Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-04-20

"Thars q lie, Jack Payson"
by Dicks side and fought the Apaches.
And III stand by Buck against all the
world. Everybody Is in conspiracy
against him-Polly and Slim Hoover
and you. Why are you so ready now
to take a slanderer's word against his?
You were keen enough to accept bis
story when 1t let you out Of going to
Dicks rescue and gave you free swing
to court his girl. Let me see the name
Of the snake in the grass that's at the
bottom Of all this!' And he snatchsd
for the letter in Payson's hand.
The ranchman quickly thrust the
missive into his pocket. The injustice
of Buds reflections on his former ac-
tions gave to his uneasy conscience
just that pretext he desired for justify
ing his present course. His cause
being weak and unworthy, he whipped
up his indignation by adopting a high
tone and overbearing manner, even
demeuning himself by using his posi-
ton as Buds employer to crush the
younger man. Indeed, ut the end OF
the scene which ensued he had well
nigh convinced himself that he had
been most ungratefully treated by Bud
while sincerely attempting to save the
boy from the companionship Of hend
in human guise.
mo matter who told me, young
man." he exclaimed. 81 got 1t straight,
and you can take It straight from me.
You either give up Buck Mckee or
leave Sweetwater ranch. Snake In the
erassv he cried, working himself up
into false passion. 1T Is you. un-
grateful boy. who are sinking the ser
pent's tooth into the hand that would
have helped you. tell you now that
I Intended to make you foreman.
though Sagebrush Charley Is an older
and better man. 1t was for Dicks
sake would have done It."
mo" Bud burst forth, "fOr your
guilty conscience's sake! 1t would
have been to pay for stepping into
Dicks place in the heart of faithless
girl. Keep your Job. Pm through
with you"
And. leaping on his horse, Bud rode
furiously back to rejoin Buck Mckee
In Florence.
Jack Payson's purpose was now
cinched to suppress Dick Lanes letter
until Echo Allen was irrevocaDly
Joined to him in marriage. He argued
with himself that she loved him, Jack
'Payson, yet so loyal was she by ma
ture that II Dick Lane returned before
the wedding aud claimed her she
would sacrifice her love to her sense OF
duty. This would ruin her life, he
reasoned, and he could not permit II.
There was honesty in this argument,
but he vitiated it by deferring to act
upon the suggestion that naturally
arose with 1t: Why, then, not take Jim
Allen, Echo's father, to whom her hap
piness was the chief purpose in life,
into confidence in regard to the mat
ter! There will be time enough to tell
the colonel before the wedding. he
thought. In the meantime something
might happen to Dick, and he may
never return. He Is certain not to get
back ahead Of his money.
After the time that the note secured
by the mortgage fell due the young
ranchman had already secured two ex-
tensions Of 1t for three months each.
He now arranged third and began
negotiating for the sale Of some OF bis
cattle to take up the note at the next
time of payment II can't take the
money from Dick" he thought, "evsn
If he does owe 1t to me, and yet II !
refuse 1t 1t will be like buying Echo
paying for stepping into Dicks place,
as Bud expressed 1t. What to do
don't know. Well, events will decide"
And by this favOrite reflection OF the
moral coward Jack Payson marked the
lowest depths Of his degradation.
That afternoon Payson rode to Allen
Hacienda to see Echo and to sound heE
upon her feelings toward Dick Lane.
he wished thoroughly to convince him.
self that he, Jack Payson, held com
plete sway over her heart. Perhaps
he might dare to put her love to the
tsst and fulfill 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 meT
he thought. He checked his pacing
horse to the half trot, half walk. OF
Polly's mount and, ignoring her III
civility, began talking to her.
"Did you see Bud in Florence"
"Ycp. Couldn't help 1t. Him an
Buck Mckee are about the whole Of
Florence these days"
TOO bad about Bud consorting will
that rustler. I've had to fire him fol
It."
"Fire him? Well you are a goot
friend! Talk about mems loyalty! L
women threw men down that easJ
you all would so to the bowwows to-
fast for US to make dog biscuit. Now
I've settled Buck McKes's hash b!
putin Slim Hoover wise to tina
tongue slittin'. Oh, Ill bring But
around. all right, oil right, even
men that ought to be his friends g
back Oh him."
But, Pollykins"-
Don't you grille me, Jack Payson
I'm a woman, an I'm goln' to be
married one, too, in spite Of all you d
to Bud. Yes, Stree, bob! I've set ou
to make q man Of him. an I'll marr,
him TO do 1t II he amt dollar to hi
name. But money ID make 1t lot
quicker an easier. He was savir
up till he run in with Buck Mckee"
A sudden thought struck Paysor
Here was way to dispose OF Die
.ane's money when 1t came.
"All right. Mrs. Bud Lane to b'
Promise not to tell Bud, and throug
you I'll soon make good to him man
times over the foreman's wages he
lost. It's money that's coming froI