The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-01-31

little.
Kite did not take the trouble to low
er his. bad. Always been tough
character. Friend OF Bad Bill Cranston
and Soapy Stone"
! Il don't know anything against the
I kid. barring that he's been little
Wild" Maloney testified. "And reckon
we amt any Of US prize Sunday school
winners for that matter"
As Buck turned 10 leave the bunk
! house the boy touched him on the arm.
How about CullIson?" he asked.
very low.
But Buck would not have II that
way. "what about himT' he demand
ed out loud. his voice grating like
steel when II grinds.
us he--how Is he doingf-
whats eatin' you? Amt he dying
fast enough to suit your"
Flandrau shrank from the cruel
words. as schoolboy does from his
teacher when he jumps ut him with a
cane.
1t was then that Maloney made q
friend Of the young man for life. He
let hand drop carelessly on Curly's
shoulder and looked at him with .
friendly smile In his eyes. Just an II
he knew that this was no wolf but a
poor dog up against II hard.
doc thinks he'll make Il all right"
But there were times when Curly
wondered whether II would make any
diffaranca A.. hin, url .s r,,ilt,cr -
well or not Something immediate was
In the air. Public opinion was sitting
down 10 a decision. Most of these men
were up 10 the average for the milk
OF human kindness. They were the
squarest citizens In Arizona. But Elan
drau knew they would snufr out his
life just the same II they decided IL
was best. Afterward they might re-
greet II, but that would not help him.
Darkness came and the lamps we're
III. 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 mp and down his spine.
They began to question him. ut first
casually and carelessiy. so II seemed
to Curly. But presently he dIsccrned
drift In the talk. They were trying
to find out who had been his partners.
In the rustling.
"And I reckon Soapy and Bad BIZ
left you lads at Saguache 10 hold the.
sack" Buck suggested alphabetically.
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
fnesse. you've got to speak. Flan-
drau. You've got TO tell us who was
engineering this theft. Understandr'
The young rustler looked at tho
grim frownIng face and his heart sank.
''0ut with It." ordered Buck.
"Oh, I expect Ill keep that under
my hat" Curly told them lightly.
They we're crowded about him In n
half circle, nearly a score OF hard
leather-fsced plninsmen. Some OF
them were riders OF the Circle @ out.
fit. Others had ridden over from
nelghboring ranches. All Of them
plainly meant business.
think again, Curly" advised Swee-
ney quietly. THE boys amt trifiing
about this thing. They mean to nnd
out who was In the rustling OF the Bar
Double NJ 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. 10 cry out desperately
for them to let him or. He had kept
telling himself not TO show yellow.
that II 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.
I'm not tell you thing--not a
thing"
He stood there chalk faced. his lips
SO dry that he had TO keep molstcning
them with the tip of his tongue.
iHitH lhu new TUpe w HiN manu-
with a loop at one end. lie tossed IL
over the boys head and drew II tauf.
Two or three of the faces In the circle
were almost as hloodlcss ne fhaf OF
the prisoner. but they were set 10 see
the thing out.
"Will you tell now7" Bondls asked.
Curly met him eye 40 eye, NO.
''Come along, then"
One Of the men caught his arm at
the place where he had been wounded.
The rustler flinched.
Careful Buck. Don't you see you're
hurting his bad armY' Sweeney said
sharply.
II didn't aim 10 hurt HIM" Buck de-
Tended himself
cmrlys senses had never been more
alert. lie noticed that Buck had on n
rel necktle that had got loose from his
shirt and climbed up his neck. II had