Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-06-22

"A Romance ofAri
Novelized From Edmund Days 4

e9~~~~~~~~~V~~v
"Well. Wen see that the rope don't
break with you"
In all seriousness Peruna replied: 81
hope so. can't SWIM"
Polly, glancing down the valley, saw
Buck Mckee, with half dozen Of his
outfit, riding furiously to the rescue Of
| Peruna.
"Look out, boys; here comes Buck
Mckee now"' she shouted.
Unconsciously the men laid their
hands on their guns and assumed Of
fensive attitudes.
Allen cried sharply: Keep your
hands off your guns, boys. One bad
break means the starting Of lot Of
trouble"
Buck and his band threw themselves
off their horses, ranging themselves
water boys.
Staggering up to Sagebrush, the
half breed insolently demanded,
"Who's the boss Nv this here Payson
OUTFIT"
Z, 81 reckon you are talkin' to him
now," coolly replied the foreman.
you've got one NV my boys over
here" beloved Buck, adding with the
implied threat, IAN we've come fer
him"
sagebrush was not bluffed by Bucks
insolence or his staggering manners.
Il reckon you can't have him-nOt just
yet"
what's he been doin'?" demanded
Buck.
"He killed Billie Nicker-that's one
thing"
"Self defense" loftily replied Buck.
"He wuz 'tendin' to his own business
when yer two men come up an be-
gin pickin on him."
Bursting with anger, Parenthesis
strobe uD to Buck and shouted. HE
was brandin' one Of our yearlin's;
that's what his business was"
Sagebrush suggested in addition,
perhaps you mean that brandin' other
folks cattle is the reg'lar business Of
the Lazy X outfit"
Anything with hide an no mark is
Lazy X to you ALL" growled Show
Low.
You're goin' strong on reg'lar pro-
ceedin's. I see." said Buck to Sage
brush. "You amt sheriff nv this here
county, are you:"
"rhat's jest it. Somebody's got to
act sooner or later, an if there amt
no reglar lasv We'll go back to the old
times an make our own"
The Sweetwater outfit assented
unanimously TO Sagebrush's declara-
ton of freedom from outlaw rule In
the county.
/"YOu're q fine lot to set up as law
nbdin' citizens" sneered Buck.
"Wcrkin' fer a man that had to hop
the country to keep clear of the rope"
interjccted Peruna, who, heartened up
by the advent of Mckee, began pour
Ing oil OIL a smoldering fire.
Sagebrush turned savagely upon him.
"That'll do fer you"
Echo walked hastily to Sagebrush's
side. She felt her presence might help
to avoid the outbreak which she saw
could not long be avoided.
Peruna had lost control of tongue
and discretion by this time.
You'll never see him back in this
section agin. You all know where he
is-'cross the line IN old Mexico. Why,
she's tiXin' to make n cleanup now
an sell out an join himw
SagebruSh reached for his gun, but
Echo restrained him.
You he cried.
Buck turned angrily on Peruna.
"You keep yer mouth shet" he shout
ed.
Peruna subsidized at his boss COM
mand, mumbling, "There amt no fe-
male can pull the forelock over my
eyes"
Take care" warningly called Buck.
Peruna fired up again regardless of
consequences. "Why, see through
|~her game! She's glad to get rid of him
SOS she can play up to her ranch boss,
Handsome Charley there"
Buck had to act instantly to pre-
serve his supremacy over his men.
Before any Of the Sweetwater outfit
could reach Peruna's side or pull gun
to resent the insult Buck was on top Of
him. With blow full in the mouth he
knocked him sprawling. Echo had
seized Sagebrush's hand, preventing
him from firing. The other men moved
as If to kick Peruna as he lay pros
trate.
LET him alone. He's goin' to ask the
lady's pardonw snarled Buck, covering
him with Il gun.
"NO, I'll be- he began.
Buck bent over him. speaking In a
low tone, tensely and quickly. "Quick!
don't want to have to kill you. Don't
you see what I'm playin' fer?"
"He amt fit to livew shouted Show
Low.
Buck turned on the cowboy. 1t was
his fight, and he was going to handle
1t in his own fashion.
"Lemme handle this case" he inter-
rupted. "There hain't no man can trav-
ell in my outfit an insult woman. You
ask her pardon -@
right smart" ~