Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-02-12

htpl'Cu W AJlNh, anu
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.
negotiating for the sale of some of his
cattle to take up the note ut the next
time of payment II can't take the
money from Dick" he thought, 'even
if he does owe 1t to me, and yet If
refuse it 1t will be like buying Echo
paying for stepping into Dicks place.
as Bud expressed it. What to do l
don't know. Well, events will decide"
And by this favorite reflection Of the
moral coward Jack Payson marked the
lowest depths of his degradation.
That 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.
plete sway over her heart. Perhaps
he might dare to put her love to the
test and fulfill the trust his friend had
imposed on him by giving her Dicks
letter.
Payson overlook Polly riding slowly
OH her way home from Florence. She
barely greeted him. Has she met
Bud. and has he been slurring me?'
he thought He checked his pacing
horse to the half trot, half walk, OF
Polly's mount and, ignoring her in,
civility, began talking to her.
Did you see Bud in Elurence?"
Yep. Couldn't help it. Him an
Buck Mckee are about the whole OF
Florence these days"
TOO bad about Bud consorting with
that rustler. I've had to fire him fol
it,"
''Fire him? Well you are good
friend: Talk about mems loyalty! II
women threw men down that easy
you all would so to the bowwows toe
fast for us to make dog biscuit Now
I've settled Buck Mckee's hash by
putin Slim Hoover wise to that
tongue slittin'. Oh, I'll bring BUD
around, all right, all right, even il
men that ought to be his friends &C
back on him.
But, Pollykins"-
Don't you grille me, Jack Payson
I'm woman, an Pm goin' to be 9
married one, too, in spite of all you dc
to Bud. Yes. Stree, bob! I've set out
to make u man of him, an I'll marry
him to do it If he amt Il dollar to his
quicker an easier. He was savin
up till he run in with Buck Mckee"
A sudden thought struck Payson
Here was Il 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 I'll 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
We're partners In, and Bud shall hav,
Dicks share. He's sore on me now
and l can't tell him. Besides, he't
gamble 1t away before lie 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 use
Jack! But | know what you mean
he's too free handed. Well he'll o.
savin' as trade rat until we get on
home paid for. An I'll manage tn
checker business when we're married
No more poker an keno for Bud
Thank you, Jack. ! always knew yo
was square"
Polly's sincere praise of his square
ness was the sharpest thrust possibl
ut Paysons 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; b
would present the situation to Echo n
a possible though not actual one. |
Polly We're wrong and Echo loved hiI
so much that she would break tn
word she pledged to Dick Lane, the
he would confess all, and they woul
do what could be done to make it RICH
with the discarded lover
Echo. observing from the windo,
who was Polly's complnion, ran out t
Jack. with Il cry OF joy. He locke
meaningly ut Polly She said: "Ol
give me your bride. | know no,
many's II crowd" Jack leuped to til
ground and took Echo IN his arm.
while Polly rode OF with the uorSe
TO the corral singing Significantly:
Spoon. spoon, spoon.
While the dish ran away with the spoon.
Jack and Echo embraced Ulingingl
and kissed lingerinsly. 1T takes
crazy Cd song ike that to express ho,
foolish we lovers are. said Jacl
"Why. ! fee! that | could outlidGle til
cat ouijump the COW. uutlaugii the do
and start an elopement that woul
knock the performance of the tabl,
ware as silly as we'll. as am talkin
now. I'm living in IL dreanl--a mic
summer nights dream such as 70
were reading to me-"
THE lunltic. the lover and til
ncc. !" nI,.tel ~ sim%asiivelv