The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-28
"Nho Is itf. he insisted.

Won tCiI you
.'Mcbbe it's Jest as wei. too" as
sented Sill. Il don't think I'd feel
any too friendly toward him.
Slim moved toward the wagon. The
action was purely Involuntary. but 1t
frightened Polly so much that she
cried aloud.
Slim grasped at once the reason for
her fear. us. the Teller in that wag-
on?'' he shouted.
"You wouldn't do him any harm.
would you?" cried Polly.
as he in that wagon?" Slim repeat
ed angrily.
Polly caught hold IF his arm.
What's he hidin' forY he demand
ed.
Slim pulled his gun and covered the
opening. "Come out. you coward he
shouted. Polly caught Slim by the
right wrist so he could not fire.
Bud leaped from the wagon. draw
ing his gun as he did so. You shan't
tall me coward" he shouted to Slim.
Polly ran behind Bud and, reaching
her arms about his waist, held down
his hands, depressing the muzzle Of
his revolver. Slim danced up and
down in the excitement with his re-
volver in his hand. Polly kept call
ing on both of the men not to shoot.
Let him alOnew shouted Slim ex-
citedly. Let him alone, Miss Polly.
He's only four flushin', an / amt gun
shy"
Now, look here, sonny" he cried
to Bud, IF that squirt gun of yours
goes off an hits me an l find it out
well. l reckon I'll have to spank you"
Bud tried to break away from Polly,
begging her to "let CO."
The girl laid her hands on his Shout
der, gazing pleadingly into his flushed
face. Don't, dOn'tr' she cried. Its
ali right. Slim knows all about it. He
knows l love you, an he wouldn't
hurt any one that 1 love. Would you,
Slim?"
Polly smiled at the sheriff. complete,
!y disarming him.
Showing his gun back into the holster
Slim grinned and said. Il reckon l
wouldn't"
We've been engaged fer ever so
long now. waitin' fer Bud to get rich.
an now-an' now it's come" Her
face radiated her happiness. Bud
showed his alarm. motioning her to be
silent. but Polly ratified on. Buds
been savin' an savin' till he's got
over thousand dollars. an - Slim
could not contain his Indignation at the
deception practiced on the girl by the
boy
You derned thief he shouted.
Then he stopped. plainly showing his
annoyance at his lack of self repres
sion.
Buds hand dropped to his gun.
"You"- he began, but Polly stopped
him with gesture, looking from one
to the other Of the men. dazed and
frightened.
"a thief? Bud a thief? What does
1t mean? Tell met" she gasped. Turn
ing to Bud. she demanded. Bud. you
heard what he said?''
Dropping his head, fearing to look at
either Of them, he muttered sullenly.
"He lied"
Slim checked his first betrayal Of his
anger and kept himself we'll in hand.
"Oh, SLIM" pleaded Polly. "say you
didn't mean it."
Simply and sadly Slim answered: 81
didn't. l reckon as how I'm some jeal-
Gus. an'-an'-I lied
His voice dropped, and he turned
aside stepping away from the young
couple
Polly was still in doubt. Sims ac-
lions were SO strange. 1t was not like
this big hearted. brave sheriff to ac-
cuse man of stealing without being
sure of his charges. Then Sims &C.
cusing himself of lying was entirely at
variance with his character. Pm sor-
ry," she said. please forgive me. It
was all my fault. l didn't know that
you
Slim held up his hand to silence her.
Wouldn't you mind leavin' us to
gether bit?" he requested. In answer
to Polly's frightened glance he con-
tinued: There amt goin' to be no
trouble, only-me an him's got little
business to talk over. Amt we. Bud,
eh?"
Slim led Polly toward the corral,
glancing at Bud over his shoulder with
reassuring smile. Just you step out
yonder bit an wait" he said to Polly.
'NOw. you WON'T
Cant sou trust me any more? he
asked sincerely.
Grasping him by the hand. she looked
him fairly and fearlessly in the eyes.
saying: Il do trust you. l trust you
both"
AS the girl strobe out of earshOt
Slim absentmindedly kept shaking the
hand she had held. Awakening sud-
denly to the fact that his hand was
empty, he looked at it curiously and
sighed. Turning quickly. he slapped
his hat on his head, hitched up his
chaps and stepped up to Bud, who
stood with a sheer on his lips.
$50 you're the man that Polly loves"