Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-03-24

Jack closed his eyes to shut out the |
sight of his wife In his agony he |
clinched his fists until his nails sank
into the flesh. II can't tell you that!'
he cried in his misery.
"Of course he can't" sneered Buck,
smiling evilly in his triumph.
"He can't account fer himself on the
night Nv the weddin'; he rides pacin'
horse-rode on that night; he gets
three thousan' dollars paid him, an
he can't tell who paid it. What's the
yerdictY' Buck did not wait for an
answer. Raising his voice, he shouted,
"Guilty"
"Jack, Jack! What have you to
say?" begged Echo.
Nothing" was his only answer.
'Tell him he liesp' cried Sagebrush.
"Jack, we all know you. You're as
white a man as ever lived, an they
amt one Of this outfit that amt ready
to die fer you right now"
"You betv' chorused his men.
"He hain't goin' to get off like that"
declared Buck Looking confidently at
his own followers, he said, '"The Lazy
| X can take care Nv him."
Bucks men moved closer to him,
preparing to draw their guns if need
be and open fire on Jacks defenders.
"Look out, bossv' warned Sagebrush
| at the hostile movement Of Buck and
his punchers.
| 'Hold on!' drawled the sheriff, who
as the danger grew more real became
| more deliberate in his movements.
''They amt goin' to be nothin' done
here unless it's done in the law. You
all know me, boys. I'm the sheriff.
This mans my prisoner" Pointing to
Jack, he added, 'There amt nobody
goin' to take him from mean live"
Buck saw Jack slipping from his
clutches eyer not goin' to be bluffed
by one man, are you, boys?"
mo-" his punchers answered in uni
son. crowding toward Jack, who held
up his hand and cried: 'Stop! I want
a fair DEAL and I'll get it."
"I'll settle this thing all right. All
ask is a few words alone with my
wife,"
Jack clasped Echo to his breast as
he begged this boon from the men
who sought his life.
''Nor'. clustered Buck.
eyes," ordered Slim quietly, but en-
phatically. "Mr. Payson, you'll give
me your word you won't try to es-
cape?"
eyes, agreed Jack.
ellis word don't go with u.s." shout
ed Buck.
Slim laid his hand on the butt OF
his revolver, ready to draw If neces
, | sary to enforce his command Buck
] saw-the movement and shouted tC
him: keep yer hand away from thai
!, gun, sheriff. You know 1 am quick or
= the draw" He significantly fingered
a his holster as he spoke.
$50 I've heard tell" agreed Slim
hastily withdrawing his hand from his
revolver.
Slim appeared to agree to the sur
: render of Jack to Buck and his punch
ers, permitting them to deal with hin
as they saw fit. He fumbled in his
!. left hand waistcoat pocket, pulling ou
a bag of tobacco and a package of rice
paper. Ostentatiously he began to rol
cigarette. Then, with the Qulcknes
of a cat, his left hand was plunged il
the inside right hand pocket of hi
waistcoat Grasping revolver by tn
muzzle, he deftly jerked it upwar'
and seized the handle in it's flight. H
;, covered Buck Mckee before tina
- worthy realized what had happened
: With his right hand Slim pulled tn
weapon which swung at his hip an
- aimed it at the other boys of the Lac
~ K. The guns moved up and down tn
;. line, backed by the sheriff's usual
L mild blue eyes, coldly steady now a
the call to battle
= '1'll give you lesson in pullin' guns
Il though" he declared, his voice a
steady as his hands. "Don't NOV
Buck" he warned as Mckee wavere
!, NOR any others of you. I'm playi