate was in the air. Public opinion was sitting down to a decision. Most of these men were up to the average for the milk of human kindness. They were the squarest citizens in Arizona. But Elan drau knew they would snuff out his life just the same if they decided it was best. Afterward they might re- gret it, but that would not help him.
 Darkness came, and the lamps were lit. Again Curly ate and smoked and chatted little with his captors. But as he sat there hour after hour, feel ing death creep closer every minute, cold shivers ran up and down his spine.
 They began to question him, at first casually and carelessly, so it seemed to Curly. But presently he discerned drift in the talk. They were trying to find out who had been his partners in the rustling.
 And I reckon Soapy and Bad Bill left you lads at Saguache to hold the sack" Buck suggested sympathetically
 Curly grew wary. He did not intend to betray his accomplices. Wrong guess. Soapy and Bad Bill weren't in this deal" he answered easily.
 The foreman of the Bar Double M interrupted impatiently, tired of trying to pump out the information by finesse. You've got to speak, Elan drau. You've got to tell us who was engineering this theft. Understand?'
 The young rustler looked at the grim drowning face and his heart sank.
 "Out with it," ordered Buck.
 "Oh, I expect I'll keep that under my hat" Curly told them lightly.
 They were crowded about him in a half circle, nearly a score of hard 4 leather-faced plainsmen. Some of them were riders of the Circle c out fit. Others had ridden over from neighboring ranches. All of them plainly meant business.
 "Think again, Curly,"t advised Swee- ney quietly. "The boys ain't trif1ing about this thing. They mean to find out who was in the rustling of the Bar Double M stock"
 Mot through me, they won't"
 Through you. And right now"
 A dozen times during the evening Curly had crushed down the desire to beg for mercy, to cry out desperately for them to let him off. He had kept telling himself not to show yellow, that it would not last long. Now the fear of breaking down sloughed from his soul He rose from the bed and looked round at the brown faces cir cled about him in the shine of the lamps.
 'Tll not tell you thing not a thing
 He stood there chalk-faced, his lips so dry that he had to keep moistening them with the tip of his tongue.
 Dutch had new rope in his hand with loop at one end. He tossed it over the boys head and drew it taut. Two or three of the faces in the circle were almost as bloodless as that of the prisoner, but they were set 10 see the thing out.
 twill you tell now?" Bonfils aeked.
 Curly met him eye to eye. "No."
 Come along. then.'
 One of the men caught his arm al the place where he had been wounded. The rustler fiinched
 Careful, Buck Don't you see you're hurting his bad arm?" Sweeney said sharply.
 q didn't aim to hurt him." Buck de tended himself.
 Curly's senses had never been more alert. He noticed that Buck had on red necktie that had got loose from his shirt and climbed up his neck. It had black polka dots and was badly frayed Sweeney was chewing tobacco. He would have that chew in his mouth after they had finished what they were going to do.
 "Ain't he the gamest ever?' some one whispered
 The rustler heard the words and they braced him as a drink of whisky does man who has been on a bad spree.
 Better do it at the cottonwoods down by the creek" Buck told Bonfils in a low voice.
 The foreman of the Bar Double Nj moved his head in assent. "All right. Let's get it over quick as we can"
 sound of flying feet came from outside. Some one smothered an oath of surprise. Kate, Cullison stood ir the doorway, all out of breath and panting. ..r.
 What is it?'
 They had not a word to say for themselves. In that room were some of the most caf1ous hearts In the ter r!tory. Not ono man in million could have faxed them, but this slender girl dumfounded them. Her gaze set