Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1920-03-11
PART }
Curly.
CHAPTER I.

i Following a Crooked Trail.
Across Dry valley a dust cloud had
been moving for hours. 1t rolled into
Saguache at the brisk heels of a bunch
OF horses Just about the time the town
was settling itself to supper. From
out Of the heart Of it cantered q rider,
who swung his pony as on a half dol
lar, and DETECTED the remuda toward
Chunn's corral.
The rider was In the broad-rimmed
felt hat, the gray shirt, the plain leath-
er chaps Of a vaquero. Under other
conditions he might have been a col
lege freshman for age, but the compe-
tent confidence of manhood sat easily
on his broad shoulders. Curly Elan
drau had more than once looked into
the chill eyes Of death.
+ The leaders Of the herd dribbled into
the corral through the open gate, and
the others crowded on their heels.
Three more riders followed Curly into
the Enclosure. One of them, a red
haired young fellow Of about the same
age as Curly, swung stifly from the
saddle.
me for a square meal first off," he
gave out promptly.
+: "Not till we've finished this business,
Mac. Well put a deal right through if
Warren's here" decided a third men,
Der Of the party. He was a tough-look-
ing customer of nearly fifty. bad Bill"
Cranston he "a called, and the man
quet
"And what If he amt here?" snarled
Lutte Blackwell. "Are you aiming to
sit down and wait for him?"
well cross that bridge when we
come to it." Bad Bill answered. "Curly,
want to ride up to the hotel and ask
If Mr.. Dave Warren is there? Bring
him right down if he is"
The young man cantered up the
dusty street toward the hotel.
Thought. you'd fixed it with this
Warren to be right on the spot SOS
we could unload on him prompt"
Blackwell grumbled at Cranston with
out looking toward the latter.
II didn't promise he'd be hanging
round your neck soon as you hit town."
Crhnston retorted coolly.
The owner Of the corral sauntered
from the stable and glanced over the
bunch Of horses milling around.
"Drive all the way from Bar Double
MI" asked the keeper, his eyes on the
brand stamped on the flank Of a pony
circling past.
"Yep."
Bad Bill turned away and began to
unsaddle.
Looks like you been hitting the road
at a right lively gait"
Mac cut in. shoulder Of my bronc's
chafed from the saddle. Got anything
that'n heal it?"
"You bet I have" The man hurried
into the stable and the r%ed-headed cow
puncher winked across the back Of his
horse at Bill.
The keeper of the stable and the
young man were still busy doctoring
the sore when Curly arrived with War
ren.t The buyer was a round-bodied
man with black gimlet eyes that saw
much he never told. The bargain he
drove was a hard one, but it did not
take long to come to terms at about
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 a figure in
the price. He let it be understood
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 a young mar came out from the
stable. Nandrau forgot that there
were reasons why he wanted just now
to be n stranger in the land with his
identity o advertised. He let out Il
shout.
"Oh, you. Stats Dnvis!"
Hello. Curly! How are things
a-comin'?"
"Finc. When did you blow In TO
Saguache? Amt you Off your run
some?"
They had ridden the range together
md hpd frolicked around on n dozen
boyisI larts, TO put Il mildly til"
meeting was likely TO prove embarrass
Ing.
"Came down to See about gcttins