The Arvada enterprise., 1920-09-02


treacherous. vindictive, sllppery ~ an
eel. Even his confsderates did not
trust him greatly. But It was Soapy
and young Cullison that interested
Flandrau most. Sam was at an i'm
prssdonabls age, inclined to b led BY
any man whom he admired. Curly
knew that he could gain no influence
over him BY preaching. He had to live
the rough-and- tumble life Of these men
who dwelt beyond the pale Of the law.
70 excel them at the very things Of
which they boasted. But In one re-
spsct be held himself apart. While he
was at the horse ranch he did not
touch q drop Of liquor.
Laura London's letter was not deliv-
cred until the second day. for, though
she had not told her messenger to give
II to Sam when hs was alone, Curly
guessed this would b better.
Sam ran over bis letter two or three
times. Il was such Q message - any
brave-hearted, impulsive girl might
send to the man she loved when he
seemed to her to walk in danger. Gull
lison loved her for the interest she
took In him. even while he ridiculed
her fears.
A. they rode back to the ranch.
Curly mentioned that he had seen
Sans people q day or two before.
Cullison asked no questions, but he
listeasd intently while the other told
the story Of his first rustling and Of
how Miss Kate and her father had
stood by him in his trouble.
III I had folks like you have. the
salt Of the earth. and they were worry.
ing their hearts out about me. seems
to me I'd quit helling around and 60
back to them" Curly concluded.
The old man sent you to tell me
that. did her Hard and bitter was
the voice Of The young man.
"No. be didn't He doesn't know
I'm here. But b. and your sister have
done more for me than I ever can pay.
That's why I'm telling you this"
Sam answered grumy, - man does
when hs 10 moved. "Nuch obliged,
Curly. but I reckon I can look out for
myself"
"Just what I thought. sad in Sep
tember I have 10 20 to the peniten-
tiary. They've got me cinched. But
with you It's different. There's moth
ing to this sort q life. The bunch up
here 10 no good. Soapy don't mean
right By you. or BY any young fellow
he trails WITH"
It'll mot listea to anything against
soapy. He has bseo q good friend to
me. I'm not going to throw him down"
"Wouid It b. throwing him down to
20 back to yosr pssplsr'
"Yss. II would. We've got plans.
Soapy 10 relying o. ne. No matter
what they are. but I'm not going to lie
down On him. And Tn not going back
to the old man. He teid mo he was
through with me. I'm not begging him
to take me back. not % your life."
Curly dropped the natter. But -
the days passed b kept one thing In
his mind. not to miss any chance to
win his friendship. Thsy rode together
Q good deal. and ylandrau found that
Sam liked to hear him talk about the
Circle c and its al.airA But often he
was discouraged. for hs made 10 prog
ress In weaving him from his loyalty
to stons. The latter was hero to
him. and gradually he was filling him
with wrong ideas, encouraging him the
while to drink Q great deal. That the
man had some definite purpose Curly
was sure. What It was. he meant to
fnd out.
Because he could not persuade him
to Join In their drinking bouts, Stone
nicknamed Curly the good bad man.
Blackwell picked ON the youth to be
the butt Of his coarse pieasantries.