HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1911-04-06, Page 7TIDE WINtx!IAM TIRES, MIL 0, 1911
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A 14tnance of Arizona
Novelized From Edmund nay's Melodrama.
By JOIIN MURRAY and MILLS MILLER
1
Copyright, 1005, by G. W. Dillingham Co,.
O144,o4:4041.000!®0404 41404$60+4 40.0*(e-00.41,44 0 4344-4®44••Q'
Sagebrush was not bluffed by Buck's '"i'at,e faire!" ninetywe oaUc:l -Reek,
insolence or his swaggering manners. I'ermin tired up again regerdlos of
"I reckon you can't have him—not just
Yet"
"What's he been Join'?" demanded
Buck.
"He killed Billie Nicker—that's one
thing."
"Self defense," loftily replied Buck.
"He wuz 'tendin' to his own business
when yer two melt come up an' be-
gin pickin' on him
Bursting with anger, Parenthesis,
strode up to Buck and shouted, "Fie
"TVho's the boss it, Otis here Payson: out-
fit?"
•was braudin' one of our yearnn's;
that's what his business was."
Sagebrush suggested in addition,
"Perhaps you mean that brandin' other
folks' cattle is the reg'lar business of
the Lazy K outfit."
"Anything with hide an' no mark it
Lazy K to you all," growled Show
Low.
"You're goin' strong on reg'lar pro•
eeedin's. I see," said Buck to Sage.
.brush. "You ain't sheriff Iry this here
.county, are you?"
"That's jest it. Somebody's got to
.acty sooner or later, an' if there ain't
Ino reg'lar law we'll go back to the old
!times au' make our own."
The Sweetwater outfit assented
unanimously to Sagebrush's declara-
etion of freedom from outlaw rule is
+the county.
"You're a fine lot to set up as law
•abidin' citizens," sneered Buck.
"Workin' fer a man that had to hop
the country to keep clear of the rope,"
interjected Peruna, wbo, heartened up
by the advent of McKee, began pour-
ing oil on a smoldering fire.
Sagebrush turned savagely upon him.
"That'll do fer you."
Echo walked hastily to Sagebrush's
side. She felt her presence might help
to avoid the outbreak . which she saw
1 could not long be avoided.
Peruna had lost control of tongue
:and discretion by this time.
"You'll never see him back in this
section agin. You all know where he
is—'cross the line in old Mexico. Why,
she's fixin' to make a clean-up now
'an' sell eat an' join him!"
Sagebrush reached for his gun, but
.Echo restrained him.
"You"— he cried.
Buck turned angrily on Peruna.
• "You keep yer mouth shetl" be shout-
ed.
Peruna subsided at his boss' com-
Mand, mumbling, "There ain't no fe-
male can pull the forelock over my
-eyes."
1'y
-cart Trouble
.4:.artswaci, I;tr.x:esess, Weakness
Cite a.;autheriilig Spells,
•' teequen. es, "WV. 1 gar tit"'ugh
her game! Sio's glad to got rid of him
tees she can play up to iter i'tltu•h boss.
Handsome Charley there."
Buck had to net intee ntly to pre-
serve his supremacy over his men.
Before any of the Sweetwater outfit
could reach Peruna's side or pull a gun
to resent the insult Buck was on top of
hint. With a blow full in the mouth he
knocked him sprawling. Echo had
seized Sagebrush's hand, preventing
him from firing. The other men moved
as if to kick Peruna as he lay pros-
trate.
"Let him alone. He's goin' to ask the
lady's pardon!" snarled Buck, covering
him with a gun.
"No, I'll be"— he began.
Buck bent over him, speaking in a
low tone, tensely and quickly. "Quick!
I dmi'i want to have to kid you. Don't
you see what I'm playin' fer?"
"He ain't fit to live!" shouted Show
Low.
Buck turned on the cowboy. It was
his fight, and he was going to handle
it in his own fashion.
"Lemme handle this case," he inter-
rupted. "There hain't no man can trav-
el in my outfit an' insult a woman. You
ask her pardon—
right smart."
Peruna strug-
gled to his feet.
Buck command-
ed:
"Down on yer
knees."
A glance at
Buck showed Pe-
runa how deadly
In earnest he
was. Reluctant-
ly he sank to his
knees.
-9 didn't mean
what I Bald. I
hope you will ex-
cuse me," he
whined.
"That's enough.
Now git up. Pull
yer freight,"
Buck ordered.
"No!" inter-
1<rosed Sagebrush.
