The Jasper news., 1920-06-24
CHAPTER TX.
A cleanup.

jail, one so unimp0rtant that seaman
the Jailer did not think 1t worth re-
porting to his chief. Blackwell. while
eating, knocked a glass from the table
and broke It on the cement floor Of his
cell.
From the little table in his room he
pried loose one of the corner braces.
At night he scraped away at this with
his bit of glass until the wood began
to take the shape Of q revolver. This
he carefully blacked with the Ink
brought him by his guard. To the end
Of his weapon he fitted an iron washer
taken from the bedstead. Then he
waited for his opportunity.
His chance came through the good
nature Of Seaman. Blackwell pre-
tended TO be out of chewing tobacco
and asked the guard to buy him some.
About ten O'Clock Scanlan returned
and brought the tobacco to his pris-
oner AS he passed the plug through
the gra ing Blackwell's fingers closed
around his wrist and drew the man
close to the iron lattice work. Stimuli
taneously a cold rim was pressed
against the temple Of the guard.
Don't move, or I'll I'LL you full Of
holes" the convict warned.
Scanlan did not move, not until the
man In the cell gave the word. Then
he obeyed orders to the letter. His
right hand found the bunch Of keys,
fitted the correct one to the door and
unlocked It according to instructions.
Not until he was relieved Of his wea-
pom did Blackwell release him. The
jailer was backed into the cell, gagged
with a piece of torn bedding and left
locked up as securely as the other had
been a few minutes earlier.
The convict made his way down.
stairs, opened the outer door with the
bunch of keys he had taken from Scan
Ian, locked It behind him and slipped
into the first alley that offered refuge.
Two hours later he stole a horse from
an irrigated ranch near town. Within
twenty-four hours he had reached the
Soapy Stone horse ranch and safety.
After this the plans for the raid on
the Texas, Arizona & Pacific flyer
moved swiftly to head. SOapy Stone
and Sam dropped into Saguache In
conspicuously one evening. Next day
Stone rode down to Tin Cup to look
over the ground. Maloney telephoned
their movements to the Circle @ and
to the Hashknife. This brought to
Saguache Luck Cullison, Curly Elan.
drau and Stats Davis. Bucky O'Connor
had been called to Douglas on impor-
tant business and could not lend his
help.
Luck, Curly and Dick Maloney had
already ridden over the country sur
rounding the scene Of the projected
holdup. They had decided that the
robbery would probably take place at
the depot, so that the outlaws could
get the agent to stop the flyer without
arouslng suspicion. In a pocket of the
hills back of the station a camp had
been selected, Its site well back from
any trail and so situated that from It
one could command a view of Tin Cup.
The owner of the Circle Q selected
three Of his close-mOuthed riders
Sweeney, Jake and Buck were the
ones he chose-to hold the camp with
signal they needed was the stopping Of
the Flyer at Tin Cup. Then they would
come pounding down from the hilIs in
time to catch the robbers before they
had got through with their work. Ma
lOney or Curly would be on the train
to take q hand In the battle. Caught
by surprise, Soapy's gang would surely
be trapped.
So they planned II, but It happened
that Soapy Stone had made his ar
rangements differently.
Luck and his riders took their bIan-
kets and their traps down 20 Tin Cup
according to agreement, while Davis.
Maloney and Flandrau became very
friendly with Sam. The boy, younger
than any of them, was hattered that
three Of the best known riders in the
territory should make so much OF him.
Young CullisOn had stopped drink
ing, but he could not keep his nerves
from jumping. His companions
watched him so closely that he was
never out of the sight Of at least one
OF them. Soapy had decreed the boys
death by treachery. but his friends
were determined to save him and to
end forever the reign Of Stone as a
bad man.
1t was one day when the four young
cowpunchers were sitting together in
Curly's room playing poker that spe-
cial delivery letter came to SHm. The
others, to cover their excitement, start.
cd an argument. Presently Sam spoke,
as lndifrerertly as be could.
SCOT the Offer OF a Job down the
line Think III run down tonight as