that job. He was not one of us. You hear, boys. Curly was not in
it."

A quarter of an hour later he died. He had lied to save from the
penitentiary the lad who had brought about his death. Curly knew why he
had done it--because he felt himself to blame for the affair. Maybe Bad
Bill had been a desperado, a miscreant according to the usual standard,
but when it came to dying he knew how to go better than many a respectable
citizen. Curly stole off into the darkness so that the boys would not see
him play the baby.

By this time the men from the Flatiron were appearing, armed with such
weapons as they could hastily gather. The situation was explained to them.
Neighboring ranches were called up by telephone and a systematic hunt
started to capture Blackwell.

Luck left his three riders to help in the man hunt, but he returned with
Curly and Maloney to Saguache. On the pommel of his saddle was a sack. It
contained the loot from the express car of the Flyer. Two lives already
had been sacrificed to get it, and the sum total taken amounted only to
one hundred ninety-four dollars and sixteen cents.

CHAPTER XVII

THE PRODIGAL SON

They found the prodigal son with his sister and Laura London at the Del
Mar. Repentance was writ large all over his face and manner. From Davis
and from the girls he had heard the story of how Soapy Stone had intended
to destroy him. His scheme of life had been broken into pieces and he was
a badly shaken young scamp.

When Luck and Curly came into the room he jumped up, very white about the
lips.

"Father!"

"My boy!"

Cullison had him by the hand, one arm around the shaking shoulders.

"What----what----?"

Sam's question broke down, but his father guessed it.

"Soapy and Bad Bill were killed, Dutch is a prisoner, and Blackwell
escaped. All Spring Valley is out after him."

The boy was aghast. "My God!"

"Best thing for all of us. Soapy meant to murder you. If it hadn't been
for Curly----"

"Are you sure?"

"No question about it. He brought no horse for you to ride away on. Bill
admitted it, though he didn't know what was planned. Curly heard Soapy ask
Blackwell whether he had seen your body."

The boy shuddered and drew a long sobbing, breath. "I've been a fool,
Father--and worse."

"Forget it, son. We'll wipe the slate clean. I've been to blame too."

It was no place for outsiders. Curly beat a retreat into the next room.
The young women followed him. Both of