The Little River news., 1920-06-23
CHAPTER VII.
An Arrest.


 Arizona rangers and Curly Flandrau reached Saguache, tired and travel stained. They had combed the Rin- cons without having met hide or hair of the men they wanted. Early next morning they would leave town again and this time would make Soapy Stones horse ranch.
 After reaching town the first thing each of them did was to take a bath, the second to get shaved. From the barber shop they went to the best res taurant in Saguache. Curly was still busy with his pie a Ia mode when Bur ridge Thomas, United States land con- missioner for that district, took the seat opposite and told to O'Connor a most interesting piece of news.
 They heard him to an end without Interruption. Then Curly spoke one word. "Fendrick."
 'Yes, sir. Cass Fendrick. Came in about one o'clock and handed me the relinquishment just as I've been tell ing you"
 "Then filed on the claim himself, you said"
 "Yes, took it up himself"
 Sure the signature to the relin- quishment was genuine"
 "I'd take oath to it. As soon as he had gone l got out the original filing and compared the two. Couldn't be any possible mistake. Nobody could have forged the signature. It is like Luck himself, strong and forceful and decided"
 Bucky rose. "See you later, Curly. Sorry I have to hurry, Mr. Thomas, but I've thought of something I'll have to do right away
 Bucky followed El Molino street to the old plaza and cut across it to the Hotel Wayland. Among the arrivals of the day was the entry he had hoped to see:
 "Cass Fendrick, c. F. Ranch. Ari- zoEa."
 Tine room that had been assigned to him was PIP.
 O'COnnOr turned away and went up the stairs, ignoring the elevator, On the second floor he found PIP. In an- swer to his knock a voice said Come in'' Opening the door, he stepped in, closed it behind him and looked at the man lying in his shirt sleeves on the bed
 "Evening, Cass."
 Fendrick put down his newspaper. but did not rise. "Evening Bueky.
 Their eyes held to each other with the level even gaze of men who recog- nize a worthy antagonist.
 eve come to ask question or two"
 kick them out"
 "First, would like to know what you paid Luck Cullison for his Del Gro claim"
 "You better ask Cullison. The law says that if a man sells rellnqulsh- ment he can't file on another clam. 1T he surrenaers it for nothing he can. Now, Luck may have notions of filing on another clam. Yor can see that we'll have to take it for granted he gave me the claim.
 If was so neat an answer and at the same time so complete one that G(,0nQOr cOuiu uOL utip app it. He smiled and tried again.
 "That leaves me only one thlng 10 do, You're under arrest"
 "For what?' demanded the sheep- man sharply. s'For abducting Luck Cullison ana holding him prisoner"
 Iozily Cass drawled a question. Are you right sure Culiison amt at home attending to his business!
 Has he come back!
 "Maybe so. I'm not Luck Cullison's keeper"
 Bucky thought he understood in return for the relinquishment Gulilseh had been released. Knowing Luck as he did, it was hard for him to see how pressure enough had been brolsht to bear to move him.
 May use your phone? he asked. "Help yourself"
 O'Connor got the Circle C on long distance. It was the clear contraito of woman that answered his Hello" .Is this Miss Cullson?" he asked. Almost at once he added: "O'Connor of the rangers Is speaking. we healu qour father is home again. Is that trueg"
 An interval following during which the ranger officer was put into the role of listener. His occasional "Yes- Yes-Yes" punctuated the rapid mur- Mur that reached Fendrick. Presently Bucky asked question "On his way to town nOw?"
 Again the rapid murmur.
 "Ill attend to that, Miss Cullison. am in Fendrick's room now. Make your mind easy"
 Bucky hung up and turned to the sheepman. "Cullison is headed for tawp and his daughter is afraid he is on4;Ae warpath against you. You and