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

Lhk8 long 10 COLne u IcIulS uL hDOut
one-third the value Of the string he
was purchasing. Very likely he had
his suspicious, but he did not voice
them. No doubt they cut figure in
the price. He let It be understood
that he was supply agent for the
rebels In Mexico. Before the bills were
warm In the pockets Of the sellers, his
vaQueros were mounted and were
moving the remuda toward the border.
Curly and Mac helped them get
started. AS they rode back to the cor
raj young man came out from the
stable. Flandrau forgot that there
were reasons why he wanted Just now
to be q stranger In the land with his
Identity not advertised. He let out o
shout.
| "Oh, you, Stats DavisI"
"Hello, Curlyl How are things
a-comin'?"
"Fine. When did you blow in to
Saguachef Amt you or your run
some1"
They had ridden the range together
and had frollcked around on dozen
boyish larks. To put 1t mildly the
meeting was likely to prove embarrass-
ing.
"Came down to see about getting
some cows for the old man from the
Fiddleback OUTFIT" Davis explained.
"You riding for the Bar Double NJ"
There was a momentary silence.
Curly's vigllant eyes met those Of his
/ ~ 1aN 90
knowf Were his suspicious already
activei
"No, I'm riding for the Map of
Texas" Flandrau answered evenly.
"Come on, Curly. Let's go feed our
faces" Mac called from the stable.
Flandrau nodded. "You still with
the Hashknife7" he asked Davis.
"Still with 'em. I've been raised to
assistant foreman"
Bully for you. That's great. Ali
right, Mac, I'm coming. That's sure
great, old hoss. Well, see you later
Stats"
Flandrau followed Mac, dissatisfied
with himself for leaving his friend so
cavalieriy. he guessed Stats would be
hurt, but he had to think Of his part
ners In this enterprise.
After supper they took a room ai
the hotel and divided the money War
rem had paid for the horses. None
OF them had slept for the last fifty
hours and Mac proposed to tumble
Into bed at once.
Bad Bill shook his head. 81
! wouldn't, Mac. Let's hit the trail ant
. do our sleeping In the hills. There's
, too many telephone lines into thii
town to suit me-"
: "Shol Our play isn't to hike ou
: like we were scared stiff OF some
thing. What we want to do is to nc
E as II we could look every darned citi
zen in the face. Macs sure right,
J, Curly agreed.
"You kids make me tired. I'm goini
= to dust my pronto," Blackwell
: srarled.
"Sure. Whenever you like. 70,
n got to split up anyhow" Mac said.
- Bad Bill looked at Blackwell an,
nodded. "That's right. We don't al
d want to pull a blue streak. Tha
o would be dead give away. Let tn
kids stay II they want to-"
g $50 that they can round on us
Z, they're nabbed," Blackwell sneered.
K Cranston called him down roughly
g ~That'll be enough along that lin'
Lutte. don't stand for any NOR
q cracks like It."
Blackwell, not three months OF
8 from the penitentiary, faced the othe
. with an ugly look In his eyes. he wa
always ready to quarrel, but he di
J. not like to ight unless he had a sur
thing.
2 "Didn't mean any HARM" the e,
convict growled. ~But don't like TIL
sticking around town
= "Then l wouldn't stay If weI
- you" Curly suggested promptly. "Ms
and have got q different n,
y ton. So wen tie to Saguache for
= day or two"
As soon as the older men had gor
the others tumbled into bed and fe
n asleep at once. Daylight was siftiu
In through the open window befoI
A their eyes opened. Somebody WI
pounding on the bedroom door.
a Mac was already out Of bed whe
q his partners feet hit the floor.
whats up. Macr
d The eyes Of the redheaded punch,
v cleaned with excitement. His si
Il gun was In his hand. BY the look
him he was about ready to whaE
le loose through the door.
10 "4old Vour horsea Won chumu