The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-31
He trumpet up an explanation of his

Amt I lost my job?"
Eyes, but that's because you were
h~ot-headed, an gave your boss too
much lip. But everything will come
out all right. Jack says
HAS that ~low-down liar an thief
been comm 1t over you, Polly? Did
HI tell you how he ave the place he
promised me to Sagebrush?"
That wasn't until you gave him
slack, Bud. An I'm sure he amt a
thief; why"
thief, OF course he Is, an a blacker-
hearted one than the man that killed
Terrill. Amt he going to steal my
brother Dicks girl this very night?"
but Dick is dead" expostulated
Polly.
"Dick amt dead; I know it-that is.
he stammered, 1T feel 1t In ms bones
he amt dead. An Jack feels it, too;
that's why he's hurried up this we'd
din
but your own friend, Buck Mckee,
saw Dick just before the 'Paches killed
him."
but not after it. An Buck now
thinks the Rurales- may have come UP
in time to save him."
Seems to me If that's SO he has had
time enough since then to write" OBJ
jected Polly, who was, nevertheless,
impressed by Buds vehemence.
How do you know that he has not
written?"
Polly could only gasp. These accusa-
lions were coming too fast for her to
answer.
you can't tell what a man might do
in a case like that. Perhaps Dicks
way up in the mountains, away from
the railroad, prospectin' down In the
Ghost Range. where he has been tryin'
TO locate the lost lode. There's lots of
reasons for his not writing to Echo.
But Echo doesn't seem to mind. A
year an a half Is enough to mend any
woman's heart"
Now. you began Polly, who was
growing angry under the charges which
were being heaped on her two best
friends by the overwrought boy.
Bud would not let her finish. but
cried: "Echo never loved him. If she
did she would not be acting like she is
goin' to tonight"
Rushing to Echo's defense Polly an
swered: tShe MAJ or may not have
loved Dick Lane. but l know that she
loves Jack Payson now with all her
heart, and, even if the PEACHES did not
get your brother, he is as dead to her
as If they had"
Polly was startled and confused by
Buds accusations. Accordingly, 1t was
a relief to her when Jack Payson APP
peared on the scene. They had been
so interested in their conversation that
they did not heal him ride up to the
house. Hello. Pollyi Hello, Bud"
were his cordial greetings, for he was
determined to ignore his former EN-
ployee's hostility, Bud did not an
swer, but looked modify on the ground.
TO Eastern eyes Payson's wedding
attire would appear most incongruous.
About his waist was strapped a re-
volver. His riding-trousers, close-fit-
ting and corded. were buttoned over
the calves of his legs. Soft, highly poi
ished leather boots reached to his
knees. His shirt was of silk deeply
embroidered down the front and at the
collar. His jacket gave hin ample
breathing-room about tho chest. but
tapered at the waist and hung closely
over the hips. EIe wore a sombrero
and a knotted silk handkerchief. Els
face was deeply %sunburned, except a
spot shaped like a crescent just below
the hair-line on the forehead, which
was protected from the sun by the
hat and the shade of the brim. a
similar line of faire1 skin ran around
the edge of the scalp, beginning over
the ears. His hair shaded the upper
part of his neck from the suns rays.
When his hair was trimmed the un-
tanned part showed as plainly as If
painted. It is the mark of the plains
man in a city or N a holiday
"Well, it's about time that 0 got
Here said Polly. with a sigh of relief.
"Where have you benz
Il stopped over to Sam Terrili's to
see about something that | ordered
from Kansas city. Then | had to go
back to my ranch" i
Bud started guilty. Forgetting By
determination TO ignore Payson.
asked anxiously, You didn't see
rill, did you?"
"Oh. yes. Why do you ask?'
Polly laid her hand on Payson's arm
and told him briefly of the shooting on
Terrill.
'eNho shot him?" he asked, when she
had finished.
"They don't know-he was robbed of
a pile Of money-Slim Hoover's just
rode over to get a posse" she replied,
looking toward the door. At his bit
of information Payson became anxious
about the plans for his wedding. The
ceremony was uppermost in his mind
at the time.
"Well, he can get one after the wed
ding Then he asked. rs the min
lister here YETI"
Polly lqughingly replied: You're
feelin' pretty spry now, but you'll be
as meek as a baby calf in a little while.
In this section a BRIDEGROOM is treated
worse than a teaderfcot."
Payson smiled. He knew he was in
for a thorough hazing by the boys
That's all right. I'll get back at
some day-when you and BUD
Polly interrupted him with a remark
about minding his own business.
Bud avoided entering into the con
versation. He had walked toward the
door and was standing on the steps
whe he answered for Polly.
Looks as if you chances of gettin'
even with us is a long way off, he
said. Turning. he entered the house,
to join the other guests who. BY the
noise, were enjoying Aliens importa-
lions from Tucson to the bottom Of
every glass.
Polly looked after Bud, smiling quiz
ideally. Buds mighty hopeful. amt
=, L /, . ---LH