The cowboys
seized Peruna.
Buck saw that
his bluff at boss- "I didn't mean what 1
Ing the situation said'
was called. He turned appealingly to
Echo and rapidly fabricated a moving
tale abot'* t'eruna's heroic rescue of
himself ft . drowning in the Glla riv-
er. "An' I swore I would do asmuch
fer him some day. Now I perpose that
we all give him a kick an' let him go—
let him have two hours' start, after
which the game laws will be out. on
him."
Sagebrush cried out against the plan,
taut Echo was moved by McKee's ap-
peal for his comrade and, speaking low
and beseechingly to Sagebrush, said,
"It will save a range war that we can't
afford to have till Jack and S1tm get
back." Sagebrush finally assented.
"Two hours' start. Well, ;he'11 have
to go some if be gits away. Kick him
an' let him go," he commanded.
Echo turned away.
The cowboys who held Pernna
threw him to the ground, and 'Orrery
man of the Allen and Payson ranches
gave him a vicious kick, Show Low
putting in an extra one for his mur-
dered bunkie. Last of all, McKee ap-
proached the prostrate man and made
the mistake which was to cost him
his life by hooting Peruna cruelly.
Rising froth the grotind and trem-
bling with anger, Peruna turned on the
half breed, saying, "I'll square this
deal, Buck 14ieKee."
"Losin' vallyble time, Peruna. Git!"
'wns all that his former b€ss deigned to
answer.
Peruna limped over to his horse,
which Parenthesis had, been holding in
custody, ,mounted it and rode off at a
lope for the river ford. He crossed it
in sight of the Sweetwater outfit and
disappeared behind the river beak
Here he dm
isounted and, ;pkkiiig;t a
small branch bf cactus, put It tinder
his horse's tail. The poor beast clap-
ped his tail against it and, with a
scream, set off on a wild gallop across
the mesa. Fermin hobbled up the
• river a anile or So, halt waded, half
swam, to the other side and entered
an arroyo whose course led back near
the camp of the Sweetwater outfit.
Ete bed been disarmed bq the cow-
Thrnur h nits e tise or another a large
Iriajol tt.y of the t+enpie are troubled, more
or los, with settle form of heart trouble.
Wherever there are sickly people tvit.h
weak t.eatrts, Milburn's,l eart and Nerve
Pills will be feint 1 to be the most effective
tie:kiiee on the market.
Mrs. P. 1 c lie Craig, 111 Erie Ave.,
ti 3rantiord, Ont., writes: -°-"It is with the
•!•este+t of measure I write you stating
1« t c e(it 1 have re<•eive l by using
. • r "' Nerve ills. I
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.u,re'e 1 greatly from heart trouble which
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bI>r. spells, 1 • gree 1 a treat dein of !)Ir.'s
'neurine hitt •eetiveui 110 benefit. A
f ienrl 1's hit -0 hit-0me to boy a box of 3'tiur
Bills, t: li^la 1 di', `and before I had
ii dshe i o e box I felt se much better 1
cacti ue' ihei- rise by taking two boxes,
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Iv e r 11,... c . t. a.i' nerve
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to
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X0 ee to Iter !.t,,x or 3 for Si.25 at all
It
Mil,
u' treCt b The 1T'. )
�� e� h
r r��alF.. , e1' mane r Y
',burn Co., Limited. Toronto, Chit.
boys. .of his revolver, but not of bis
knife.
After Peruna bad been visited with
his punishment Echo retraced her
steps..
Bowing to her, bat in band, Buck
made his apologies. "Ma'am, I'm
plumb sorry, My mother was a Chero-
kee squaw, but I'm white in some
spots, If you'll let yer roach boss
come along with us we'll settle tots
brandin' business right now."
Sagebrush did not care to accept the
offer, but Echo ordered him to go with
NOTICE TO CREDITORS'
"I'll square this deal, Buck,Alcfce."
the Lazy K outfit. Seeing it was use-
less to argue with 'her, he said, "Come
on, boys."
Ere they had ridden out of sight
Echo sank exhausted on the seat by
the fire. She buried her face in her
hands and sobbed.
Polly played the Nettle of comforter.
"Don't mind 'em," she said. "Better
come to the ranch with me. You're all
tuckered out. You've been runnin' this
ranch fer a month` like a man."
