Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-04-28

down in the excitement with his re-
volver in his hand. Polly kept call
ing on both Of the men not to shoot.
Let him alone.' shouted Slim ex-
citedly. LET him alone, Miss Polly.
He's only four flushin', an l amt gun
shy"
"Now, look here, sonny" he cried
to Bud. IF that squirt gun Of yours
goes off an hits me an l find it out
well, reckon I'll have to spank you"
Bud tried to break away from Polly,
begging her to ''let CO."
The girl laid her hands on his Shout
der, gazing pleadingly into his flushed
face. Don't, don't!' she cried. Its
all right. Slim knows all about it. He
knows l love you, an he wouldn't
hurt any one that 1 love. Would you,
SlirnP''
Polly smiled at the sheriff, complete
Iy disarming him.
Showing his gun back into the holster,
Slim grinned and said, II reckon l
wouldn't"
We've been engaged fer ever so
long now, waitin' fer Bud to get rich
an now-an' now it's come" Her
face radiated her happiness. Bud
showed his alarm, motioning her to be
silent, but Polly ratified on, Buds
been savin' an savin' till he's got
over a thousand dollars, an - Slim
could not contain his Indignation at the
deception practiced on the girl by the
boy.
"You derned thiefr' he shouted.
Then he stopped, plainly showing his
annoyance at his lack Of self repres-
sion.
Buds hand dropped to his gun.
"You"- he began, but Polly stopped
him with gesture, looking from one
to the other Of the men, dazed and
frightened.
"a thief? Bud a thief? What does
it mean? Tell me" she gasped. Turn
ing to Bud, she demanded, bud, you
heard what he said?"
Dropping his head, fearing to look at
either Of them, he muttered sullenly.
'He lied"
Slim checked his first betrayal of his
anger and kept himself well in hand.
ooh, Slim" pleaded Polly, "say you
didn't mean it."
Simply and sadly Slim answered: 81
didn't reckon as how I'm some jeal-
Gus, an'-an'-I lied"
His voice dropped, and he turned
aside, stepping away from the young
couple.
Polly was still in doubt. Sims &C
CT
this big hearted, brave sheriff to ac-
cuse a 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. 1t
was all my fault l didn't know that
YOU
Slim held up his hand to silence her
wouldn't you mind leavin' us to-
gether a bit?' he requested. In answer
to Pollys frightened glance he con-
tinued: '"There amt goin' to be nc
trouble, only-me an him's got little
business to talk over. Amt we, Bud
'eh?"
Slim led Polly toward the corral
glancing at Bud over his shoulder will
a reassuring smile. Just you step out
yonder bit an watt" he said to Polly
Now, you WON'T
Cant you trust me any more?" he
asked sincerely.
Grasping him by the hand, she looked
him fairly and fearlessly in the eyes
saying: II do trust you. l trust yor
l. BOTH"
AS the girl strobe out of earsho
Slim absentmindedly kept shaking the
hand she had held. Awakening sud
denly to the fact that his hand was
empty, he looked at it curiously an(
sighed. Turning quickly, he slapped
his hat on his head, hitched up hi:
chaps and stepped up to Bud, wh'
stood with sheer on his lips.
$50 you're the man that Polly loves,
: loves q thief"
Bud turned on him fiercely, DRAWN,
his gun. Take carev' he warned.
you won't shoot. If you meant t,
:, shoot you'd e. done it long ago, whe,
you pulled your guny' exclaimed slim
II coolly
: 81 might do it now" Bud held hi
gun against Sims breast.
= Slim threw up his hands to shoy
he was not afraid Of the boy. &c
- ahead. Squeeze your hardware.
= reckon I'm big enough to KILL" he sale
y Then he took Buds hand and gentl
8, slid the revolver back into the holster
The action broke down Buds bravad(
- All barriers fell before the simple az
ton "It's all up with me-" "he sal
.. brokenly.
}" Slim sympathized with the boy
his trouble.
"Buck he told me- Buck he lowe
you had your share Of that money
he explained.
The boy drew the money from b
pocket and handed it to Slim, remarl
ing: "Here it is-an Of 1t. new,
8. touched it. was GOING Bud ws