Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-04

l0St one OF the tTackS, Out lOlleTeu TIE
other two round Sweetwater mesa till
l come where they rode into the riv
er. OF course | couldn't fOller the
trail any farther at that pint, so, bein
as was near Uncle Jim's. I rode over
fer help to look along both banks an
pick up the trail wherever 1t comes
out Of the river Sorry must break
up yer fun, boys, but some o you
must come along with me. Duty's
duty. I want Sagebrush anyhow. as
s'pose I can't ask fer Jack Payson."
Sagebrush pulled long face. Al
any other time he would have jumped
at the chance Of running to earth the
dastardly murderers Of his old friend
Terrill. But In the matter Of this his
first experience of wedding, he had
tickled his palate so long with the
sweets Of anticipation that he could
not bear to forego the eliminating
swallow Of realization.
II don't see why l shouldn't be let
of as well as Jack" he grumbled.
"Our cases Is similar. You see, It's
my first weddin'," explained the fore,
man to the sheriff.
The other cowboys howled with de-
light. The humor of the situation
caught their fancy, and they yelled a
chorus of protestation In HoOver's
ears. In this Colonel Allen Joined.
Don't spile the weddin'," he plead
ed. This here event has already
rounded up the Sweetwater outfit fer
you an saved you more time than
you'll lose by waitin' till It's over.
Then we'll all jine you.
Hoover commanded silence and. roll.
ing cigarette, gravely considered the
proposition. He realized that the muir
derers should be followed up at once,
but that If he forced the cowboys by
the legal power he exercised to fore
20 the pleasure they had been antici-
patlng so greatly they would not be
so keen in pursuit as II they had first
given the boss his sendoff." The
considerations being equal, or, as he
put it, "hoss an hoss," 1t seemed to
him wise to submit to Aliens PROPOSE
ton, backed, as it was. by the justice
of his plan that the occasion Of the
wedding had already saved valuable
time in assembling the posse. He as
sented, therefore. but. to maintain the
dignity of his office and control OF
the situation, with apparent reluc'
tance.
"Well, hurry up the sacreements an
ceremonies, then, an the minute the
preacher ties the knot every man OF
you but Jack an the parson an Uncle
Jim gifts on his boss an follers me
I'll wait out In the corral"
At this there was another storm OF
eXpostulation, led this time by Allen.
OF course Hoover was to come to the
wedding and be its guest Of honor.
"You shall be the first to wish Jack
an Echo luck" said Allen. "That
means you'n be the next one to mar
ry."
The ruddy faced sheriff blushed to
the roots Of his auburn hair.
much obliged, but l amt fixed up
fer weddin'," and he looked down
at his travel stained breeches, tucked
in riding boots white with alkali dust,
and felt Of his buttonless waistcoat
and gingham shirt open at the throat,
with the bandanna handkerchief
around his neck In lieu of both collar
and tie.
Polly assured him that he would do
very well as he was; that for her part
she wouldn't want no better dressed
man than him" to be present at her
own wedding, not even "the feller am
goin' to hitch up to-" whereat Slim
Hoover was greatly set at ease.
Polly was bounding up the piazza
steps to tell Echo of the accession to
her party when Hoover held up his
hand. A terrifying suggestion had
dashed through his mind.
"HOld on q minute" he exclaimed,
Ind, turning to Allen, he asked anx-
.ously, Does this here guest Of honor
nave to kiss the bride?"
The question was so foreign to the
serious topic which had just been un.
der discussion that every one laughed
n relief of the nervous tension.
Aliens fun loving nature at once
bubbled to the surface. With an air OF
assumed anger he said to the sheriff:
"Of course; every guest has to do It."
Then. turning to the cowboys, he
asked, "Is there any one here as holds
out strong objection to kissin' my
daughter?"
"Not me-" laughed Sagebrush. "Pm
here to 60 the limit"
"I'm an experienced kisser, l am"
said Parenthesls. II don't lose no
chance at practice"
"I1l take two. please" simpered
Fresno.
Show Low. interrupted the general
sally which followed this remark, say
Ing, II strings my chips along with
Fresno"
"Slim's afraid Of females!" drawled
Polly provokingly.
"Oh, thunder" exclaimed Slim to
Polly. "No, amt, nothin' Of the sort.
I'm a peaceful man. I am. I never
likes to start no trouble"
"Get out! What's one kiss" laughed
Allen.
T've seen a big jack pot Of trouble
opened by chippin' In just one kiss"
wisely remarked the sheriff.
Sagebrush at this point announced
decisively, "The bride has got to be
kissed"
Slim tried to break through the
group and enter the house, thinking
that by making such move he would
divert their attention and that In the
excitement of the wedding he could
avoid kissing the bride, an ordeal
which to him was more terrible than
facing the worst gun fighter In Ari
coma.
"I deputize you to do the kissin' fol
lu c,tt.~. .otd &o Doropfhocio wh(