The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-10-24

(COnttnued From IeBtcruay.)
That afternoon ,Payson rode over to
Allen Hacienda to see Echo, n to
SOUND her upon her feelings toward
Dick Lane. He wished thoroughly to
convince himself that he, Jack Payson.
held complete sway over her heart.
Perhaps he might dare to put her love
the test, and fulfil the trust his
friend had imposed on him, by giving
her Dicks letter.
Payson overlook Polly riding slowly
on her way home from Florence. She
barely greeted him. HAS she met
Bud, and has he been slurring ms
he thought. He checked his pacing
horse to the half-trot. half-walk, Of
Polly's mount, and, Ignoring her In
civility, began talking to her.
"D'yeh see Bud In Florence?"
yep. Couldn't help 1t. Hin an
Buck Mckee are about the whole of
Florence these days"
TOO bad about Bud consorting with
that rustler. I've had to fire him for
It,"
Fire him? Well you are a good
friend. Talk about mems loyalty! II
women threw men down that easy you
all would go to the bowwows too fast
for us to bake dog-biscuit. Now, I've
settled Buck McKee's hash by putting
Slim Hoover wise to that tongue-slit-
tin. Oh, I'll bring Bud around, al
right, all right, wen II men that ought
to be his friends go back on him."
But Pollykins-"
Don't grille me, Jack Payson. Tn
a woman and I'm goin' to be a married
one, too. In spite of all you do to Bud
Yes, Stree, bob. I've set out to make
q man of him. and I'll marry him t.
do 1t II he amt a dollar to his name
But moncy'd make 1t lots quicker an
easier. He was savin' up till he run ir
with Buck Mckee"
A sudden thought struck Payson
Here was a way to dispose of Dicl
Lanes money when 1t came.
"All right. Mrs. Bud Lane to be
Promise not to tell Bud, and through
you I'll soon make good to him many
times over for the foreman's wages he''
lost. It's money that's coming from
an enterprise that his brother and
were partners In, and Bud shall hav'
Dicks share. He's sore or me now
and l can't tell him. Besides, he't
gamble it away before he got 1t. tc
Buck Mckee. Bud isn't strictly ethica
in regard to money matters, Polly. ant
you must manage the exchequer."
Gee, what funny big words you use
Jack! But l know what you mean
he's too free-handed. Well, he'll b.
savin' as a trade rat until we get oul
home paid for. And I'll manage thu
checker business when we're married
No more poker and keno for Bud
Thank you Jack. l always knew YOU
was square,"
Polly's sincere praise of his square
ness was the sharpest thrust possible
at Payson's guilty conscience. Wei
he resolved to come as near beinI
square and level as he could. He hat
told half-truths to Bud and Polly; h
would present the situation to Ech'
as a possible, though not actual, one
If Polly werc wrong, and Echo love;
him SO much that she would breal
the word she had pledged to Die
Lane, then he would confess all, an
they would do what could be done t
make it right with the discarded lover
Echo, observing from the windoS
who vas Polly's companion, a out t
Jack with a cry of joy. He looke'
4 meaningly at Polly. She said: "Of
give me your bride: l know HOY
many's a crowd" Jack leaped to tn
ground and took Echo in his arm
while Polly rode off with the horse
to the corral, singing significantly:
Spoon. spoon, spoon,
While the dish ran away with tn
SPOON"
Jack and Echo embraced c~lingingl,
and kissed iinserlngly. 1t takes a Graz.
old song like tnat TO express how fool
ish we lovers are" said Jack. why
| feel that l could outhddle the cal
outjump the cow, o%utlaugh the dog
and start an elopement that woul'
knock the performance of the table
ware as silly as-well, as / am talkini
now. I'm living in a dream-a Mic
summer Nights Dream. such as yol
were reading to me-"
The lunatic, the lover and the poet,
quoted Echo suggestively.
Dusk was falling. From the bunk
house rose the tinkling notes of
mandolin; after a few preliminar,
chords, the player. a Mexican. began
love-song in Spanish. The distan
chimes OF mission bells sounded softl,
on the evening air.
Jack and Echo sat down upon tn
steps of the piazza. Jack continued tn
strain on his thoughts, but in a NOR
serious vein:
Echo, Tn so happy that l am fright
ened."
''FrIghtened?" she asked wonder
ingly.
"Ycs, scarcd-downright scared" h
answered. IT reckon I'm like an In
dian. An Indian doesn't believe it.
good medicine to let the gods know
he's big happy For there's tn
Thunder Bird
1.-The Thunder Bird?"
1.-THE evil spirit of the Storm con
tinued Jack. when the Thunder Bir'
hears o fellow saying he's big happy
he sends him bad luck
Echo laid her hand softly on tn