"I'll take your advice; Polly, and ride
home. Tel•! dad I want him, will you?"
l97, e is herebyIver pui'euint to R. s O.
cN, Chap. . 129, Be. 83 that alt persona having
laims Agaimathe estate of John Taylor, lat.
of the Township , f Beet Wawanns�h in
County of $area, Farmer, deceased, who died
oir or about the Eleventh day of may, A D.
11191, ate required to Send by post prepaid or to
deliver to It. vanatone, Solicitor for the Ad_,
ministratrix on or before the Fir,t day of p
Nil A. D. 1911, their names, Addresses and des.
eriptions elide fall statement of particulate of
their debut and the nature of theseeW+ity Of
any) hold by them duly certified, and that atter
the amid day the Adtntnietratrix will proceed
to distribute the Assets of the deceased among
the parties entitled thereto, having regard y`
to ho..elating of which the ohs 1 then hape
notice,e.
Dated this 7th day of March, A. 1), 1911.
B.V nghl m P O
WO.
Solicitor for said A:t:ninistratrix
WAIMW
"Sho, Bpd, you can't have too much
Wee. , Why, It was the hoss smell about
your clothes tint wade me tail la love
with you," exclaimed the enthusiastic
horsewoman. She continued;
"An' I want a yellow plush furniture
set, an' a. photograph album to match,
an' a center table, an' a 'Rock of Ages'
Picture, an' a boudoir"--
A boudoir was beyond the ken of
Bud. Ho knew nothing of housekeep-
ing. This must be one of those strange
articles the mystery of which be would
have to solve before he could feel that
he was really a married man,
"What the devil is a boudoir?" he
asked,
"I don't know what It is, but all rich
women have them!."
Bud took both of Polly's hands In hie.
Looking her fondly in the eyes, he
said: "Then, by thunder, I'll get you
two of 'em. We'll raise the limit when
we furnish that shack. I'm the hap-
piest man in the country,"
"Well, you ought to be," laughed Pol.
ly. "Just see what you are gettin'.
"I've got to chase myself hack to the
house. You're Odin* night herd tonight,
ain't you?" she added.
"Y'es. I'm ou the cocktail tonight. I
ant going to bunk down stere. I'll be up
at the house at sunup, and we can gc
ovei' to Florence together,"
CHAPTER XVII.
UD'S conscience was not trou-
bling him so much now. In
fact, he was rather proud of
his conduct of late. He had
shaken Buck McKee, and he had for-
given Echo for all the hard thoughts
he had against her—without consider-
ing that she would be more than wo-
man if she failed to harbor resentment 1
against the man who had prevented
her from calling her husband back
from the desert.
In the absence of Slim both Bud and .
McKee had attained a feeling of se=
curity in the matter of the Terrill mur-
der.
McKee had already ventured to
use some of his share of the robbery
in gambling. Bud had not yet con-
vinced himself either of the right or
the advisability of spending his share.
Both conscience and fear advised him
to }seep the blood money intact. He
carried it with him wherever he went
and became in time quite pleased with
himself because of his compunctions in
doing so. He was even pharisaical
about McKee's gambling. No; when
his mind had become clear about keep-
ing it he would make an honest use of
it, such as investing in a . saloon in
Florence. When, however, he suggest-
ed to Polly that dispensing liquors over
a bar and running a faro grime on the
side would be a congenial occupation
suited to their talents she sat down
forcibly upon his aspiration, and they
finally compromised on Polly's propo-
sition to conduct a livery stable in Tuc-
son, • where, Polly felt, though she dict
not say so to Bud, that Sheriff Hoover,
with whom she had been flirting too
'dangerously, would not be in evidence,
as in Florence.
Polly, however, was greatly puzzled
over Bud's conficlence in his ability to
raise the wind that would launch this
delectable but to her mind illusory en-
terprise. In a moment of weakness he
Intimated that he already had the mon-
ey in hand.
"How did you get it?" she demanded.
"Saved it," he said.
When she asked him how he could
have saved the thousand dollars de-
tnanded for the stable out of his sal-
ary of $40 a month he replied:
"By economizing. I've cut off my
chewing tobacco."
"That cost you but two bits a week,
an' you've taken up cigarettes at a
dime a day," said observant Polly. "I
know what you've been doin'. You've
been gamblin'."
"Cross my heart, Polly, I haven't,"
said Bud, and Polly, who had no great
objection to using money won at cards
so long as she did not positively know
the fact, discontinued her objections
and resumed the delightful occupation
of castle building. The home she had
is view consisted of three rooms over
the livery stable.
