The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-04-15

FIandf6n knew now that tnsY mad
been preparing It FOR his benent.
crhnston Clipped IA against Gam aud,
to keep up Appearances Curly backed
the boy, The. quarrel grew furious.
At last Sam drove his tist down on the
table and said he was through with
the outfit and was going back to
Saguache. a
"Yo tambien,r agreed Curly. "Not
that I've got anything against the
horse ranch. That aiu't It. But I'm
sure plriing for to bust the bank at
Bronson's. rve got forty plunISs burn
ing my jeans. I've got to separate
myself from It or make my roll
thousand
The end OF It was that both Sam
and Curly went down to the copsnl
and saddled their ponies To the last
the conspirators played up to their
parts.
According to program, Sam sulked
for the first few miles Of their jour
ney. But before they reached the Bar
90 he grew sunny again.
"rm going to have talk with
Laura while I'm SO near" he ex-
planned. "You-drift in Just hap
pen. along you know. I'll stay in the
scrub pines up here. II the old man Is
absent scenery, you wave your ban
danna real Industrious. II he is at
home give Laura the tip and she'll
know where TO find me-"
The owner Of tile ranch, as II hap
pened, was cutting trail over by Aqua
Caliente.
"Do you want to see him very bad,
Mr. Flandrau?" asked Miss Laura
demurely.
"No. can't say I've lost Mr.. Lon
don"
"You inquired for him"
"Hmpi That's different. When /
used to come home from the swim
ming hole contrary to orders used to
ask where dad was, but l didn't want
to see him."
II see Did you just come down
from the horse ranch3"
you've guessed right"
"Then l am sorry | can't ask you to
light. Dads orders"
Anything In those orders about you
meeting one of the lads from the horse
ranch up on the hillside where It is
neutral groundT
did Sam come with your she cried.
Hes here. Oh. know he's here"
"What do ! get for bringing good
news?''
81 didn't say 1t was good news"
"ShoI Your big eyes are shouting
it,"
"WGs that the news from the horse
ranchT
That's part Of IT, but there is more.
Sam and Curly are on their way TO
Saguache to spend the Fourth Of Jaly.
Sam Is going for another reason, but
I'm not sure yet what 1t is. There's
something doing j don't savez, some
big deal on foot that's not on the level
Sam is In It up to-the hooks. He Is
supposed to be quitting Soapy's outfit
for good. But know better"
White to the lips, she faced him
bravely. "What sort Of trouble Is he
leading Sam lnto?
"rve got kind Of notion. But II
won't bear talking about yet. Don't
tell him what I've told you, unless you
want TO spoil my chance Of helping
him."
II won't" she promised; then added,
with quick eagernes": Maybe l can
help you. I'm going down to Saguache
to visit on the Fourth"
"Pll look you up. Trouble Is that
Sam is bent on running himself. Seems
to think Soapy is HE best friend. II
we could show him different things
might work out all right"
While she climbed the hill to Sam.
Curly watered his horse and smoked
cigarette. He was not hired to
chaperone lovers. Therefore, it took
him three-quarters of an hour to reach
the scrub pine belt on the edge Of the
park.
At once he saw that they had been
having quarrel. The girls eyes were
red. and she was still dabblng at them
with her handkerchief when he came
whlstling along. Sam looked discour-
aged, but stubborn. Very plainly they
had been disagreeIng about his line OF
conduct.
The two young men took the trail
again About noon the next day they
reached Saguache. After they had
eaten, Curly strolled of by himself to
the depot.
"Glmme a ticket for Tin Cup for thls
evening. / want to 60 by the express. "
he told the agent.