The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-30
When they d-ismounted, however. his

"You said there would be no kill
ing" he gasped, passing his hand wear
lily across his forehead as IL to wipe
out the of the crime.
well, what did the old fool pull hia
gun for?' grumbled Mckee petulantly,
as If Terrill was the aggressor In the
encounter.
Bud threw himself YEARLY on the
ground.
I'd give the rest of my life to undo
today's work." he groaned, speaking
more to himself han to his companions
Mckee heard him. His anger began
to rise. If Bud weakened detection was
certain. Flight back to Texas must be
started without delay. If he could
strengthen the will of the boy either
by promises of reward or fear Of pun
ishment, the chances of detection would
lessen as the days passed.
And that would be about twenty
four hours If you don't keep quiet.
Why didn't he put up his hands when
l hollered? He starts to wrastle and
pull his gun, and I had to nail him
Mckee shuddered in spite Of his
bravado.
Pulling himself together with an APP
parent effort, he continued: We'll
| uOlu Tie lllOIicy y u opCti-hOt SRptiA
a cent of it till this thing blows over
they'll never get us. Here, we'll divide
It,"
Keep it all. I never want to touch
a penny of It," said Bud earnestly,
moving along the ground to place a
greater distance between him m the
murderer.
Thanks. But you don't git out of
.z..- .--A H. Al. IArd 49, that ..,-~
Take your share, or I'll blow 1t into
you,' said Mckee, pulling his re-
volver.
Bud, with an effort, arose and walked
over to Buck. With clenched fists. in
~agonized tones, he cried: Shoot il
you want to. l wish I'd never seen
you-you dragged me into this-you
made me your accomplish in q MUIR
DER
Mckee looked at him In Amusement.
This phase of human character was
new TO him, trained as he had been on
the border, where men rarely suffered
with remorse and still more rarely dis
played 1t.
"Shucks! I killed him--you didn't
have no hand in It," answered Buck.
This amt my first KILN. / guess
Buck McKee's pretty we'll known In
some sections. I took all the chances.
I did the KILN. You git half. Now,
brace UP and take yer medicine
straight"
"But l didn't want to take the one
for myself" replied Bud, as II to
soothe his conscience. "Oh! Buck,
why didn't you let me alone7" he con-
tinued, as the thought Of his position
again overwhelmed him.
Buck gasped at the shifting Of the
full blame upon his shoulders.
well, I'll be darnedi" he muttered.
you make ms sick, Kid" His voice
rose in anger and disgust. "why, to
hear you talk, one would think you
was the only one had right feelin's.
I'm going to take my share and start
a decent life. I'm going back to Texas
an open a saloon. You take you half,
marry your gal, and settle down right
here. ole Man Terrilrs dead; nothin'
will bring him back, an you might as
well get the good O. the money. It's
Slim Hoover's anyhow. If Jack Pay
son can marry your brother Dicks gal
on Dicks money-fer there's no hope o.
stoppin' that now-you can cut Slim
Tout with Polly or Sims salary. Aw,
dtake the money! and Mckee pressed
half OF the bills into Buds lax fingers.
The young mans hand closed upon
them mechanically. A vague thought
that he might some day make restitu-
ton conspired with McKee's insidious
appeal to his hatred and jealousy to
induce him to retain the blood-moneys
and he thrust 1t within an inside pocket
Of HIS hose waistcoat.
NOW" said Mckee, thoroughly salts
fed that he had involved Bud in the
crime too deeply for him to confess his
share in it, we'll shake hands. ana
saw 'adios.' Slim Hoover's probably on
our track by this time, but / reckon
he'll be some mixed in the trail around
the mesa, and give the job up as a bad
one when he reaches the river. I'll
show up on the Lazy *, where the
whole outfit will swear I've been fer
two days, IL Hoover picks on me as
one of the men he's been follerin'.
You're safe. Nobody'd put KILN any
body on to you, let alone your ole
frien' Terrill. Why, yuh amt a mar
yet, Bud, though 1 don't say It TO dis
currudge yuh. You've made a start.
an some day yuh won't think no
more'n me of KILN a Teller what STAINS
In yer way. I shouldn't be so turribly
surprised IL Jack Payson got what's
comm to him some day. But what
have you got there, Bud?" he inquired,
as he saw the young man holding q
letter he had Withdrawn from the
pocket into which he had put the bills.
Letter I got in Florence yesterday
when I was too full to read it," said
Bud. He opened 1t. 'Why, it's from
Polly!" he exclaimed, ITS an invite
by God! it's an invite to Jack an
Echo's weddingl It's today! That
damned sooundrel has hurried the
thing up for fear Dick will get back
in time to stop 1t! Buck Mckee. I be-
lieve you're right! I could kill Jack
Payson with no more pity than I
would a RATHER or ella monsteri"
At this exhibition of hatred by his
companion. a new thought flashed sud-
denly through the satanic mind of the
half breed. 1t involved en- entire
change of his plans, but the devilish
daring of the conception was irresis-
tible.
Say" he broke In, with seeming ir-
relevance, don't Payson rid a pacfn'
mare?" wasr -
Eyes, answered Bud. what OF it,"
"Oh. nothin'." said Mckee; 'ft JUS
struck me as sorter funny. Payson
n pacin', don't you Sec"