Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-02-24
kPAcE 8
coNTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

admired. w heh Lyman, the Oiu IoEe-
man Of the SweetWater, resigned, Jack
Payson promoted Sagebrush, although
next to Bud Lane he was at the time
the youngest man in the outfit. He
made his employers interests his own.
At the mention of PaysOn's name he al
ways became attentive. With shade
Of anxiety ne awaited Aliens answer.
s'No," replied the ranchman, looking
from one of his guests to the other.
"Why, he started three hours ahead
OF us!' explained Parenthesis.
With challenging note in his tones,
as If his word was disputed, the host
answered, "Well. be amt showed up"
The little group had become silent.
Arizona was in period of unrest.
Rumors of another Apache uprising
were growing stronger each day. Then
Payson was successful and therefore
despised by less fortunate men ever
eager for quarrel.
After a moments thought Sage
brush brushed aside his fears and
frightened up his comrades with the
remark: "Mebbe he rid over to Flor
SANS Sldtloh ~ SCt DIScCht Lol uioS
Echo. He said sH0ethin' about get
tin an artickle from Kansas City"
"Mebbe so.'' agreed Allen, eager to
cast out any fOrebodings. Its time"
he continued, 'he wu2 turnin' up il
this weddin's to be pulled OFF by the
clock"
"Has the sky pilot got here yet?"
asked Sagebrush.
"No," replied Allen. Hes started,
though. There's one thing sartin-we
can't tighten up the cinches till the
bridegroom gifts here"
The absence of Jack Payson and the
failure of the minister to arrive arous-
ed the suspicious Of Sagebrush. Com
ing closer to Allen, he smiled know
ingly and, speaking in a confidential
tone, asked:
Say. Jim, they amt fggerin' on git
tin away on the sly-lile, are they?
Show Low interrupted with the ex-
PLANTATION, you see. we're gOin' to dec
crate the wagon some"
The suggestion that any one con-
nected with Allen Hacienda would
ride in anything on wheels except the
driver Of the chuck wagon on the
roundup aroused the Indignation Of
the old cattleman. For him the only
use to which wheeled vehicle drawn
by horse should be put was to haul
materials that could not be packed on
a horse.
They amt usin' any wagon!' he
fairly shouted. They're goin' away
in the leather."
The idea of carrying out tie tradi-
lions of the horse in Final county even
to wedding journey tickled the boys
Immensely.
Slapping ono another on the back
aud nodding their heads in approba-
ton, they shouted: That's the ticket.
Hoorayr'
''This amt no New York idea. where
the bride an groom hits the life trail
in hired hackr' cried Fresno.
Aliens feelings apparently were not
yet fully soothed. Turning to Sage
brush, he said: wheels don't go in my
family. Why, her ma an me were
married on hossback. The preacher
had to make a hurry job of it, but il
took"
Hush, now" was PareRthesis' awed
comment
For her pop was a-chasin' us an
kept it up for twenty miles after the
parson said Amen"
''Did he ketch your asked Fresno
with great seriousness.
''He sure did," answered Allen, with
twinkle in his eye, FAN thanked me
for takin' Josephine off his hands"
The boys laughed. The joke was
upon themselves, as they had expect
ed to hear a romantic story Of earlier
days.
When the laughter had subsidized
Show Low suggested. "If we can't dec
crate the wagon, let's put some fixin's
on the ponies"
The proposal was received with moro
whOOps, shouting and yipping. They
waltzed about the smiling rancher.
That's whatr' cried Sagebrush en-
Enthusiastically.
Allen grew sarcastic remarking, "a
reckon you al must have stopped some
time at the water tank"
Renewed laughter greeted this sally
This is my first wcddin'," explained
Sagebrush rather apologetically.
II want to known exclaimed Allei
in surprise.
I'm tellin' you. never seed a wed
din in all my life,' replied Sagebrush
as seriously as IL he was denying
false accusation Of a serious crime
Mother used to tell me about her'n
an / often wisht ha;7 Zen there
Fresno shouted with amusement. Ell
had Sagebrush ratified The coolies
man on the range was fiustered by tb
mere thought of attending weddin
ceremony.
He's plum locoed over this one
Amt you, Sagebrush? he drawle
tauntingly.
Sagebrush took his gliding In the be-
"a 4.