"1 want a , red carpet in the front
room an' wall paper like that at Bow -
en's store, with Fosses jumpin' gates
on it"—
"Don't you think there will be a lit-
tie
ittie too much horse there, Polly, with
the stable under us and the smell cook-
ing upp'
Miley -
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{
"I'll have breakfast ready fer you.
.Itepl my pony for me, will you?"
Bud was smiling and happy again.
All of his troubles were forgotten. "All
right!" he cried as he started to mount,
"Say, you're awful forgetful, aren't
you?" asked Polly demurely.
Bud looked about him, slightly be-
wildered. Then he realized his over-
sight. Ile ran to Polly's side and tried
to kiss her, but she motioned him
reside, saying: "Too late. You lose."
"But I didn't know," stammered Bud.
"Next time you'll know. On your
way!" airily commanded the girl.
Bud's face darkened, "Oh, well„
goodby."
Polly looked after him, anis
angry. His surrender to her \vhims+
without a fight nettled her.
"Coodby yourself," she snapped.
"He's the most forgetful man I ever
loved. If I thought he was a gamblin'
man I'd get a divorce from him before
I married him. I would sure," mur-
mured Polly as Bud disappeared to-
ward the corral.
Polly's musing was Interrupted by
the return of Buck McKee.
"Is Bud Lane over here?" he asked.
"You must have passed him just now.
He's just got in from night herdin'."
"I thought I seed him comin' this
way. When's the weddin' bells goin'
to ring?"
Polly flushed. "Next month. Then
you'll lose Bud's company fer good,"
she answered defiantly.
"Well, I hain't been doin' him much
good," Buck assented. "I'm goin' back
borne, though."
Polly gazed et Buck in surprise.
Here was a new view of the man,
one she had never considered. It was
strange to bear this outlaw and bad
man talk of a home. The repetition of
the word "home" by Polly led him to
continue:
"Yep, up to the strip, where I wuz
borned at. This here climate's a lee-
stralght at .me Ctrl' Bud. I'm sorry,
dragged Bud Into that. I could have
done it alone jes' as well an' kep' all
the money."
Melte() sat down to wait for Bud...
His Mind was filled with pleasant
thoughts. Having assumed a .obiv-
alrous role in the Peruna Incidenthh be
'teas tasting something of the svfeet
sensations and experiences that sol-'
low a siucereiy generous action,.
His enjoyment in contemplating hie
own virtues was overcrowded, .how-
ever, by a vague presentiment of im-
pending danger, the "premonition" he
had spoken of to Petty, a word he had
picked up from fortune tellers, whom
he often consulted, being very super-
stitious, as are most gamblers.
And Nemesisin the person of Peru.-
no was indeed approaching. The out-
law crept out of the draw behind the
contemplative half breed and, leaping
upon his back, plunged his knife in Mc-
Kee's neck with a fierce thrust, into
which he concentrated all his hatred
for the humiliation he had endured.
With a stifled cry Buck struggled to
his feet to face his assailant, drawing
his gun instinctively. The knife had
bitten too deeply, however. With a
groan ho fell. Weakly he tried to level
his gun, his finger twitching convuI-
sively at the trigger. Peruna waited
to see if he had strength enough to
"What the devil is a baudotr?" he asked.
tle too dry to suit me. I'm goin' to
get a leetle ranch an' a leetle gal an'
settle down fer sure."
"I wish you may," said Polly heart-
ily. "You sure acted mighty fine about
that Peruna insultin' Mrs. Payson."
Buck sat down on the step of the
wagon. He hesitated for a moment
and then asked, "Say, did you ever
have a premonition?"
"Nope! The Worst I ever had was
the hookin' cough." 1
Buck smiled, but did not/explain to
Polly the meaning of the word.
"Well, this premonition," he contin-
ued, "bits me hard, an' that's what
makes me start fer home. Thought
I'd like to say goodby to you an' Bud.
I go north .with the big drive in the
mornin' an' won't see yoti agin."
"Well, good luck an' goodby to you."
Polly held out her, hand in her most
friendly fashion,
Buck arose and took oft his hat. As
he stepped toward her be cried: "Same
to you. Goodby." Grasping her by
the hand, he added warmly, "An'
happiness.
"I'll 'tell Bud you're here;" treed
Polly over her shoulder.
Buck looked after the girl as she
swung across the prairie to find Bud.
