Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-05-18
NUMBER 20.

Il
Show Low TO Jim Allen.
you betv the ranchman agreed.
"Take a pianny an enough Winches-
ters an you can civilize the hull Of
China"
"Fresno could kill more with bis
pianny play than his gun play" sug.
gested Show Low.
Mrs. Allen bethought herself that
there was lot of work to be done In
preparation for the party. Even If ey-
erything vas ready the dear old soul
would find something to do or worry
| about.
"Come now, clear out Of here, the
hull kit an bilin' Of you!" she ordered.
The men hastily crowded out on the
piazza.
"Take that packin' case out Of sight
II you mean this pianny to be a sur
prise to Echo. She'll be trottin' back
here in no time" she added.
Fresno had fingered to assure jim:
"This here birthdays goin' to be q
success. Would you like another Sc
lection?" he eagerly asked.
"Not unless you wash your finger"
snapped Mrs. Allen, busy polishing the
keys Fresno had struck. "You left a
grease spot on every key you've touch
ed" she explained.
Fresno held up his finger for Aliens
inspection i've been greasin' the
| uyoo,,p ,..n. biS ayplonltiDn
"Get out with the rest Of them!' she
commanded. "Ive got enough to do to
| look after that cake" Mrs. Allen dart
| ed into the kitchen. Jim slowly lilled
his pipe and hunted up the most COM
| Portable chair After two or three
| trials he found one to suit him aud
sank back. with sign Of content.
Jack amt back yetT' Polly put the
| question.
"No; he rode over for the mail"
Polly rearranged the chairs In the
room, picking up and replacing the
articles on the table to suit her own ar
tistic conceptions She Strengthened
out q war bonnet on the wall. She
was flcking off spot Of dust on the
| gilt chair that Jack had got as a we'd
ding present for Echo on the day Of
the station agents murder, and, being
reminded OF the tragedy. she asked,
THAT posse didn't catch the parties
that killed Terrill, did theyT
"Not that hear on. Slim Hoover he
| took the boys that night an tried to
pick up the trail after 1t entered the
river. but they couldn't find where 1t
come out"
zone OF them fellers, the man that
left the station alone ard probably done
the job. rode n pacin' horse" answered
| Jim between puffs Of his pipe.
"Then he's n stranger to these parts.
Jacks pinto PAGES. It's his regular
gait. It's the only pacin hoss around
here"
That's So" he assented, but made
no further comment The full force OF
the observation did not strike him at
the time.
Polly began to pump Colonel Jim.
There were several recent happenings
which she iii Eot fully comprehend.
At the f. ivc are and girl. Sue
wanted :, ""w all that was going on.
Jacks myG actin mighty queer OF
late" she vcntured. like he's got
somethin' on his mind"
Jim smiled ut her simplicity and jok-
ingly replied, well. he's married"
The ret0rt eXasperated Polly She
was not meeting with the success she
desired "Do hush!' she cried I'm her
annoyance.
That's enough on any mans mind"
Jim laughed US he sauntered out Of the
door.
"Somethin' queer about jack" OBJ
served Polly. seating herself at the
table. "He amt been the same man
since the weddin'. He's all right when
Echos around, but when he thinks no
one is watchin him he sits around an
sighs."
Jack entered the room at this mo-
ment Absentmindedly he hung his
hat and spurs On Il rack and leaned his
rifle against the wall. sighing deeply as
he did so. So engrossed was he In his
thoughts that he did not notice Polly
until he reached the table. He started
IN surprise when he saw her. Hello,
Polly was his greeting. Where Is
Echo"
Polly rose hastily at the sound OF his
voice
Didn't you meet herr" she asked.
"We got her to ride over toward Tue
son this mornin' to get her out OF the
way SOS to snake the panny in with
out her seein' it," Polly glided over to
the instrument and touched the keys
softly.
With admiration Jack gazed at the
instrument.
~ came around by Florence" an
swered Jack, with a smile.
Eagerly Polly turned toward him.
"See anything Of Bud Lane" she
queried.
NO" Again Jack smiled, this time
at the girls impctuosity.
Hell lose his job with me II he
don't call more regular" she said.
Say. Jack, you amt fergettin' what
you promsed-to help Bud with the
money that you said was comm In
soon rs Dicks share Of speculation
you and him was pardners inf I'm
powerful anxious to get him away from
Mckee"
Jack had not forgotten the promise;
but. alas. under the goading OF Mrs.
Allen that he should clear of the mort
gage on his home, he had used DICK
Lanes money for this purpose. In
what a mesh of lies and broken prom
ises he was cntanrling himself! Now
he was forced further to deceive trust
ing little Polly IN the matter that was
dearest 10 her heart.
mo. Polly, but the fact is-that spec
ulation isn't turning out so well, after
all"
The disappointed girl turned sadly
laway and went out to Mrs. Allen In the
kitchen.
lack removed his belt and gun and
hung them on the rack by the door.
lSpying Echo's father at the corral. he
called to him to come into the house.
"uello. Jack! was Aliens greeting
as he entered, shaking the younger
mans hand.
| ayyhan did Won come OyerT'