The spectator., 1920-06-11
CHAPTER TX. -15- A Cleanup.


 jail. one so unimportant that Scanlan the Jailer did not think 1t worth re- porting to his chief. Blackwell, while eating knocked a glass from the table and broke 1t 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 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 Scanlan. 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 grating Blackwell's fingers closed around his wrist and drew. the man close to the iron lattice work Simul- taneously cold rim was pressed against the temple e the guard.
 Don't move. or I'll fill 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 1t according to instructions. Not until he was relieved of his wea- pon did Blackwell release him. The jailer was backed into the cell. gagged with 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 1t behind him and slipped into the first alley that offered refuge. Two hours later he stole horse from an irrigated ranch near town. Within twenty-four hours lie had reached the SOapy Stone horse ranch and safety.
 After this the plans for the raid on the Texas, Arizona X 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 c and to the Hashknife. This brought to Saguache Luck CullIson. Curly Elan drau and Slats 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 arousing suspicion. In pocket of the hills back of the station camp had been selected. Its site well back from any trail and so situated that from IL one could command view of Tin Cup.
 The owner of the Circle c selected three of his close-mouthed riders Sweeney. Jake and Buck were the ones he chose-to hold the camp with him until after the robbery. The only signal they needed was the stopping of the Flyer at Tin Cup. Then they would come pounding down from the hills 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 a hand in the battle. Caught by surprise. Soapy's gang would surely be trapped.
 So they planned it. but 1t happened that Soapy Stone had made his ar rangements differently.
 Luck and his riders took their blan- kets and their traps down to Tin Cup according to agreement. while Davis, Maloney and Flandrau became very friendly with Sam. The boy. younger than any of them, was fiattered 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
 
 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.
 It was one day when the four young cowppnchers were sitting together in Curly's room playing poker that spe- cial delivery letter came to sam. The others. to cover their excitement, start ed an argument. Presently Sam spoke. as indlfferently as he could.
 "Got the offer of Job down the line. Think I'll run down tonight as far as Casa Grande and see what's do- ing"
 This was about two o'clock in the afternoon. The game dragged on for