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


ey for myself" replied Bud as if to
soOthe his conscience. "Oh Buck,
why didn't you let me alone?" 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 darned!' he muttered.
"You make me sick, kid His voice
rose in anger and disgust. why, to
hear you talk one would think you
wuz the only one had right feelins
I'm goin to take my share an start
a decent life. I'm goin' back to Texas
an open saloon. You take yer
half, marry yer gal an settle down
right here. ole Man Terrill's dead
NOthin' will bring him back, an you
might as well git the good Nv the mon
ey. It's Slim Hoover's, anyhow. If
Jack PaysOn can marry yer brother
Dicks gal on Dicks money-fer there's
no hope Nv stoppin that now-you can
cut Slim out with Polly on Sims sal
airy. Aw, take the money!" And Nc
Kee 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-
appeal to his hatred and jealousy to
induce him to retain the blood money,
and he thrust it within an inside
pocket of his loose waistcoat.
"Now," said Mckee, thoroughly sat
isfied that he had involved Bud in the
crime too deeply for him to confess his
share in it. well shake hands an
say 'Adois.' Slim Hoover's probably
on our track by this time, but I reck-
on he'll be some mixed in the trail
around the mesa an give the job up
as bad one when he reaches the riv-
err. I'll show up on the Lazy K, where
the whole outfit will swear I've been
fer two days if Hoover picks on me as
one Nv the men he's been follerin'
You're safe. Nobody q put KILN any
body on to you, let alone yer ole
frien' TesTill Why, you amt a man
yet, Bud, though | don't say it to dis
currudge you. You've made a start,
more'n me Nv KILN a teller what
STAINS in yer way. l 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 in
quired as he saw the young man hold
ing letter he had withdrawn from
the pocket into which he had put the
bills.
Letter ] got in Florence yesterday
when | was too full to read it," said
Bud. He opened it. "Why. it's from
Polly he exclaimed. Its an invite
by Gcd. it's an invite to Jack and
Echos wedding! It's tomorrow! The
scoundrel has hurried the thing up for
fear Dick will get back in time to stop
it. Buck Mckee, / believe you're
right! I could kill Jack Payson with
no more pity than / would RATHER or
ella m0nsteri'
At this exhibition of hatred by his
companion a new thought flashed sud
denly through the Satanic mind of the
half breed. 1t involved an entire
change Of his plans, but the devilish
daring Of the conception was irresisti
bic
'Say," he broke in, with seeming ir-
rclevance, don't Payson ride pacin
mare?'
eyes" answered Bud. ''What of it?'
"Oh, nothin',' said Mckee. sit jes
struck me as sorter funny-Payson an
pacin', don't you see
Bud was mystifed. Had his com
panion gone daft?
Mckee saw instantly that it would
be very easy to fix the charge Of muir
dering the station agent upon Payson
The ranchman had evidently left the
station q short time before the muir
der and had gone straight south tt
, the Sweetwater. Unless it had become
;, confused with their own tracks thu
trail would be plain one owing t.
the fact that it was made by pacing
horse. ard the pursuit would undOubt
eddy follow this.
Payson rode the only pacing hors,
in the Sweetwater and Bar One out
fits, and it was certain to come t,
light from Terrilrs receipts that b,
! had been with the agent about tn,
: time Of the killing. The motive TO
> the robbery would be evident. Pay
: son was in need of $1,000 to pay of
the mortgage on his ranch.
Mckee said to Bud: I've change,
my mind. / think I'll see little ful
>, before break fer Texas. I'll go wit
you to the weddin'." y
But you have had no invite" oil
jeeted Bud.
# 'Oh, / reckon they'll take me alon
n on yerS! / know too much fer Pay
- son to obieck to me too strenuous"
= They rode up to Allen Haciend
shortly after Slim Hoover had arriy
+ ed. They could hear the merrimen
: of the wedding guests in the kitchen
- Loud laughter was punctuated by tn
f. popping of c0rks, and Mckee, VIII
a. rode in advance of Bud, distinguish
the voice of the sheriff in expostult
ipl n YaSs+4