The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-06-04
CROOKED TRAILS
II STRAIGHT
William MacLeo Raine
Copyright by O. w Dillingham; Company

| friends. Blackwell was a bad lot,
treacherous, vindictive, slippery as an
eel. Even his ~confederates did not
trust him greatly. But 1t was SOapy
and young Cullison that Interested
Flandrau most. Sam was at al i'm
questionable age, inclined to be led by
any mar whom he admired. Curly
knew that he could gain no influence
over him by preaching. He had to live
the rough-and-tumble life of these men
who dwelt beyond the pale Of the law,
TO excel them at the very things of
which they boosted. But in n re-
spect he held himself apart. While he
was at the horse ranch he did not
touch a drop of liquor.
Laura London's letter was not dellv-
cred until the second day, for, though
she had not told her messenger to give
II 10 Sam when he was alone, Curly
guessed this would be better.
Sam ran over his letter two or three
times. 1t was such a message as any
brave-hearted, impulsive girl might
send TO the man she loved when he
seemed to her TO walk in danger. Gull
lison loved her for the interest she
took in him, even while he ridiculed
her fears.
AS they rode back to the ranch.
Curly mentioned that he had seen
Sans people a day or two before.
Cullison asked no questions, but he
listened intently while the other told
the story of his first rustling and Of
how Miss Kate and her father had
stood by him In his trouble.
IF / had folks like you have, the
salt of the earth, and they were worry
ing their hearts out about me, seem
to me I'd quit helling around and go
back to them" Curly concluded.
1.-The old man sent you to tell me
that, did he?" Hard and bitter "a
the voice Of the young man.
mo, he didn't. He doesn't know
I'm here. But he and your sister have
done more for me than l ever can pay.
That's why I'm telling you this"
Sam answered gruffly, as a man does
when ne is moved. much obliged,
Curly, but I reckon / can look out for
myself"
"Just what / thought, and In Sep
TENDER / have to go to the p%eniten-
tiary. They've got me cinched. But
with you it's different. There's moth
ing to this sort Of life. The bunch up
mere is no good. Soapy don't mean
right by you, or by any young fellow
he trails with"
"Pll not listen to anything against
Soapy. He has been a good friend to
me. I'm not going to throw him down."
would 1t be throwing him down to
go back to your peopleT
Eyes, 1t would. We've got plans.
Soapy is relying on me. No matter
what they are. but I'm not going to lie
down on him. And I'm not going back
to the old man. He told me he was
through with me. I'm not begging him
to take me back, not on your life"
Curly dropped the matter. But as
the days passed he kept one thing In
his mind, not to miss any chance to
win his friendship. They rode together
a good deal, and Flandrau found that
Sam liked to hear him talk about the
Circle G and its affairs. But often he
was discouraged, for he made no prog
ress In weaving him from his loyalty
to Stone. The latter was a hero to
him, and gradually he was filling him
with wrong ideas, encouraging him the
while to drink a great deal. That the
man had some definite purpose Curly
was sure. What 1t was. he meant to
find out.
Because he could not persuade him
to Join In their drinking bouts. Stone
nicknamed Curly the good bad man.
Blackwell picked On the youth to be
the butt Of his coarse pleasantries.