The Lamar register., 1920-01-21
Crooked
Trails
and
Straight
By
William, Macleod R0jne
Copyright. py @ W Dtiiinsnan ooup.n'
William Macleod R0ine

the steel eyes that bored into him like
n gimlet. Now he spoke sharply.
I've got an account running with
Soapy Stone. Some day I'll settle II.
likely. But that ain't the point now.
Do YOU know his friends-the bunch
he trails With"
WEAKNESS still seemed to crouch In
the cool eyes of Flandrau.
And If say yes. III bet your next
question will be about The time and
the place last saw them"
Kate picked up a photograph from
the table and handed II to the prisoner.
We're not Interested In his friends
except one OF them. Did you ever see
the boy that sat for that pictureT"
The print was snapshot OF boy
about nineteen. brlghtfaced hand
some fellow, n little sulky around the
mouth but with a pair of straight hon
est eyes.
Curly shook his head slowly. Yet he
was vaguely reminded OF some one he
knew. Glancipg up. lie found Instant
ly the clue to what had puzzled him.
The young man in the picture was like
Kate Culllson. like her father. too. for
that matter.
Hes your brother" The words
were out before Flandrau could stop
them.
''Yes. You've never met himf'
mo"
CullIson had been watching the
young man steadily. Never saw him
with Soapy StoneT'
mo"
Never heard Stone speak Of Sam
CullisonT"
mo. Soapy doesn't talk much about
who his friends are"
him."
OF course he had met him. Curly
knew the story OF how in one drive he
had made a gather Of outlaws that had
brought fame TO him. Soapy had
broken through the net. but the sheriff
had followed him into the hills alone
and run him to earth. What passed
between the men nobody ever found
out. Stone had repeatedly given II Out
that he could not be taken alive. But
Cullison had brought him down to the
valley bound and cowed. In due sea-
son the bandits had gone over the
road to Yuma. Soapy and the others
had sworn to get their revenge some
day Now they were back In the hills
at their old tricks. Was II possible
that Cullison's son WAS with them,
caught in a trap during some drunken
frolic just ms Curly had been7 In what
way could Stone pay more fully the
debt Of hate he owed the former
sheriff than by making his son vii
lainf
The little doctor came briskly into
the room.
Everybody out but the nurse.
You've had company enough for one
day. Luck" he announced cheerily.
Kate followed Maloney and his pris-
oner TO the porch.
About the letters Of your friend
that was shot" she said to Curly.
Doctor Brown was telling me what
you said. ri see they reach Miss An
derson. Do you know in what res
taurnnt she works7"
mo. Mac didn't tell me-" The hoy
gulped TO swallow an unexpected lump
in his throat. They was expecting to
get married soon"
TN write to her" Kate promised
her eyes misty.
I'D he obliged, miss. Mac was a
good boy Anyone will tell you that.
And he was awful fond Of her. He
talked about her that last night before
the camp fire. Bad companions got
him going wrong. but he sure would
have settled down into good man.
Thnts straight goods. too. You write
IL strong"
I've changed my mind. I'll not
write but go to see her."
Curly could only look his thanks.
Words seemed strangely Inadequate
But Kate understood the boys un-
spoken wish and nodded her head re-
assuringly as he left the room.
Kite Bonfls and Maloney took Curly
l.ics ru Sat.uache and turned II ~ ave
yu Sheriff Bolt.
How about bail7' Mnloney asked.
The sheriff smiled. He was 1nr'
Inn leatherfaced man with rr."nd
owes from which humorous writ
rudinfed.
"Oh. say two thousand"
You're on"
what"