The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-11-12

came rumor, and then common report. q
When 1t became known that Jack had
paid off the mortgage on his ranch,
Buck came out with the accusation
that Payson was the murderer. Find
ing hat he was listened to. Buck made
the direct charge that Payson had killed
the station agent, and with the pro- e
ceeds of the robbery was paying of his
old debts.
Gathering his own men about him,
and being Joined by the idle hangers
on, which are to be found about every
town, Buck lead his party to the ranch
on the Sweetwater to accuse Jack, q
| so throw off, in advance, any suspicious
which might attach to himself.
Fortunately, Slim happened to be at
Jacks ranch at the time. When he
entered the corral he found Jacks ac-
cusers and defenders rapidly nearing ;
a battle.
Jack was taking the charges coolly
enough, as he did not know what sup
port Mckee had manufactured to up
hold the charges he made. Slim ins 4
formed Mckee he would listen to what
he had to say, and If afterward he
thought Jack guilty, he would place
him under arrest. For all concerned
it would be better to go into the house
The Sweetwater boys surrounded Jack
as they followed Slim into the living
room. Lining up In opposing groups,
Slim stood in the centre, to serve as
judge and jury, with Buck and Jack
at his right and left hand.
Inside the door Jack said: Keep as
quiet as you can, boys. / don't
10 alarm my wife. Now. what is it?" i
The ~punchers hushed their discus
sion of the charge, and listened atten-
lively to what the men most interested
mad 10 say.
well, darn it ALL apologized the Z
Sheriff 10 Jack, its all darn fool busi-n
ness, anyway. Buck here he started
it"
Jack smiled sarcastically. and
glancing at Mckee, remarked: Buck
McKee's started a good man, things In
his day ~
Buck began to buster. He could not
face Jack fairly. Already placed on
the defense, when he lac considered
he would be the accuser, Mckee took
refuge in the plea Of being wronged BY
false suspicion.
II amt goin',' he whined, ito have
folks suspicion me Of any such doin's
as the KILN OF Ole Man Terrin. -.
got a witness to prove I wasn't la
twenty miles of the place"
who's our witness?" asked Slim,
in his most judicial tones.
Bud Lane-me an him rode over to
the weddin' together-from the Lazy
X, an l was put out as not ittin' to
be there, an by that very man there
that did the KILN"
Tit punchers had to grin, in spite
of the seriousness OF the occasion.
Buck appeared to be deeply hurt at Tho
unceremonious way he had been left
out at the feast,
What makes you point to me as the
man." asked Jack quietly.
You was late gettin' to your w
weddin'."
Fresno could not repress his feelings
any longer. He started angrily toward
Mckee, but Jack and Sagebrush held
him back. The others were about to-
follow his lead, when Slim motioned
them back with the caution: Keep
out of this. boys!"
IT was late explained Jack. but I
told you l rode around to the station
to get a wedding present I ordered for
my wife"
I'M interrupted Aiiii ~
the statement. Pointing to a chair. he
said; That's so. There it is. too
tina there chair
The Sweetwater outfit nodded in ac-
quiescence, but the others looked In
c%redulous.
Buck sneered at the defense which
Jack made. Nobody saw you over
that way, did they?"
81 saw Terrill. It must have been
just before he was killed. / didn't meet
anybody else Jack showed no trace OF
temper under the inquisition.
"Of course you saw him before he
was killed-about a minute. Mebbe
you didn't plug him the next minute
with a A" -
The charge reused Sagebrush's fight
ing blood. Drawing his CUR, he ats
tempted to get a fair shot at the ac-
cuser. Fresno and Show Low grabbed
him by the arms, holding him back.
The foreman shouted: "There'll be some
one plugged right now II you-all make
another break like that"
Slim waved his hands over his head,
driving the men backward, as If ne
were shooting away a flock of chickens.
Easy ~now-easy,' he drawied.
There amt a-goin' to be nothin' dom
here, 'cept law an Justice"
Buck laughed sneeringly at the
wavering of his men. He would have
to do something to put more heart into
them and regain the ground he had
lost by his slngle-handed conduct OF
the case.
There amt, eh?' he asked con-.
t~emptuously. "Well, it's lucky I
brought some of my own outfit with
me-
'Mebbe, you'll need them II you get
loo careless with your talk" answered.
the unrutfied sheriff.
Turning to Jack, Slim said; This
fool thing can be settled with one word
from you"
The young ranchnan listened TO the
sheriff earnestly. He wished to clear
! himself forever of all suspicious, He
did not want Echo ever to hear that
there was a false impression abroad that
she was the wife of a slayer. What
is it," he asked simply.
"Why, you paid off a nortgage OF an
even three thousan' dollars last week,
didn't your"
Eyes, what a that to DO with itf'