The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-03-18

door was open. Stats came In ana
shut II behind him. He looked at |
Flandrau.
They're after you" he said.
"Who7" fired Curly back at him.
"The Bar Double M boys. They
just reached town."
"Put up that gun, Mac, and move
into your clothes Immediately" or
dered Curly. Then to Davis: go on.
Unload the rest. What do they knowf"
"They, inquired for you and your
friend here down at the Legal Ten
der"
'Haye we got chance to make our
getawayi" Mac asked.
Davis nodded. "Slide out through
the kitchen. cut into the alley, and
across lots to the corral. Wen lock
the door and I'll hold them here long
as l cam"
"Good boy, Stats. II there's a neck
tie party you'll get the FIRST bid"
Curly grinned.
Stats looked at him, cold and steady.
Palmer than words he was telling his
former friend that he would not Joke
with 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 q lark.
Curiy'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
Not another word was said while
tLey hurried into their clothes. But
MS Curly passed out OF the door he
called back huskily. "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 ne 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. 81 .i7,
won't 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 swapped gossip with the
wrangler. 1t would not do to leave
, the boy with story OF two riders in
, such hurry to hit the trail that they
could not wait to feed their bronchos.
So they stuck 1t out while the animals
, ate. At that, they shaved It 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
; fils was the foreman Of the Bar
Double II. lie let out a shout as he
, caught sight OF then and began to
run forward. simultaneously his gun
seemed TO jump from its holster.
/ Macs QuIrt sang and his pony
leaped to q canter in two strides. A
n bullet tipped between them. Another
struck the dust at their heels. Faint
4 ly there came 10 the fugitives the
4 sound of the foreman's impotent
= curses. They had escaped for the
. time.
Presently they passed the last bart
!, wire fence and open country lay be
fore them. 1t did not greatly matter
which direction they followed, 80 Ionl
!, as they headed Into the desert.
= Neither Of them had ever been IL
serious trouble before and both re
;. gretted the folly that had turned taeii
: drunken spree into crime. The,
: were stretched In front Of the IRE tina
= evening trying to make a smoke sery'
: instead of supper. Mac broke gloom!
silence to grunt out jerkily s!tua
ton he could no longer keep to him
: self.
u "Here's where get my walking pc
pers, reckon. No rustlers need ap
'e ply"
&c Curly shot a slant glance at him
o "Meaning-the girlr
The red-headed puncher took frou
his coat pocket q photograph AM
le showed II to his friend. The swee
II clean face of wholesome girl smiles
lg at Curly.
re "She's ce'tainly right nice youni
as lady. I'll bet she stands BY you al
right. Where's she live att"
~ waits in restaurant at Tomb
stone. We was going to be marrle'
soon as we had saved i've hundred dol
er lars" Mac swallowed hard "And
T. had to figure out this short cut to tn
Of money whilst was drunk. As II She
ig look at money made that way"
1 AL A. .I.n In IN knIa "A