Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-02-17
CONTINUED FROM PAaB THREE
I'm throL

girl. Keep your job. I'm throa>
With you
And, leaping on his horse, Bud rode
furiously back to rejoin Buck Mckee
in Florence.
Jack Payson's purpose was now
einched to suppress Dick Lanes letter
until Echo Allen was irreyocably
Joined to him in marriage. He argued
with himself that she loved him, Jack
dnyson, yet SO loyal was she by ma
tRre that if Dick Lane returned before
the wedding and claimed her she
would sacrifice her love to her sense Of
duty. This woald ruin her life, he
reasoned, and he could not permit it.
There was honesty i'll this argument,
hat he Initiated 1t by deferring to act
upon the suggestion that naturally
arose with it: Why, then, not take Jim
Allen, Echo's father, to whom her hap
piness was the chief purpose in life,
into confidence in regard to the mat
ter? There will be time enough to tell
the colonel before the wedding he
thought. In the meantime something
might happen to Dick, and he may
never return. He is certain not to get
back ahead of his money.
After the time that the note secured
by the mortgage fell due the young
ranchman had already secured two ex-
tensions OF it for three months each.
Tie now arranged. a third and began
negotiating for the sale OF some of his
cattle TO take up the note at the next
time of payment. Il can't take the
money from Dick" he thought, '"even
If he does owe it to me, and yet if
refuse it it will be like buying Echo
paying for stepping into Dicks place.
as Bud expressed it. What to do
don't know. Well, events will decide"
And by this favorite reelection Of the
moral coward Jack Payson marked the
lowest depths Of his degradation.
Shat afternoon Payson rode to Allen
Hacienda to see Echo and to sound her
upon her feelings toward Dick Lane.
He wished thoroughly to convince him.
self that he. Jack Payson, held COM
TEST and fu1hl the trust his friend haG
imposed on him by giving her Dicks
Letter.
Paysor. overlook Polly riding slowly
On her Way home from Florence. She
barely greeted him. Has che me-
Bad, and has he been starring meg
Ae thought. He checked his pacing
horse to the half trot, half walk, o.
Rolly's mount and, ignoring her in
ciyility, began talking to her.
IT,,
Yep. Couldn't help it. Him an
Buck Mckee are about the whole O.
Florence these days"
100 bad about Bud conserving with
that rustler. I've had to fire him fOl
It,"
Fire him? Well you are a good
friend. Talk about mems loyalty! L
women threw men down that cas-!
you all would go to the bewwows tot
fast for us to make dog biscuit. Now
I've settled Buck McKee's hash b.
Puttin' Slim Hoover wise to tina
tongue slittin' Oh, I'll bring But
around, all right, all right even i
Hen that ought 10 be his friends 6,
back on him"
But, Pollykins"-
Don't you grille me, Jack Payson
1'm woman, an Pm goin' to be {
married one, TOO. in spite Of all you d.
to Bud. Yes. Stree, bob! I've set on
10 make a man OF him. an I'll MARI.
him to do it If he amt dollar to hi
name. But money ID make it lot
quicker an easier. He was savin
up till he run in with Buck Mckee"
A sudden thought struck Payson
Here was way to dispose Of Dicl
Lanes money when it came
~All right, Mrs. Bud Lane to be
Promise not to tell Bud, and through
you III soon make good to him man,
times over the foreman's wages he'
lost. It's money that's coming from
an enterprise that his brother and
were partners In, and Bud shall hav
Bfck's share. Hes sore on me now
aad l can't tell him. Besides, he,
gamble ii away before he got it t
Buck Mckee. Bud isn't strictly ethic
al in regard to money matters, Polly
and you must manage the excheQuer."
Gee, what funny big words you us,
Jack! But / know what you mean
he's too free handed. Well, he'll b
savin' as a trade rat until we get GU
home paid for. An I'll manage til
checker business when we're married
No more poker an keno for But
Thank you, Jack. / always knew yo
was square"
I'oily's sincere praise of his "squar
ness' was the sharpest thrust possib
at Payson's guilty conscience. Wei
he resolved to come as near bein
square and level as he could. He ha
told half truths to Bud and Polly;
would present the situation to Echo 4
q possible though not actual one.
Polly were wrong and Echo loved hi
20 much that she would break tt
word she pledged to Dick Lane, the
r. he would confess all. and they woul
do what could be done to make it rigl
with the discarded lover
Echo, observing from the windo