Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-04
"Snnot II uou 1rnnt To- ~

"SHOOt ~ you tCdHt tO!
fer two days II Hoover picks on me a.
one Nv the men he's been follerin'
You're safe. Nobody d put KILN any
body on to you, let alone yer OLE
frien Terrlll. Why, you amt mar
yet, Bud, though don't say 1t to dis
currudge you. You've made a start
an some day you won't think nc
more'n me Nv KILN feller what
STAINS In yer way. shouldn't be sc
turrlbly surprised If 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ing letter he had withdrawn from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 II" said
Bud. He opened it. "Why, It's from
Pollyw he exclaimed. "Its an invite
by God, It's an invite to Jack and
Echo's wedding! It's tomorrow! The
scoundrel has hurried the thing up fol
fear Dick will get back In time to stop
It. Buck Mckee, believe you're
right! could kill Jack PaysOn with
no more pity than / would n rattler OF
Gila monster"
At this exhibition of hatred by his
companion new thought flashed sud
denly through the Satanic mind OF the
half breed. 1t involved an entire
change Of his plans, but the devilisb
daring Of the cOncepti-n was irresisti
BILE.
"Say." he broke I'm. with seeming IT.
relevance, don't Payson ride a pacin'
mare?"
"Yes." answered Bud. "What Of IT,
"Oh. nothin'." said Mckee. ut jes'
struck me as sorter funny-Payson an
pacin', don't you see"-
Bud was mystified Had his COM
panion gone daft?
Mckee saw instantly that 1t would
be very easy to fix the charge OF MUIR
dering the station agent upon Payson.
The ranchman had evidently left the
station short time before the MUIR
der and had gone straight south to
the Sweetwater. Unless 1t had become
confused with their own tracks the
trail would be plain one owing TO
the fact that it was made by pacing
horse, and the pursuit would undoubt-
edly follow this.
Payson rode the only pacing horse
I'm the Sweetwater and Bar One out
fits, and it was certain to come to
light from Terrilps receipts that he
had been with the agent about the
time of the killing. The motive for
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: 1--WE changed
my mind. l think I'll see little fun
before l break fer Texas. I'll go with
you to the weddin'."
"But you have had no invite" OBJ
jected Bud.
"Oh, reckon they'll take me along
ON yers! / know too much fer Pay
son to objeck to me too strenuous"
They rode up to Allen Hacienda
shortly after Slim Hoover had arriv.
ed. They could hear the merriment
of the wedding guests in the kitchen.
Loud laughter was punctuated by the
popping of corks, and Mckee, who
rode in advance Of Bud, distinguished
the voice of the sheriff In expostula-
tion against the general raillery con
centrated upon him.
The half breed grinned wOlfshly. II
was evident that the bloodhound OF
the law had tracked the supposed MUIR
derer just as the real criminal had
coniectured and desired.
Polly ran out on the piazza. She
saw the man whom she regarded rs
her lovers evil genius. AS he greeted
her ingratlatingly, "Howdy. Miss Pol.
ly?" she replied sharply:
"YOu ain't got no invite to this wed
din"
81 come with my friend Bud" he ex.
planned, with an elaborate bow.
~ didn't see you, Bud" answered
Polly, slightly mollified, as she crossed
the dooryard to shake hands with her
sweetheart. Buck offered her his
hand. but she ignored him. Mckee
shrugged his shoulders and started for
the house.
bud, he's some cast down because
It's not his wcddin'," was McKee's
parting shot at the young couple. 81
low I'll go in an join the boys Ex
cusc me-"
with pleasure. coldly replied the
girl.