West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-01-14


by Dicks side and fought the Apaches.
And I'll stand by Buck against all the
world. Everybody is I'm conspiracy
against h.m-Polly and slim Hoover
and you. Why are you so ready now
to take slanderer's word against his?
Yon were keen enough to accept his
story when IL let you out Of going TO
Dicks rescue and gave you free swing
= court his girl Let me see the name
OF the snake In the grass that's at the
bottom Of all thisr And he snatched
for the letter in Payson's hand.
The ranchman quickly thrust the
missiye 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 cnusc
being weak and unworthy. he whipped
up his Indignation by adopting a high
tone and overbearing Fmanner, even
demeaning himself by using his posi-
tion as Buds employer to crush the
younger man. Indeed, at the end of
the scene which ensued lie 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 fiend
: IN human guise
"No matter who told me. young
man." he exclaimed. 81 got IL straight,
and you can take it straight from me.
You either give up Buck Mckee or
leave Sweetwater ranch. Snake I'm the
grass! he cried, working himself up
Into false passion. "It 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
] intended to make you foreman,
though Sagebrush Charley is an older
and better man. 1t was for Dicks
sake I would have done It."
mo" Bud burst forth, "for your
guilty conscIence's sake! il would
have been to pay for stepping into
: Dicks place in the heart OF n faithless
girl. Keep your Job. I'm through
with you"
And, leaping on his horse, Bud rode
furiously back 20 rejoin Buck Mckee
IN Florence
Jack Payson's purpose was now
cinched to suppress Dick Lanes letter
until Echo Allen was irrevocably
Joined to him in marriage. lie argued
with himself that she loved him, Jack
Payson, yet so loyal was she by ma
ture that n Dick Lane returned before
the wedding and claimed her she
would sacrifice her love TO her sense of
duty. This would ruin her life, he
reasoned, and he could not permit IT,
There was honesty I'm this argument.
but he yltiated II by deferring TO act
upon the suggestion that naturally
arose with Il: Why, then, not take Jim
Allen, Echo's father, TO whom her hap
pines5 was the chief purpose in life,
Into confidence I'm regard 10 the mat
terY There Will be time enough 90 tell
tho 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 youvg
ranchman had already secured two ex-
tensions OF IL for three months each.
He now arranged n third and began
negotiating for the sale OF some Of bis
cattle to take up the note at the next
time Of payment. 81 can't take the
money from Dick" lac thought "even
II he does owe Il TO me, and yet n I
refuse II II VIII be like buying Echo
paying for stepping into Dicks place.
as Bud expressed IT, What to do 7
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 sec Echo and 10 sound her
upon her feelings toward Dick Lane
He wished thoroughly to convince him.
self that he, Jack Peyson. held com