The Little River news., 1920-05-19

When you find out pass me without meet and just where" Curly gave Slats a quarter of an hour before sauntering back to town. 1 As he was passing the Silver Dollar 1 saloon a voice called him. Stone and l Blackwell were standing in the door. 1 Flandrau stopped.
 ] Soapy's deep-set eyes blazed at him. You didn't tell me it was Luck Gull lison went bail for you, Curly. So you 1 and him are thick, are you?"
 i've met him once, if that's being 1 thick. That time I shot him up"
 Funny. And then he went bail for you?"
 "Yes."
 "Now, I wonder why" The eyes of the man had narrowed l to red slits. His head had shot for ward on his shoulders as that of snake does. Curly would have given a good deal just then for the revolver lying on the bed of his room. For it | was plain trouble was in sight. The 1 desperate had been drinking heavily and was ready to do murder. That, easy to explain, Soapy. I shot him because I was driven to it. He's too much of a man to bear a grudge for what I couldn't help"
 You're a liar. He did it because you promised to sneak up to my ranch and spy on us. That's why he did it."
 With the last word his gun jumped into sight. That he was flashing him. self into a fury was plain. Presently his rage would end in a tragedy. Given a chance, Curly would have run for it. But Soapy was dead shot. Of a sudden the anger in the boy boiled up over the fear In two jumps he covered the ground and jammed his | face close to the cold rim of the blue steel barrel.
 "Tm not heeled. Shoot and be damned, you coward. And with my last breath I'll tell you that you're a liar.'
 Flandrau had called his bluff, though he had not meant it as one. A dozen men were in sight and were watching. They had heard the young man tell Stone he was not armed. Public opin- ion would hold him to account if he shot Curly down in cold blood. He hung there undecided breathing fast, his jaw clamped tightly.
 The lad hammered home his de- fiance. Drop that gun you four-flush. CT, and I'll whale you till you cant stand Sabe? Call yourself a bad man, do you? Time I'm through with you there will be one tame wolf crawl ing back to Dead Cow With its tall be- tween it's legs
 The taunt diverted his mind j'-st as Curly had hoped it WoulN. He thrust the revolver back into the hols.e. and reached for his foe.
 Then everybody, hitherto paralyzed by the sight of deadly weapon, woke up and took hand. They dragged the two men apart. Curly was thrust into barber shop on the othe. side of the street and Stone was dragged back into the Silver Dollar. In two minutes Flandrau had made himself famous, for he was marked man. The last words of the struggling desperado had been that he would shoot on sight. Now half a dozen talked at once Some advised Curly one thing, some another. He must get out of town. He must apologize at once to Stone. He must send friend and explain.
 The young man laughed grimly. Explain nothing. I've done all the explaining Pm going to. And I'll not leave town either. If Soapy wants me he'll sure find me-"
 Don't be foolish, kid. He has got four nOtches on that gun of his. And he's a dead shot"
 The tongues of those about him gal loped. But Curly was excited, pleased with himself. because he had stood rp to the bogey man of the Southwest and too full of strength to be afraid.
 Maloney came into the barber shop and grinned at him. T hear you and Soapy are figuring on setting off some fireworks this Fourth"
 It did Curly good to see him stand ing there so easy and deliberate among the excitable town people.
 "Soapy is doing the talking"
 "I heard him; happened to be at the Silver Dollar when they dragged him in."
 Mal0ey's eyebrows moved the least bit. His, friend understood. Together they passed out of the back door of the shop into an alley. The others stood back and let them go.
 Back to the hotel the two ran. When Curly buckled on his revolver and felt it resting comfortably against his thigh he felt good deal better.
 Eve seen Stats Davis" Malopey explained. "He has gone to find Luck, who is now at the Del Mar"
 Had any talk with Slats?'
 "No. He said you'd do the talking
 "Tm to wait for him on Fl Moline street to learn where I'm to meet Gull lison."
 That won't do. You'd make too tempting target. I'll meet him in- stead"
 That Suitad Turlv Ha waS DOt hunt-