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

pony into 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 a 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 well as a 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 Il was Soapy
and young Cullison that interested
Flandrau most. Sam was at ar 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 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 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 dellv-
cred until the second day. for, though
she had not told her messenger to give
II to 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. Cul-
lison loved her for the interest she
took in him, even while he rldiculed
her fears.
AS they rode back to the ranch.
Curly mentioned that he had seen
Sans people 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.
"f / 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 go
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 ever can pay.
That's why I'm telling you this"
Sam answered grufily, as a man does
when he is moved. "Much obliged,
Curly, but reckon l can look out for
myself"
"Just what / thought, and In Sep
tember / have to go to the penlten-
tiary. They've got me cinched. But
with you it's different. There's moth
ing to this sort Of life. The bunch up
here is no good. Soapy don't mean
right by you, or by any young fellow
he trails WITH"
"Tll 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 peoplef"
Eyes, II 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 Pm not going back
to the old man. He told me he was
through with me. I'm not begging hin
to take me back. not on your life"
Curly dropped the matter. But al
the days passed he kept one thing iI
!. his mind. not to miss any chance tC
D win his friendship. They rode together
!, a good deal, and Flandrau found thai
= Sam liked to hear him talk about thu
Circle G and Its affairs. But often ht
D was discouraged, for he made no prog
ress in weaving him from his loyalty
s to Stone. The latter was a hero t.
D him, and gradually he was filling hin
. with wrong ideas, encouraging him tn,
while to drink great deal. That th'
D man had some definite purpose Curl!
was sure. What 1t was, he meant I,
find out
! Because he could not persuade hin
to Join In their drinking bouts, Stoni
: nicknamed Curly the good bad man.
= Blackwell picked on the youth to b,
y the butt OF his coarse Dleasantries
Day after day he pointed his Jeers a
= Curly, who continued to grin as II b.
did not care.
!, When the worm turned, II happene'
! that they were all sitting on the porch
: Curly was sewing a broken stirrul
D leather. Blackwell had quirt In hi
v hand, and from time to time hicked
l L.. - a. wlakl~ a J.