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——”