Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-01-18

TO req SlltS. Ills .Read hlu SaOt lot
ward on his shoulders as that Of a
snake does. Curly would have given a
good deal just then for the revolver
lying on the bed of his room. For it
was plain trouble was in sight. The
desperate had been drinking heavily
and was ready to do murder.
"Tha.s easy to explain, Soapy. /
shot him because I was driven to 1t.
He's too much Of a man to bear q
grudge for what I couldn't help.
D. you're q liar. He did 1t because
you promised to sneak up to my ranch
and spy on u.s.: That's-why he did It,"
} With the, last word his gun jumped
into sight. That he was lashing him
self into fury was plain. Presently
his rage would end in a tragedy.
Given q chance, Curly would have
run for 1t. But Soapy was dead shot.
Of a sudden the anger in the boy
boiled up over the fear. In two jumps
he covered the ground and jammed his
face close to the cold rim Of the blue
steel barrel.
sTm not heeled. Shoot and be
damned, you coward. And with my
Inst breath III tell you that you're
liar"
} Flandrau had called his bluff, though
he had not meant 1t rs one. A dozen
men were In sight and were watching.
They had heard the young man tell
Stone he was not armed. Public opin-
ion would hold him to account If he
shot Curly down in cold blood. He
hung there undecided, breathing fast,
his jaw clamped tightly.
The lad hammered home his de-
fiance. drop that gun, you four-fush.
err and I'll whale you till you can't
stand. Sabe? Call. yourself bad
man, do you? Time I'm through with
you there will be one tame wolf crawl
ing back to Dead Cow with its tail be.
tween its legs"
The taunt diverted his mind, just as
Curly had hoped it would. He thrust
the revolver back into the holster and
reached for his foe.
Then everybody, hitherto paralyzed
by the sight Of q deadly weapon, woke
up and took q hand. They dragged
the two men apart. Curly was thrust
into q barber shop on the other side Of
the street and Stone was dragged back
into the Silver Dollar.
In two minutes Flandrau had made
himself famous, for he was a marked
man. The last words Of the struggling
desperate had been that he would
shoot on sight. Now half a dozen
talked at oRce. Some advised Curly
one thing, some another. He must get
out Of town. He must apologize at
once to Stone. Hc must send friend
and explain.
The young man laughed grimly.
Explain nothing. I've done all the
explaining I'm going to. And III not
leave town either. If Soapy wants me
he'll sure find me-"
"Don't be foolish, kid. He has got
four notches on that gun Of his. And
he's q dead shot"
The tongues of those about him gal
lopcd. But Curly was excited, plensed
with himself because lie had stood up
to the, bogcy man of the Southwest
and too full of strcngth,to be afraid.
Maloney came into the barber shop
and grinned at him. Il hear you and
Soapy arc figuring on setting off some
fireworks this Fourth"
1t did Curly good to see him stand.
ing there so easy and deliberate among
the eycitable town people.
"Soapy is doing The talking"
Il heard him; happened to be at the
Silver Dollar when they dragged him
in"
Maloney's eyebrows moved the least
bit. His friend understood. Together
they passed out Of the back door Of
the shop into an alley. The others
stood back and LEI them 90.
Back to the hotel the two ran.
When Curly bucked on his revolver
and felt it resting comfortably against
his thigh he felt good deal better.
"I've seen Stats Davis" Nlaloney
explained. "He has gone to find
Luck, who is now ut the Del Mar"
"IIad any talk with SMts:"
mo. He said you'd do the talking"
"I'm to wait for him on FL Molino
street to learn where rm TO meet Gull
liSOn."
"That won't do. You'd make too
tempting target. I'll meet him in
stead"
That suited Curly. He was not hunt.
ing trouble just now. even though he
would not run away from it. For he
had serious business on hand that
could not take care of itself If Soapy
should kill him.
Nearly an hour later Maloncy ap.
peared again.
"We'rc to 70 right over to the Del
Mar. Second floor, room 217. You
are to 90 down El Molino to Main,
then follow 1t to the hotel, keeping on
the right hand side Of the street.
Stats will happen along the other side
Of the street and will keep abreast Of
YOU. Luck will walk behind you. Un-