The Little River news., 1920-05-12
CHAPTER VI.
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one that Curly recognized as that of Soapy Stone, alias You Know Who.
 :" then you'll take the 9 ;57, Sam :"
 After more whispering, Yep, soon the passengers
 The listener lost what followed. Once he thought he heard the name Tin Cup, but he could not be sure. Presently another fragment drifted to him. ". . make our getaway and cache the plunder :"
 The photograph lifted up it's voice. This time it was "I Love a Lassie." Before the song was finished there came the sound of shuffiing feet. One of the men in the next stall was leav- ing. Curly could not tell which one, nor did he dare look over the top of the partition to find out. He was playing safe. This adventure had caught him so unexpectedly that he had not found time to run back to his room for his six-ipch gun. What would happen to him if he were caught listening was not a matter of doubt. Soapy would pump lead Into him till he quit kicking slap a saddle on a broncho and light out for the Sonora line.
 AS the photograph finished unex- pectedly-some one had evidently in- terrupted the record-the fra gment of a sentence seemed to jump at Curly.
 so the kid will get his in the row"
 It was the voice of Soapy, raised slightly to make itself heard above the music.
 "Take care" another voice replied, and Fandrau would have sworn that this belonged to Blackwell.
 Stone, who had been sitting on the other side of the table, moved close to the paroled convict. Between him and Curly there was only the thick ness of a plank.
 . :, don't like it," Blackwell was obiecting sulleny.
 "Males it safe for us. Besides"- Stones voice grated like steel rasping steel, every word distinct though very low-"I swore to pay off Luck Cuflison and by G. I'm going to do it.
 Again they fell to whispers. The next word that came to Curly clearly was his own name.
 Luck Cullison went his bail, I learned it this mo'ning."
 "rhe son-of-a-gun It's a cinch he's a spy. Reckon he knows anything?"
 "No. Can't"
 If I thought he did
 "Keep your shirt on, Lute. Hs. don't know a thing. And you get revenge on him all right Sam will run with him and his friends while he's here. Consequence is, when they find the kid where We leave him they'll sure guess Curly for one of his pardners. Tell you his ticket is good as bought to Yuma He's horse thief. Why shouldn't he be a train robber toof That's how d jury will argue.
 Once more the voices ran together ndistinctly. It was not till Blackwell suggested that they go and get a drink { that Curly understood anything more of what was being said
 The outlaws passed out of the little room and strolled forward to the bar.
 Curly had heard more than he had expected to. Moreover as he congrat- ulated himself, his luck had stood up fine. Nobody in the sunburnt territory felt happier than he did that minute when he struck the good fresh air of the alley and knew that he had won through his hazardous adventure alive.
 The first thing that Flandrau cid was to walk toward the outskirts Ge the town, where he could think it out by himself. Before he reached Arroyo street Curly came plump against his old range-mate, Slats Davis. Flandrau caught him by the arm. "Hello Slats. You're the man I want"
 I'm pretty busy today" Davis an- swered stiffiy.
 Forget it. This is more impor- tant."
 "WelI?"
 Come along and take a walk. got something to tell you"
 Reluctantly Davis fell in beside him. All right. Cut it short. I've got to see a man."
 Hell have to wait" Curly could not help chuckling to himseIf at the evident embarrassment of the other. The impish impulse to devil" him had its way. You're man of experience, SlatS. Ever hold up train? Some of my friends are aiming to hold up one shortly. If you'd like to get in rl say good word for you
 Davis threw him look that drenched like ice water. Il expect you and me are traveling different trails these days, Curly. You don't mean it, of course, but the point is I'm not going to joke with you along that line. Understand?'
 "Wrong guess, old hoss. do mean it."
 Davis stopped in his tracks. Then you've said too much to me. We'll part right here. When you choose