The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-06-11

O '~V 1900
Sam was never for an instant left un.
guarded either day or night. Another
was to ride to Tin Cup and look the
ground over carefully. For the pres,
ent they could do 10 more han watch
events, attracting no attention by any
whispering together in public.
The old Arizona fashion Of settling
a difference of opinion with the six
gun had long fallen into diSuSe, but
Saguachc was still close enough to the
stark primeval emotions to wait with
q keen interest for the crack of the re-
volver that would put a period to the
quarrel between Soapy Stone and
young Flandrau. 1t was known that
Curly had refused to leave town, just
as It was known that Stone and that
other prison bird Blackwell were
hanging around the Last Chance and
Chalkeye's Place drinking together
mOrosely. 1t was observed, too, that
whenever Curly appeared in public he
was attended by friends. Sometimes
IL "oulu DV NIuIOIty ulh bdNlS, III
times his uncle, Alec Flandrau, occa-
sionally a couple Of the Map OF Texas
vaqueros.
1t CHANGED that "Old Man" Elan
drau, drifting into Chalkeye's Place,
found In the assembled group the man
he sought. Billie Mackenzie, grizzled
owner of the F%iddleback ranch, was
with him, and II was In the prelimi-
nary pause before drinking that Alec
made his official announcement.
mo, Mac, / amt worrying about
that any. Curly is going to get a
square deal. We're all agreed on that.
If there's any shooting from owe
there1l be a lynching pronto. That
goes"
Flandrau, senior, knew perfectly
well that inside Of an hour word
would reach Soapy Stone that only an
even break with Curly would be al
lowed.
Another day passed. The festivities
had begun and Curly had to be much
In evidence before the public. His
friends had attempted to dissuade him
from riding In the bucking broncho
contest but he had refused to let his
name be scratched from the list Of con-
testantS.
A thousand pairs Of eyes in the
grandstand watched the boy as he
lOunged against the corral fence
laughing and talking with his friends.
A dozen people were or the lookout for
the approach of Stone. Fifty others
had warned the young man to be care
full. For Saguache was with him al
most to a man.
Dick Maloney heard his voice called
as he was passing the grandstand. A
minute later he was In the Cullison
box shaking hands with Kate.
"Is-is there anything newr she
asked in a low voice.
Her friend shook his head. mo.
Soapy may drift out here any minute
now"
"Will he-T" Her eyes finished the
question.
He shook his head. Don't know.
That's the mischief Of it. II they
should meet just after Curly finishes
riding the boy won't have a chance.
His nerves won't be steady enough"
Dad Is doing something. I don't
know what 1t Is. He had a meeting
with a lot Of cattlemen about it I
don't see how that boy can sit there
on the fence laughing when any min
ute"
"Curly's game as they make 'em.
He's a prince. too. I like that boy bet
|! ter every day"
A lad made his way to them with q
! note. Kate read 1t and turned to Dick.
Her eyes were shining happily.
1--WE got news from dad. It's all
| right. Soapy Stone has left town"
, "WhyT
"A dozen Of the big cattlemen signed
! a note and sent 1t to Stone. They told
/; him that If he touched Curly he would
! never leave town alive. He was given
! word to get out Of town at once"
Maloney slapped his hand joyously
on his thigh. Fine! Might a-known
Luck would find a way out. Soapy
couldn't stand out against the big
ranchmen when they got together and
meant business. He had to pull his
freight"
Let me tell him the good news,
Dick" she said, eagerly.
"Sure. I'll send him right up"
Bronzed almost to a coffee brown,
with the lean 1.-the grace Of youth
CARRIED In the picturesque regalia Of
the vaQuero, Flandrau was a taking
enough picture to hold the rowing eye
Of any girl. A good many conferred
upon him now, as he sauntered for
ward toward the Cullison box. cool
and easy and debonair.
Kate gathered her skirts to make
room for him beside her.
"Have you heard? He has left
town."
"Whor
"Soapy Stone. The cattlemen served
notice on him to 60. So he left"
A a Of relief swept W the