The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1920-01-31
friend here down At the Legal Ten

nave we kOt cnhuce 70 make Oul
getaway" Mac asked.
Davis nodded. "Slide out through
the kitchen. cut into the alley. ant
across lots to the corral. Wen loci
the door and I'll hold them here Ions
as can"
'Good boy. Stats. II there's a neck
tie party you'll get the FIRST bid
Curly grinned.
Stats looked al him. cold and steady
Palmer than words he was telling his
former friend that he would not joke
with a horse thief. For the sake OF old
times he would save him II he could.
but he would call any bluffs about the
whole thing being a lark.
Curly's eyes fell away. II came TO
him for the first time that he was no
longer an honest man. Up till this
escapade he. had been only wild. but
now he had crossed The line that sep
arates decent folks from outlaws.
Not another word was said while
they hurried into their clothes. But
as Curly passed out Of the door he
called back huskiiy. wont forget
what you done for us. Stats"
Again their eyes met. Davis did
not speak. but the chill look on his
face told Flandrau that he had lost a
friend.
The two young men ran down the
back stairs. passed through the kitch-
en- where Chinese cook was getting
breakfast. and out into the bright sun
light.
wont do to be In any hurry. The
play Is we're gentlemen of leisure. just
out for an amble TO get the mo'nlng
air" Curly cautioned.
While they fed. watered and sad
died they snapped gossip with the
wrangler. II would not do TO leave
the boy with a story OF two riders In
such hurry 10 hit the trail that they
could not walt 10 feed their bronchos.
SO they stuck II out while the animals
ate. At that they shaved IL fine. for
as they rode away two men were
coming down the street.
kite Bonfils." Curly called to his
partner.
No explanation was needed. Bon
fis was the foreman of the Bar
Double M. He let out a shout as he
caught sight of them and began to
run forward. simultaneously his gun
seemed TO jump from Its holster.
Macs quirt sang and his pony
leaped TO canter In two stridex. A
bullet tipped between them. Another
struck the dust al their heels. Faint
Iy there came to the fugtives the
sound of the foreman's impotent
curses They had escaped for the
time.
Presently they passed the last barb.
wire fence and open country lay be-
tore them. II did not greatly matter
which direction they followed, so long
As they headed into the desert
Neither of them had ever been In
serious trouble before and both re-
yretted the folly that had turned their
drunken spree into crime. They
we're stretched In front OF the fire that
evening trying to make smoke serve
instead OF supper. Mac broke gloomy
silence to grunt .out jerkily a situa-
ion he could no longer keep to him
,elf.
Here's where get my walking pa
)ers. I reckon. No rustlers need APP
ply"
Curly shot slant glance at him.
girl?"
The red-headed puncher took from
IFS coat pocket photograph and
showed II TO his friend. The sweet
lean face OF wholesome girl smiled
Il Curly.
ashes .ce'tainly right nice young
ady. I'll bet she stands by you all
light Where's she live att"
"walts In a restaurant at Tomb
stone. We was going to he married
'oon as we had saved FIVE hundred dol
ars." Mac swallowed hard. and ]
lad to figure out this short cut TO the
money whilst I was drunk. As II she'd
ook at money made that way"
Curly tried to cheer him up. but did
lot make much OF job at II. The In
iisputable facts we're that Mac was
In outlaw and horse thief.
The redheaded boy rolled another
cigarette despondentIy. "Shoi I've
cooked my goose. She'll not look al me
--even If they don't send me To the
zen. And she's the best ever. Her
lame's Myra Anderson"
They slept under live oak with the
'oundness of healthy youth. For the
line they forgot their troubles. Neither
II them knew that as the hours slipped
way red tragedy was galloping closer
o them.
The sun was shining In his face
when Curly wakened. He sat up and /
-ubbed his eyes. Mac was nowhere In
light. Probably he had gone to get the
lorses.
A tsound broke the stiffness OF the I
lesert Flandrsu ieaped 10 his feet
md AT the same instant Mac came
unning over the brow of the hin. A
moking revolver was In his hand
y ln...x.. hohlnN tho hin a srt.n ora ~ "A