The Little River news., 1920-05-05
CHAPTE II.
At the End of the Road.

CurlyS wooden face told nothing of what he was thinking The first ar ticle of the creed of the frontier is to be game. Good or bad, the last test of a man is the way he takes his medi- cine So now young Flandrau ate his dinner with hearty appetite, smoked cigarettes impassvely, and occasional ly chatted with his guards casually and as a matter of course. Deep with in him was terrible feeling of sick ness at the disaster that had over whelmed him, but he did not intend to play the quitter.
 As the day began to wear out two riders from the Bar Double M reached the ranch and were brought in to iden- tify him as the horse thief. The two were Maloney and Kite Bonfls, neither of them friends of the young rustler. The foreman in particular was a wet blanket to his chances.
 You've got the right man all right" he said to Buck without answering Flandraus cool nod of recognition.
 "What sort of a reputation has he EotT Buck asked. lowering his voice little.
 Kite did not take the trouble to low CT his. Bad Always been a tough character. Friend of Bad Bill Cranston and Soapy Stone"
 "I don't know anything against the kid, barring that he's been little wild" Maloney testified. And reckon uyn otnSf nf rri1 Sunday cahnn1 winners for that natter
 As Buck turned to leave the bunk house the boy touched him on the arm.
 "How about Cullison?" he asked very low.
 But Buck would not have 1t that way. What about him?" he demand ed out loud. his voice grating like steel when it grinds.
 'Is he-how is he doing?"
 "Whats eatin' you? Ain't he dying fast enough to suit you?"
 Flandrau shrank from the cruel words, as schoolboy does from his teacher when he jumps at him with cane.
 It was then that Maloney made friend of the young man for life. He let hand drop carelessly on Curly's shoulder and looked at him with a friendly smile in his eyes. just as if he knew that this was no wolf but a poor dog up against 1t hard.
 "Doc thinks he'll make 1t all right"
 But there were times when Curly wondered whether 1t would make any difference to him whether Cullison got well or not. Something immediate was In the air. Public opinion was sitting down to a decision. Most of these men were up to the average for the milk of human kindness. They were the sQuarest citizens In Arizona. But Flan- drau knew they would snuff out his life just the same If they decided 1t was best. Afterward they might re sTet it, but that would not help him.
 Darkness came, and the lamps were lit. Again Curly ate and smoked and chatted a little with his captOrs. But as he sat there hour after hour. feel ing death creep closer every minute. cold shivers ran up and down his spine
 They began to question him, at first casually and carelessly. so 1t seemed to Curly. But presently he discerned drift in the talk. They were trying to find out who had been his partners In the rNstling.
 "And I reckon Soapy and Bad Bill left you lads at Saguache to hold the sack" Buck suggested sympathetically.
 Curly grew wary. He did not intend to betray his accomplices. "Wrong guess. Soapy and Bad Bill weren't in this deal," he answered easily.
 The foreman of the Bar Double M interrupted impatiently, tired of trying to pump out the information by 6nesse. "You've got to speak, F'lan- drau. You've got to tell us who was engineering this theft. UnderstandY
 The young rustler looked at the grim frowning face and his heart sank.
 "Out with it." ordered Buck.
 "Oh, I expect I'll keep that under my hat" Curly told them lightly.
 They were crowded about him in a half circle, nearly a score of hard leather-faced plainsmen. Some of them were riders of the Circle c out 11t. Others had ridden over from neighboring ranches. All of them plainly meant business.
 Think again, Curly" advised Swee- ney quietly. 'The boys ain't trifiing about this thing. They mean to find out who was in the rustling of the Bar Double M stock"
 "Nat thrnngh ma they want"