The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-12-02


stopping. bat tell ME when We are to
meet and Just where"
Curly gave Stats a quarter Of an
hour before sauntering back to town. |
As he was passing the Silver Dollar |
saloon a voice called him. Stone and
Blackwell were standing in the door.
F'andrau stopped.
Soapy's deep-set eyes blazed at him.
"You didn't tell me it was Luck Gull
ltson went bail for you, Curly. So You
and him are thick, are your
Ave met him once. ii that's being
thick. That time ! shot him up."
'Funny. And then he went bail for
your"
EYES,"
'Now, / wonder why"
The eyes of the man had narrowed
to red Sits. His head had shot for
ward on his shoulders as that of
snake does. Curly would have given
good deal just then for the revolver
lying on the bed of his room. For 1t
was plain trouble was in sight. The
desperado had been drinking heavily
and was ready to do murder
''Tha::s easy to explain, Soapy. /
shot him because was driven to 1t.
He's too much Of a. man to bear
grudge for what couldn't help"
You're liar. He did 1t 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 fury was plain. Presently
his rage would end in a tragedy.
Given chance, Curly would have
run for it. But Soapy was dead shot.
OF a sudden the anger In the boy
h0iled up over the fear. In two jumps
lie covered the ground and jamned his
face close to the cold rim of the blue
steel barrel.
"I'm 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 We're 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 II 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-aush-
er. and I'll whale you till you can't
stand. Sabe? Call yourself bad
man, do you? Time I'm through with
you there will be one tame wolf crawl
ing back to Dead Cow with its tail be-
i tween Its legs"
The taunt diverted his mind, just as
Curly had hoped 1t would. He thrust
the revolver back into the holster 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 other side Of
the street and Stone was dragged bach
Into the Silver Dollar.
In two minutes Flandrau had made
himself famous, for he was marked
man. The last words of the struggling
desperate had been that he woult
shoot on SIGHT. Now half dozeI
talked at once. Some advised Curl,
one thing, some another. He must ge
out Of town. He must apologize a
once to Stone. He must send a frient
and explain.
The young man laughed grimly
Explain nothing. I've done NIL tn,
explaining I'm going 10. And I'll no
leave town either. If Soapy wants mi
he'll sure find me"
Don't be foolish, kid. He has so
four notches on that gun Of his. Ant
he's dead shot"
The tongues Of those about him gal
leped. But Curly was excited, please,
with himself because he had stood Vi
! to the DOGGY man Of the Southwes
and too full Of strength to be afraid.
Maloney came into the barber sho
and grinned at him. II hear you an
Soapy are figuring on setting OF som
fireworks this Fourth"
It did Curly good to see him stant
ing there so easy and deliberate anon
t the excitable town people.
Y "Soapy Is doing the talking"
81 heard him; happened to be at tn
. Silver Dollar when they dragged hil
3 In"
Maloney's eyebrows moved the leas
bit. His friend understood. Togethe
: they passed out Of the back door (
the shop into an alley. The othei
stood back and let them 60.
Back TO the hotel the two raj
2 When Curly buckled on his reyolvt
2 and felt it resting comfortably again'
= his thigh he felt good deal better.
: 1--WE seen Stats Davis" Malone
e explained. HE has gone to hr
=, Luck, who is now at the Del Mar"
: "Had any talk with Slats?"
: mo. He said you'd do the talking.
"rm to wait for him on Ell Molir
street to learn where I'm to meet Gu
], lisOn.'
"That won't do. You'd make Il
+ tempting target. I'll meet him !
stead"