Courier Democrat., 1920-04-08
CHAPTER v.
Bad Medicine.

Bad Medicine.
The house at the horse ranch was a
long, low L-shaped adobe structure.
Two men were seated on the porch
playing seven up. One was Bad Bill.
the other Blackwell. At sight of Curly
they gave up their game.
"Hello, kid! Where did you drop
from?" Cranston asked.
A muscle twitched in Flandrau's
cheek. "They got Mac. Ran us down
near the Circle @. Mac opened fire.
They-killed him."
"Shot him, Org" Curly was left to
guess the other half Of the question.
"Shot him and took me prisoner"
"They couldn't prove a thing, could
they?"
"They could prove wounded Culli-
son. That was enough for them. They
set out to hang me. Later they
changed their minds"
"How come you here? Did you es-
cape?"
"Nope. Friends dug up bail. Say,
Soapy has been telling me that the Gull
lison kid Is up here. I reckon we bet.
ter not say anything about my mixup
with his folks. I'm not looking for any
trouble with him."
Gall right, Curly"
Curly sat down on the porch and
told an edited story Of his adventures
to them. Before he had finished a
young fellow rode up and dismounted.
After he had unsaddled and turned his
pony into a corral he joined the others
on the porch.
Young Cullison had seated himself in
the chair next to Flandrau. He had,
so Curly thought. strong family re-
semblance to his father and sister.
Still boy in his ways, he might any
day receive the jolt that would trans
form him into man.
Curly studied the characters of
those present. Bill he knew already
fairly we'll as tough nut to crack,
game to the core, and staunch to his
friends. Blackwell was a bad lot
treacherous, vindictive, slippery as an
eel. Even his confederates did not
trust him greatly. But it was Soapy
and young Cullison that interested
Flandrau most. Sam was at an i'm.
questionable age, inclined to be led by
any man whom he admired. Curly
knew that he could gain no influence
over him by preaching. He had to live
the ugh-and-tumble life Of these men
who dwelt beyond the pale Of the law
to excel them at the very things o.
which they boasted. But in one re-
spect he held himself apart. While he
was at the horse ranch he did not
touch drop of liquor.
Laura London's letter was not deliv.
cred until the second day, for, though
she had not told her messenger to give
it to Sam when he was alone, Curly
guessed this would be better.
Sam ran over his letter two or three
times. 1t was such message as any
brave-hearted, impulsive girl might
send to the man she loved when he
seemed to her to walk in danger. Cul
lison loved her for the interest she
took in him, even while he ridlculed
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.
eff I had folks like you have, the
salt of the earth, and they were worry
ing their hearts out about me, seems
to me I'd quit helling around and &c
back to them," Curly concluded.
"The old man sent you to tell me
that, did he?" Hard and bitter was
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 grutlly. as II man does
Curly, but reckon | can look out for
myself
Just what | thought. and In Sep,
tember ] have to so to the pcniten-
tiary. They've got me cinched. But
with you it's different. There's moth.
ing to this sort Of lilr The bunch up
here is no good Soapy don't mean
right by you, or by amy young fellow
he trails with"
"III not listen lo anything against
Soapy. lie has been II good lrirnd Ia
me, I'm NOT going to throw him down,
"WouId IL be throwing him down ,o
~ buCl to Your pnDpl"f"