The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-01-27


evil appearance of his face. Seeing
Buck helpless. he snatched the gun
from his hand Then he turned his
victim over so he could reach the
pocket of his waistcoat. With the
blood stained knife he ripped open the
cloth and extracted roll Of paper and
money. Peruna was kneeling beside
the body of his former friend when q
voice dra wled:
Drop that knife.'
Peruna jumped up. with grunt Of
dismay, to see Slim Hoover sitting ON
horseback. with his revolver held up
right. ready for use.
Peruna hesitated. drop it." ordered
Slim sharply. slightly lowering the gun.
Peruna tossed away the knife. with a
snarl.
'I'll take care of your friends bun
die an the papers an money you
took from his pocket. Drop them.
didn't figure on gettin' back to Bust
ness as soon as l got home. but you
never can tell, can you"
The last remark was addressed to
his deputy, Timber Virgins, who had
joined him.
'This here's Timber Virgins, dep
uty sheriff of Pinal county" explained
Slim for Peruna's enlightenment.
'Mr. Virgins. will you take care Of
this friend of mine?' continued the
sheriff, glancing from Peruna, who
looked at him stolidly, to Virgins 81
reckon he's been doin' somethin'
naughty"
The two men dismounted. keeping
the outlaw covered and watching his
every glance.
Anything to oblige," replied Wig
gins, who had solemnly entered with
Slim into his assumed formality.
Virgins stepped behind Peruna and,
reaching forward removed Bucks gun
from the outlaws holster, which had
been empty since Buck, earlier in the
day, had taken his revolver after he
had insulted Echo.
Anything to oblige," said Virgins
to Slim. Then to Peruna he command
ed: Lets take walk. You first. I'm
nOteu Ter my pOllteneSS.
"You might tie him up some," sug-
gested Slim.
II sure WILL" answered the deputy
as he marched his prisoner toward the
corral
Slim fastened to the side of the fall
Ell man and turped him over on his
back to get glimpse of Peruna's vic
tim. He saw that Buck was still
breathing, although MORALLY wounded.
the blood gushing from his mouth.
Mckee recognized the sheriff. Hell
10! When did you git back?' he asked
"Jes' now. Is this your money!"
said Slim, holding the role in front of
McKee's eyes.
mo; it's yOur'n-part Nv what took
from ole Man Terrill. The idee Nv not
recognizin' yer own property" Nc
Kee grinned at his joke on the sheriff
Il held the old man up. an that's all
there is to it,
''Who was with you?" asked Slim
''There was two"
Mckee was silent.
haZarded Slim.
Mo- began Buck. but Slim inter-
rupted him.
He was with you that night. He
come to the weddin' with you. 1t amt
no use in denyin' it. I've been thinkin
it all out. l was fooled by Jacks pacin'
boss You an Bud
Here Mckee interrupted with sol
emn denial. Whether from a desire to
foil the sheriff. whom he knew was
Buds rival in love and so thought him
the young mans enemy. or from the
benevolent spirit induced by the recent
contemplation of his virtues, Mckee
was impelled to give an account of the
murder which very convincingly indi-
Gated bud as a protesting catspaw
rather than consenting accomplice.
At the end of the story he smiled
grimly:
$50 while you wuz out Nv the county
on viii goose chase after an inherent