"She's a darned fine leetie gal,"
mused Boca:. "Seem' Rud so happy
kinder manes rue homesick, Things
is gettlny too warm ter toe here, any-
way. If Payson gill beelc he'll be able
to clear himself about that Terrill bust-
tides,, ane things is likely to p'int pretty
fire. A sneering smile added to the
evil appearance of his face. Seeing
Buck helpless, he snatched the gun
from his hand. Then he turned his
victim over so he could reach the
pocket of his waistcoat. With the
blood stained knife he ripped open the
cloth and extracted a.roll of paper and
money. Peruna was kneeling beside
the body of his former friend when a
voice drawled:
"Drop that knife!"
Peruna jumped up. with a grunt of
dismay, to see Slim Hoover sitting on
horseback, with his revolver held up-
right, ready for use.
Peruna hesitated. "Drop it!" ordered
Elam sharply, slightly lowering the gun.
Peruna tossed away the knife, with,ft
snarl.
"I'll take care of your friend's bun-
dle an' the papers an' money you
took from his pocket. Drop them! I
didn't figure on gettin' back to busi-
ness as soon as I got home, but you
never can tell, can you?"
The last remark was addressed to
his deputy, Timber Wiggins, who had
joined him.
"This here's Timber Wiggins, dep-
uty sheriff of Pinal county," explained
Slim for Peruna's enlightenment.
"Mr. Wiggins, will you take care of
this friend of mine?" continued the
sheriff, glancing from Peruna, who
looked at him stolidly, to Wiggins. "I
reckon he's been doin' somethin'
naughty."
The two men dismounted, keeping
the outlaw covered and watching bis
every glance.
"Anything to oblige," replied Wig-
gins,
iogins, wbo bad solemnly entered with
Slim into his assumed formality.
Wiggins stepped behind Peruna and,
reaching forward, removed Buck's gun
from the outlaw's holster, which had
been empty since Buck, earlier in the
day, had taken his revolver after he
had insulted Echo.
"Anything to oblige," said Wiggins
to Slim''. Then to Peruna he command-
ed: "Let's take a walk-. You first. I'm
noted fer my politeness."
"You might tie him up some," sug-
gested Slim.
"I sure will," answered the deputy
as he marched his prisoner toward the
corral. r
Slim hastened to the side of the fall-
en man and turned him over on his
back to get a glimpse of Peruna's vic-
tim. He saw that Buck was still
breathing, although mortally wounded,
the blood gushing from his mouth.
McIiee recognized the sheriff. "Hel-
lo! When did you git back?" he asked.
"yes' now. Is this your money?"
said Slim, holding the role in front of
McKee's eyes. •
"No; it's your'n—part uv what I took
from 'Ole Man' Terrill. The idee uv not
recognizin' yer own property!" Mc-
Kee grinned at his joke on the sherif.
"I held the old man up, an' that's all
there is to it."
"Who was with you?" asked Slim.
"There was two."
McKee was silent.
"Bud McKee was the other man,"
hazarded Slim.
"No"— began Buck, but Slim inter-
rupted him.
•'Ile was with you that night. He
come to the weddin' with you. It ain't
tics use in denyiu' It. I've been thinkin'
It all out. I was fooled by Jack's pacin'
hoss. You an' Bud"— c
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M»,•P.A.,s Y:i'-.x nit.... ,Y,;i. t, rn�y..xl..'!`•.•i
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Here AIeXtie interrupted with a sot
caro denial. Whether front 11 deeire to
foil the sheriff, a•11ott lie I1:11, NN. wilts
Bud's rivlii. in tote 111u1 s" 111'+1;,111 het,
the young man's enemy, ur trout the
benevolent spirit induced by the recent
contemplation of his virtues, '1,'l.ee
was impelled to give :u, :teem -nit et toe
murder which very colt rim• Utgly
cated Bud as ;1 protesting eatspllw
rather than a consenting :ac:Lenie ice.
At the end of the story be smiled
grimly:
"So lvhlte you tt'u:; out 11,• 1115 .r-II'''•i
on a wit gouSe et1 l le lltier 111 wit
1
"Drop it!" ordered Slim sharpy.
man Peruna he goes loco on paten'
medicine an' gits the guilty party.
Joke's on you, Slim. I nomernate Fe-
runa fer nex' sheriff."
Exhausted with the effort and pain
of talking, McKee dropped his head
upon Hoover's broad breast in. a faint.
Hoover bore him down to the spring
and bathed his wound and mouth.
1rcKee revived and in broken phrases,
which were accompanied with blood
from his pierced lungs frothing out
of his mouth, continued his observa-
tions on the ridiculous and unfortu,
nate mistake Peruna made in killing
him.
