The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1920-08-12

But Buck would not have 1t tina,
way. "What about himr' he demand
ed out loud. his voice grating like
steel when It grinds.
rs he-how Is he doing7"
"What's eatin' you1 Amt b dyina
fast enough to suit your
Flandrau shrank from the cruel
words. a. q schoolboy does from his
teacher when he Jumps at him with q
cane.
It was then that Maloney made a
friend Of the young man for life. BE
let hand drop carelessly on Curly'l
shoulder and looked at him with q
friendly smile In his eyes, Just % Il
he knew that this was no wolf but q
poor dog up against 1t hard.
doc thinks he'll make 1t all right. N
But there were times when Curly
wondered whether 1t would make any
difference to him whether Cullison got
well or not Something Immediate was
In the air. Public opinion was sitting
down to 4 decision. Most Of these men
were up to the average for the milk
Of human kindness. They were the
squarest citisens In Arizona. But Elan.
drau knew they would SNUFF out bis
life Just the same II they decided It
was best. Afterward they might re
grst It. but that would not help him.
Darkness came. and the lamps were
lit. Again Curly ate and smoked and
chatted q little with bis capton. But
% he sat there hour after hour, feel.
Ing death creep closer every minute.
cold shivers ran up and down his spine.
They began to question him. At nrst
easually and carslessly. 70 1t seemed
to Curly. But presently he discsrned
drift IN the talk. They were trying
to fnd out who had been his partners
In the rustling.
and ! reckon Soapy and Bad Bill
left you lads at sasuache to hold the
sack" Buck suggested sympathetically.
Curly grew wary. He did not intend
to betray his accomplices. wrong
guess. Soapy and Bad Bill weren't in
this DEAL" he answered easily.
The foreman Of the Bar Double n
interrupted impatisntly. tired Of trying
to pump out the information By
nnesse. you've got 70 speak. Elan.
drau. You've got to tell ~ who was
engineering this theft. UndeFstandr
The young rustlef looked At the
grim frowning face and his heart sank.
"Out with It." ordered Buck.
"Oh. I expect ri keep that under
my hat" Curly told them lightly.
They were crowded about him In q
half circle. nearly . score Of hard
lsathsr.facsd Dlainsmsn. Some Of
them were riders Of the Circle O out.
a. Others had ridden ever from
nsishboring ranches. All Of them
plainly meant business.
think again. Curly" advised swss.
nsy quietly. The boys AMT tri6ins
about this thing. They mean to and
ont who was IN the rustling Of the Bar
Double n stock"
mot through me. they won't"
Through you. And right now"
4 dozen times during the evening
Curly had crushed down the desire to
beg for mercy. to cry out desperately
for them to let him Oh. He had kept
telling himself not to show yellow.
that II would not last long. Now the
fear Of breaking down sioughed from
his soul. He rose from the bed and
looked round at the brown faces cir.
cled about him IL the shine Of the
lamps.
"I'll not tell you . thins-not q
thing"
He stood there chalk.faced. his lips
20 dry that he had to keep moistsnins
them with the tip Of his tongue.
Dutch had q new rope In his hand
with . loop At one end. He tossed Il
over the boys head and drew II taut.
Two or three of the faces 10 the circle
were almost a. bloodless a. that Of
the prisoner. but they were set to see
the thing out.
"Will you tell nowr' Bonfils asked,
Curly met him eye to eye. mo"
"Come along. then"
One Of the men caught his arm al
the place where he had been wounded
The rustler hinched.
Careful. Buck. Don't you zee you're
hurting his bad armr Sweeney said
sharply.
II didn't aim to hurt him." Buck de.
Tended himself.
Curiy's senses had never been more
alert. He noticed that Buck had on a
red necktie that had got loose from his
shirt and climbed up his neck. 1t had
black polka dots and was badly frayed
Sweeney was chewing tobacco. He
would have that chew In his mouth
after they had finished what they were
going to do.
"Ain't he the gamest ever1" some
one whispered.
The rustler heard the words and
they brsced him as q drink Of whisky
does . man who has been on . bad
spree.
Better do II at the eottonwoeds
down BY the creek" Buck told Bonnla
In low voice.
The foreman Of the RaP Douhia n