Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1920-01-30

4 "Ifaye we got chance to make o
getaway" Mac asked.
Davis nodded slide out throui
the kitchen. cut into the alley. a.
across lots to the corral. Wen loo
the door and IN hold them here Ion
as can"
Good boy, Stats. If there's uecl
tie party you'll get the first bid
Curly grinned.
Stats looked at him, cold and stead
Palmer than words he was telling hi
former friend that he would not jok
with a horse thief For the sake of oil
times he would save him If he could
but he would call any bluffs about tn
whole thing being lark.
Curlys eyes fell away. 1t came +
him for the first time that he was M
longer an honest man. Up till this
escapade ne 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. won't 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 lie had lost a
friend.
The two young men ran down The
back stairs. passed through the kitch-
en- where a 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'ning
air" Curly cautioned.
While they fed, watered and sad
died they snapped gossip with the
wranger 1t would not do to leave
the boy with a story Of two riders in
such a hurry to hit the trail that they
could not wait to feed their bronchos.
SO they stuck IT out while the animals
ate. AT that they shaved it fine. for
as they rode away two men were
coming down the street.
"Klte Bonfils." Curly called to his
partner.
No explanation was needed. Bon
fills was the foreman of the Bar
Double NJ 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
Ieaped to a canter In two strides. A |
bullet tipped between them. Another
struck the dust at their heels. Faint
y there came to the fugtlves the
sound of the foremans impotent
curses. They had escaped for the
line.
Presently they passed the last barb
wire fence and open country lay be-
ore them. 1t did not greatly matter
which direction they followed, so long
is they headed into the desert.
Neither of them had ever been In
serious trouble before and both re-
,retted the folly that had turned their
drunken spree into a crime. They !
we're stretched in front Of the fire that
trying to make smoke serve
instead of supper. Mac broke gloomy
silence to grunt out jerkily situa-
ion he could no longer keep to him
;elf.
Here's where | get my walking pa
,ers, reckon. No rustlers need APP
,ly."
Curly shot a slant glance at him.
'Meanlng-the grip
The red-headed puncher took from
his coat pocket photograph and
showed 1t to his friend. The sweet
clean face of d wholesome girl smiled
At Curly.
shes ce'tainly a right nice young
lady. I'll bet she stands by you all
right. Where's she live att"
waits in a restaurant at Tomb |
stone. We was going to be married /
soon as we had saved five hundred dol i
lars" Mac swallowed hard. And /
had to figure out this short cut to the
money whilst | was drunk. As IL she'd |
look at money made that way"
Curly tried to cheer him up, but did
not make much of job at 1t. The In .
disputable facts were that Mac was
an outlaw and horse thief.
The redheaded boy rolled another
cigarette despondently. "Shol I've
cooked my goose. She'll not look at me |
even If they don't send me to the
pen. And she's the best ever. Her
names Myra Anderson"
They slept under live oak with the
soundness of healthy youth. For the
time they forgot their troubles. Neither
of them knew that as the hours slipped |
away red tragedy was galloping closer
to them.
The sun was shining 10 his face /
when Curly wakened. He sat up and |
rubbed his eyes. Mac was nowhere in /
sight. Probably he had gone to get the
horses.
A sound broke the stiffness OF the
desert. Flandrau leaped to his feet.
and at the same instant Mac came
running over the brow Of the hill. A
smoking revolver was In his hand.