West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-04-01

we'll, reckon I'll have 20 spank YOU"
Bud tried 10 break away from Polly.
begging her TO "let go"
The girl laid her hands on his shoul
der, gazing pleadingly into his fushel 4
face. Don't. donty' she cried. ITS
all right. Slim knows all about st. He
knows love you. an lac wouldn't
hurt any one that love Would YOU.
Slimy"
Polly smiled at the sheriff. complete.
ly disarming him.
Showing his gun back int he holster.
Slim grinned and said. reckon |
wouldn't"
We've been engaged Ter ever SO
long now, waitin' fer Bud to get rich.
an now-an' now it's come" Her
face radiatcd her happiness. BUD
showed his alarm. motiouing her To bc
silent, but Polly ilttled ON. Buds
been saVin' an Vim till he's got
over thousand liars. am Slim
could not contain - Indignation ut the
deception practi, q on the girl by the
boy.
You derned thiefw he shouted
Then he stopped, plainly showing his
annoyance at his lack OF self repres
sion.
Buds hand dropped 60 his gun
"Hou"- he began, but Polly stopped
him with gesture, looking from one
10 the other OF the men. dazed and
frightened.
"A thief2 Bud n thief2 What does
II mean2 Tell me" she gasped Turn.
ing TO Bud. she demanded. Bud, You
heard what he saidT"
Dropping his head, fearing To look nj
either OF them. lie muttered sullcnly
HE lied"
Slim checked his first betrayal OF his
anger and kept himself well I'm hand.
"oh, SLIM" pleaded Polly. "say you
didn't mean It,"
Simply and sadly slim answered: 81
didn't ] reckon as how I'm some jenl
Gus, an'-an'-I lied"
His voice dropped, ana he turned
aside, stepping away from the young
| couple
Polly was still In doubt. Sims ac-
tions were so strange il was not like
this big hearted. brave sheriff to ac-
cuse man OF stealing without being
sure of his charges. Then Sims ac-
cusing himself Of lying was entirely at
variance with his character. I'm sor.
ry." she said. please forgive me. II
was all my fault. didn't know that
you
Slim held up his hand TO silence her
Wouldn't YOU mind leavin' MS TO.
gether blt?' 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
| ehT'
Slim led Polly toward the corral
! glancing at Bud over his shoulder with
n reassurlng smile "Just you step out
yondcr a bit an wait" he said TO Polly
Now, you WON'T
Cant you trust me any moref" he
asked sincerely.
Grasping him by the hand, she looked
him fairly and fearlessly in the eyes,
saying: II do trust you. / trust you
| both"
AS the girl strode 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 II curiously and
sighed. Turning quickly. he slapped
his hat on his head, hltched up his
| chaps and stepped up TO Bud, who
stood with sneer on his lips.
80 you're the man that Polly loves" "
he said shes good girl, an she
loves n thief"
Bud turned on him hercely, drawing
his gun. Take carew he warned.
You won't shoot. If you meant 10
shoot you'd "a dore II long ago. when
you pulled your gunw exclaimed Slim
coolly.
IL might do It now" Bud held his
gun against Sims breast.
Slim threw up his hands TO show
he was not afraid Of the boy. "Go
ahead. Squeeze your hardware. I
reckon I'm big enough TO kill" he said.
Then he took Buds hand and gently
slid the revolver back into the holster.
| The action broke down Buds bravado.
All barriers fell before the simple nc.
tion. ITS all mp with me-" he said
brokenly.
Slim sympathized with the boy I'm
| his trouble.
Buck he told me. Buck he lowed
you had your share OF that money"
he explained
The boy drew the money from his
pocket and handed It 10 slim. remark.
Ing: Here It is-all OF II. never
touched It. I was going"- Bud was
about to lie again. but nc realized the
futillty Of more falsehoods "Take g."
he added
Slim counted the money and slipped
II into his pocket.
Bud" h. said 70 that young man.
me an yOu have been pretty good
friends, we have. learned you how
70 ride. 10 throw rope, an' Bud-Bud