The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-02-05
CHAPTER ~.
A Bear Trap.

The winding trail led up to the
scrub pines and from there north into
the hills. Curly had not travelled far.
when he heard the sound Of a gun
fired three times in quick succession.
He stopped to listen. Presently there
came faint call for help.
Curly cantered around the shoulder
Of the hill and saw a man squatting
on the ground. He was stopped for
ward in an awkward fashion with his
back to Flandrau.
whats up?"
At the question the man looked over
his shoulder. Pain and helpless rage
burned in the deepset black eyes.
Nothing at all. Don't you see I'm
just taking a nep?" he answered
quietly.
Curly recognized him now. The man
was Soapy Stone. Little beads Of
Precipitation stood out all over his fore
head. A glance showed the reason.
One of his hands was caught in bear
trap fastened to a cottonwood. Its
jaws held him so that he could not
move.
The young man swung from the
back of Keno. He found the limb of
a cottonwood about as thick as his
forearm below the elbow. This he set
close to the trap.
"Soon as I get the lip open shove
her in,'' he told Stone.
The rescuer slipped the toes of his
boots over the lower lip and caught
the upper one with both hands. Slow
Ix1 %H0 of kho +xann
Stone slipped in the wooden wedge
and withdrew his crushed wrist. By
great good fortune the steel had
caught ON the leather gauntlet he was
wearing.
Even now he was suffering good
deal.
you'll have to let a doc look at it."
Curly suggested.
Stone agreed. Reckon I better
strike for the Bar co."
His horse had disappeared, but
Curly helped him to the back of Keno.
Together they took the trail for the
Bar 80. On the face of the wounded
man gathered the moisture caused by
intense paid.
Hard shedding, looks like" Curly
sympathized.
Reckon 1 can stand the grief"
Stone grunted.
Nor did he speak 6gain until they
reached the ranch and Laura London
looked at him from frightened face.
"What is it?'
"Ran silver in my finger, Miss
Laura. Too bad to trouble yOu,"
Soapy answered with sheer on his
thin lips.
A rider for the Bar 80 had just rid
den up and Laura sent him at once
for the doctor. She led the way into
the house and swiftly gathered band
ages, a sponge and a basin of water.
Together she and Curly bathed and
wrapped the wound.
Laura was as gentle as she could be.
II know I'm hurting yOu," she said,
her fingers trembling.
''Not bit of it. Great pleasure to
have you for nurse. I'm certainly in
luck" Curly did not understand. the
bitterness in the sardonic face and he
resented it.
That something was wrong between
them. Curly could see. Soapy was very
polite in spite of his bitterness, but
his hard eyes watched her as a cat
does mouse. Moreover, the girl was
afraid of him. He could tell that by
the timid startled way she had of an
sweriDg Now. why need she fear the
man? 1t would be as much as his life
was worth to lift hand to hurt her.
After the doctor had come and had
attended to the crushed wrist Curly
stepped out to the porch to. find Laura.
Pm right sorry for what | said.
Miss Laura. Once in while a fel
low makes q mistake If he's as big a
chump as | am it's liable to happen II
little oftener. But I'm not really one
Of those smart guys