The Lamar register., 1920-01-14


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. al hrsi
casually and carelessly. so II seemed
TO Curly. But presently he discerncd
a drift in the talk They were trying
To find out who had been his partners
In the rustling.
And reckon Sospy and Bad BIZ
left you lads at Saguache to hold the
sack" Buck suggested sympatheticaliy.
Curly grew wary. He did not intend
to betray his accomplices. "Wron=
guess. soapy and Bad Bill weren't in.
this deal" he answered easily.
The foreman of the Bar Double
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 frowninE face and his heart sank
"Out with It," ordered Buck.
"Oh. / expect I'll keep that under
my hat" Curly told them lightly.
They were crowded about him In a
half circle, nearly 4 score Of hard
leather-faced plainsmen. Some "i
them were riders Of the Circle c out
fit. Others had ridden over from
neighboring ranches. All OF them
plainly meant business.
"rhink again. Curly" advised Swee-
ney quietly. The boys ain't triflin.
about this thing. They mean 10 find
out who was In the rustling of the Bar
Double NJ stock"
Not through NJ. they won't"
Through you. And right now"
A dozen times during the evening
Curly had crushed down the desire to
beg for mercy. u cry out desperately
for them to let him OF. He had kept
telling himself not to show yellow.
that il would not last long. Now the
fear Of breaking down sioughed from
his soul. He rose from the bed and
looked round at the brown faces cir
cled about hio In the shine Of the
lamps.
.I'm not tell ysu a thinK-not u
thing"
II. stood there chalk faced. his lips
so dry that he had to keep moistening
them with the tip Of his tongue.
Dutch had q new rope in his hand
with q loop at one end. He tossed 1t
over the boys head and drew 1t taut.
Two or three of the faces In the circle
were almost as bloodless as that Of
the prisoner, but they were set TO see
the thing out.
.WiIl you tell now7" Bonfls asked.
Curly met him eve to eye. mo"
Come along. then"
One of the men caught his arm at
the place where he had been wounded.
The rustier ninched.
Careful, Buck. Don't you see you're
hurting his bad arm" Sweeney said
sharply.
81 didn't aim to hurt him." Buck de-
Tended himself.
Curly's senses had never been more
alert. He noticed that Buck had on q
red necktie that had got loose from his
shirt and climbed up his neck. II 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.
Amt he the gamest everf" some
one whispered.
The rustler heard the words and
they braced him rs u drink Of whisky
does a man who has been on bad
spree.
Better do II at the cottonwoods
down by the creek" Buck told Bonfiis
in n low voice.
The foreman Of the Bar Double n
moved his head In assent. "All right.
Let's get IL over quick as we can"
A sound of flying feet came from
outside. Some one smothered an oath
of surprise. Kate Cullison stood In
the doorway, all out Of breath and
painting.
What 10 itf'
They had not word TO say for
| themselves. In that room we're some
Of the most callous hearts in the ter
ritory. Not one man In = million could
have faxed them. but this slender
girl dumfounded them. Her case set
tied on Buck. His wandered for help
to Sweeney. to Jake, to Kite Bonfils.
Now look-a-here. Miss Kate"
| Sweeney began to explain.
But she swept his remonstrancs
aside.