"Dern fool's bes' fr'en'—I would
herd—'th low down intellecks—acv'
'predated—no chance—to be firs' class
—bad MOIL"
And so Buck McIiee, desperado,
died, like many another ambitious soul,
with expressions of disappointment on
his lips.
CHAPTER XVIII.
UD LANE, returning to camp,
saw the returned sheriff sup-
porting the dying murderer of
Terrill and listening to what
was undoubtedly his confession. Ile
stole away before he was observed.
"It's all Up with 'me," he thought
".Bek has told hitt. Slim hates me
along with folly. 1'lI get away from
here tonight"
Ile met Polly by the mess wagon.
At once she sate that something had
happened, llud was deathly pale. tie
trembled when She spoke to hien.
"Why, what on earth is the matter?"
she naked.
"Nothing. .1"--- answered Bud, gland-
ing about .hitt as If seeking Solite way
to escape.
"You're lookin' mighty pale. Are
you sick?" persisted the girl,
"Slim Hoover—he's back"— Bud
could scarcely speak. His throat was
parched. Beads of perspiration stood E
on his forehead. '
"'!What!" cried Polly joyfully. "Is
Jack with him?"
"Listen here," exclaimed the young,
wooer. "Slim's heard about our going
to get married, and he's sworn to
shoot me at sight," It was a lame,
halting explanation, but the best Bud
could invent on the spur of the mo
meat. Ile wanted to get away to have
time to think.
"I don't believe it!" replied Polly in-
dignantly.
ndignantly. "Why, Slim"—
In his excitement. Bud would no‘ let
her continue her defense of the sheriff.
"It's so. He's plumb locoed. The
sun must have touched his brains out
in the desert," he explained, with rapid
invention. "I don't want any run-in•
with a crazy man. I might have to
shoot, and Slim's been a good friend
of mine, so I'm going to keep out of
his way for awbile. I'll ride over to
the railroad."
"Say, look here, are you scared of
Slim Hoover? Just let me handle
him," said Polly.
"No, no!" expostulated Bud. "Can't
you understand? We've been such
good friends, and—and—1 ,can't pull a
gun on him."
Polly was speechless with surprise.
"Here he comes now!" shouted Bud.
"I'll hide in the wagon here!"
i
"Don't hide!" counseled Polly.
"Why?" :
Bud gave her no answer, for he had
already disappeared under the cover of
the meas wagon.
"I don't like that a little bit. Slim
never acted locoed before. I'll have to
be mighty careful. I s'pose, for I think
a heap of both Sling an' Bud."
Slim came tip to the wagon with his
face wreathed in sm=les. "If it 'ain't
Miss Polly!" he yelled. .
Polly, having beard that crazy peo• 1
ple had to be humored, ran to meet
him and threw her arms about Itis
neck, r
"You dear, sw cel, old reit headed
thing!" she cried. "When die you get
back? *Where have you been l iWhere's
Jack? have you seen E ho?" O136
question was piled upon the other by
the enthusiastic girl. Slam had tried
to stop her talking that hemight give
answer, but he might as well have'
tried to check a seed storm. Out of
breath and pulling l Ire finally gasped: !
"Whoa! Whoa! Yes'in,• I've heard
of them Kansas cyclones, bet I ain't ``
never got frit with one afore."
Polly started all over again. "An'
Jack—diel ':eu find him? Tell me all
about it':
"See here," answered Slim. "I ain't
goin' to say nothin' to nobody till I see
Mrs. 'Payson." r
"Oh, pshaw!" pouted Polly. "Not ,
even to me?" 1
"Not even. What I've got to say she
must hear first l'm kinder stiff. If
you don't mind, I'll set down a spell."
Slims face Was drawn and worn.
Although he had lost none of his
weight, ho showed the effects of the
siege of hard tiding and fighting
through which he bad passed.
The Mental strain under which he
had labored bad also worn him down.
Polly was more than solicitous for his
comfort Net only did she like the
sheriff, but she was note fenelag with
him to protect her sweetheart front his
wrkth.
"Yeu look tuckered out," the 'said,
• 'Well, I 'low as maybe I am, Been
in the saddle for two weeks. Mu 1
have a cup of Coffee?"
Pony began to mother him. This ap+
Dal ter bodily Comforttj aroused lilt
hat± wotaaniy llnstinc'ts. She mettle lJilm
be lit iaued G
to oe{