Connecticut western news., 1920-02-26
aI'II Stay In the Scrub Pines Up Here"

.Pll Stay In the Scrub Pines Up Here" danna real industrious. If he is at home give Laura the tip and she1l know where to find me-" The owner of the ranch, as 1t hap pened, was cutting trail over by Agua Caliente.
 Do you want to see him very bad, Mir. FlandrauT" asked Miss Laura demurely.
 "No, can't say I've lost MT. Lon don"
 "You inquired for him." | Emp! That's different. When I used to come home from the swim ming hole contrary to orders used to ask where dad was, but I didn't want to see him."
 T see. Did you just come down from the horse ranch?"
 You've guessed right"
 'Then I am sorry can't ask you to Tight. Dads orders" l Anything in those orders about you meeting one of the lads from the horse ranch up on the hillside where it is neutral ground?"
 Did Sam come with you?" she cried. "He's here. Oh, I know he's here."
 "What do get for bringing good news?'
 q didn't say it was good news" "Sho! Your big eyes are shouting it."
 ! "Was that the news from the horse ranch?"
 That's part of it, but there is more. Sam and Curly are on. their way to Saguache to spend the Fourth of July. Sam is going for another reason, but I'm not sure yet what it is There's something doing I don't savez, some big deal on foot that's not on the level. supposed to be quitting Soapy's outfit for good. But know better" White to the lips, she faced him bravely. "What sort of trouble is he leading Sam into?" "Ive got a kind of notion. But it won't bear talking about yet. Don't tell him what I've told you, unless you want to spoil my chance of helping him."
 q won't" she promised; then added, with quick eagerness: Maybe can help you. Pm going down to Saguache to visit on the Fourth" "I'll look you up. Trouble is that Sam is bent on ruining himself. Seems to think Soapy is his best friend. If we could show him different things might work out all right"
 While she climbed the hill to Sam. Curly watered his horse and smoked cigarette. He was not hired to chaperone lovers. Therefore, 1t took him threelquarters of an hour to reach the scrub pine belt on the edge of the park.
 At once he saw that they had been having quarrel. The girls eyes were red, and she was still dabbing at them with her handkerchief when he came whistling along. Sam looked discour- aged, but stubborn. Very plainly they had been disagreeing about his line of conduct.
 The two young men took the trail again. About noon the next day they reached Saguache. After they had eaten, Curly strolled off by himself to the depot.
 "Gimme ticket for Tin Cup for this evening. I want to go by the express" he told the agent.
 The man looked at him and grinned. You're so darned active, maybe you could get off No. when she is fog ging along sixty miles per- But most folks couldn't, not with any comfort"
 Meaning that the flyer doesn't stop?"
 "Not at Tin Cup" nl
 "Have to take the afternoon train then? B.
 "I reckon" He punched a ticket and showed it through the window toward Curly. "Sixty-fve cents, please"
 Flandrau paid for and pocketed the ticket he did not intend to use. He had found out what he wanted to know. The express did not stop at 1 Tin Cup. Why, then, had Soapy marked the time of its arrival there? He was beginning to guess the reason. But he would have to do more than guess. ,.1 Flandrau sauntered back to the ho- tel OF the lookout for Sam. He was not there, but waiting for hina was boy with note for tAe gentleman in , No 811