The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-14
VINO u the misfortunate?" asked
Sagebrush as they gathered about
Hoover and listened intently.


his fellow citizens. Far from courts
of justice and surrounded by men to
whom death was often merely an in
cident in career of crime, the set
tiers were forced TO depend upon
themselves to Keep peace ON the bor-
der. They acted quickly, but never
hastily. Judgment followed quickly
on conviction. Their views were
broad, and rarely were their decisions
wrong.
"'Ole Man Terrill," replied the
sheriff. Happened about 10 this
mornin'. Some man caught him alone
in the railroad station an blowed his
head half off"
DO tell.' was Aliens exclamation.
Yep" continued the sheriff. HE
must have pulled gun on the fellow.
He put up some sort of a fight, as the
room is some mussed up"
Robbery" queried Polly. with wide
open eyes.
That's what" answered Slim. turn
ing to her. HE had three thousan'
money for salaries. You know how he
toted his wad around with him. defy
in man or the devil to get it away from
him? Well. some one who was both
man an devil was too much for him."
'Who found him?"
II did myself. Went over around
noon after the money. Didn't stop to
go back to town fer posse. Trail
was already too cold Could tell it
was man that rode Il pacin' horse"
His auditors looked at each other.
striving to remember who of their ac-
quaintance rode pacing horse. Sage
brush Charley shook his head. NO
body down this way. 'ceptin', of
course, the boss. rides a PAGER. Must
be one of the Lazy X outfit. l reckon"
Most likely" said the sheriff. HE
struck out south. probably to throw
me off scent Then he fell in with two
other men, an this balled me up. |
lost one Of the tracks, but fOllered the
other two round Sweetwater mesa till
| come where they rode into the riv-
er. OF course | couldn't foller the
trail any farther at that pint. so. bein'
as was near Uncle Jim's. rode over
fer help to look along both banks an
pick up the trail wherever it comes
out of the river. Sorry | must break
up yer fun. boys, but some o you
must come along with me. Duty's
duty. | want Sagebrush anyhow, as |
s'pOse l can't ask fer Jack PaysOn."
Sagebrush pulled a long face. At
any other time he would have jumped
at the chance of running to earth the
dastardly murderers of his old friend
Terrill. But in the matter of this his
first experience of wedding, he had
tickled his palate so long with the
sweets of anticipation that he could
not bear to forego the eliminating
swallow of realization.
Il don't see why l shouldn't be let
off as well as Jack he grumbled.
"Our cases is similar You see. it's
my first wsddin'," explained the fore
man to the sheriff
The other cowboys howled with de-
light. The humOr of the situation
caught their fancy, and they yelled
chorus of prOteStation in HOover's
ears In this Colonel Allen joined.
Don't Spite the weddin," he plead
ed This here event has already
rounded up the Sweetwater outfit fer
you an saved you more time than
you'll lose by waitin' till it's over.
Then Wen all jine you
Hoover commanded silence and, roll
ing Il cigarette, gravely considered the
proposition. He realized that the MUIR
derers should be followed up at once,
but that if he forced the cowboys by
the legal power he exercised to fore
go the pleasure they had been antici-
pating SO greatly they would not be
so keen in pursuit as if they had first
considerations being equal, or, as he
put it, boss an hoss,' it seemed to
him wise to submit to Aliens PROPOSE
ton, backed, as it was, by the justice
Of his plan that the occasion of the
wedding had already saved valuable
time in assembling the posse. He as
scented, therefore. but, to maintain the
dignity of his office and control Of
the situation. with apparent reluc-
lance.
"Well, hurry up the sacreements an
ceremonies, then, an the minute the
preacher ties the knot every man Of
you but Jack an the parson an Uncle
Jim gifts on his boss an follers me.
I'll wait out in the corral"
At this there was another storm of
expostulation, led this time by Allen.
Of course Hoover was to come to the
wedding and be its guest Of honor.
you shall be the first to wish Jack
an Echo luck" said Allen. THAT
means you'll be the next one to mar
ry."
The ruddy faced sheriff blushed to
the roots Of his auburn hair.
Much obliged. but | amt fixed up