The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-20

the marriage bond" were the words
that fell upon Aliens ears as he stoop-
ed to look in the window at the wed
ding party.
1.-THE sky pilots takin' long time
to make the hitch. Darned If
couldn't hitch up twenty mule team
In the time that he's takin' to get them
two to the POLE" said Allen. speaking
to himself.
Dick had grown impatient at Jacks
absence and wandered back from the
garden to the front Of the house. Spy
ing Allen, he greeted him with. Hello.
Uncle jim
That's my name," answered Allen
suspiciously, "but amt uncle to every
stranger that comes along"
"I'm no stranger" laughed Dick.
"You know me-"
"Do II" replied Allen unconvinced.
who are you?"
1.-THE poor orphan you took from an
asylum and made a man of-Dick
Lane"
"Dick Lanev' repeated the astonished
ranchman. Come back from the dead!'
mo; I'm not dead yet" answered
Dick, holding out his hand, which Al
len gingerly grasped as If he expected
to find it thin air. 81 wasn't killed. l
have been in the hospital for a long
time l wrote Jack. He knows"
"My God"' Allen cried. Jack
knows-you wrote to him-he knows
Over and over he repeated the aston
ishing news which had been broken to
him so suddenly. Here was a man,
as If back from the dead, standing In
his own dooryard. telling him that
Jack knew he was alive. No word
had been told him. What would Echo
say? This, then. explained Jacks
strange request and his distress.
"And EchoY' Dick questioned, glanc-
ing toward the house.
Echo" The name aroused Allen.
He saw at once that he must act def
initely and quickly. Echo must not
see Dick now. 1t was too late. The
secret Of his return on the wedding
day must be known only to the three
men.
look here Dick" he commanded.
"You mustn't let her see you. She
mustn't know you are alive" >
Dick was growing confused over the
mystery which was being thrown
about Echo Allen. First Jack had
told him he must wait to see her. and
now her father tells him he must never
see her again or let her know that he
is alive. His strength was being over
taxed by all this evasion and delay.
''Dick," said Allen. with deep SYM
pathy. laying his hand upon the mans
shoulder. shes my daughter. an I
want her life to be happy. Can't you
see? Don't you understand? She
thinks you're dead"
what are you saying?" cried Dick,
trying to fathom the riddle.
you've come back too late, Dick"
sadly explained Allen.
"TOo later" echoed Dick. There's
something back Of all this. I'll see
her now"
He started to enter the door. but
Alien restrained him. You can't go
;n:' he shouted to the excited man and
pushed him down the steps. 1t was
an easy task for him. fC.' Dick was too
weak to offer much resistance mo,
you won't" he gently told him. His
heart bled for the poor fellow. whom
he loved almost as a son. but Echo's
happiness was at stake. and eXplana-
tons could come later More to en-
phasize his earnestness han to indi-
cate intention to shoot, he laid his
hand on the butt Of his revolver. say
ing, Not If l have to kill you"
Dick began to realize that whatever
was wrong was of the greatest conse-
quence. 1t was shock to him to have
his oldest, his best friend in the west
treat him in this fashion.
Jim" he cried in his anguish.
you've got to go back where you
come from, Dick" sternly answered
the ranchman. IF ever you loved my
daughter. now's your chance to prove
it. She must never know you're liv-
in'''-
But.
"It's a whole lot I'm askin' Of you
Dick" continued Allen. But if you
love her, as think you do. it may be
a drop of comfort in your heart to
know that by dom this great thing fel
her you'll be maxim her life better an
happier"
81 do love her." cried Dick passion
ately, "but there must be some reason
Tell me-"
| Allen held up his hand to warn Dick
| to be silent. He beckOned him to fol
| low him. Slowly he led him to the
door and, partly opening it. motioned
him to listen.
"Forasmuch as John Payson ani
Echo Allen have consented together II
holy wedlock," were the words that
fell upon his ears.
AS the doomed man stands motion
less before his judges and hears bill
death sentence read without tremor
ofttimes thinking Of some trife, 81
/ Dick stood for q moment. At first ht