Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-02-24

"An' probably projec5in hitch-up of
his own"
Slim ran around the corner Of the
house directly into the crowd, who
seized him before he could recover
from his surprise and proceeded to
haze him, to their intense delight and
the sheriff's embarrassment, for he
knew that Polly was somewhere near
enjoying his discontinue. Polly wait
ed until her victim was fully ready for
her particular form of torture. The
to her refined form Of making the fat
sheriff uncomfortable.
With the velvety cruelty of flirt
she held out her hand, saying, "Hello,
Slim"
The sheriff flushed under his tan.
The red crept up the back Of his neck
to his ears. He awkwardly took off
his hat With bow and scrape be
greeted her, 'HowGy, Miss Polly, how
dy" Meantime he shook her hand
until she WINGED from the heartiness
Of the grip.
whats the news?' she asked as
she slowly Strengthened out her fin
gers one by on&
There's been KILN over Flor
ence way" announced the sheriff, put
ting ON his hat and becoming an Off
Ger of the law with duty to perform.
"Who is the misfortunate? asked
Sagebrush as they gathered about
Hoover and listened intenuy.
Murder in Arizona was serious
matter until punishment was melted
out to the slayer or he was freed by
his fellow citizens. Far from courts
Of justice and surrounded by men to
whom death was often merely an in
cident in a career of crime, the set
tiers were forced to. depend upon
i, themselves to keep peace on the bor-
der. They acted quickly. but never
hastily. Judgment followed quickly
on conviction. Their views were
broad, and rarely were their decisions
wrong.
"'Ole Man Terrill," replied the
| sheriff. Happened about 10 this
mornin'. Some man caught him alone
in the railroad station an bowed his
head half off"
''Do tell" was Aliens exclamation.
"Yep.". continued the sheriff. 'sHe
must have pulled a gun on the fellow
He put up some sort of fight, as the
room is some mussed up"
''Robbery?" queried Polly, with wide
open eyes.
That's what" answered Slim, turn:
ing to her. ''He had three thousan
dollars pinned in his vest, county
money for salaries. You know how he
toted his wad around with him. defy
in man Or the devil to get it away from
him? Well. some one who was botl
man an devil was too much for him
"Who found him?'
81 did myself. Went over around
noon after the money. Didn't stop t.
go back to town fer a posse. Trai
was already too Geld Could tell il
was man that rode a pacin' horse
His auditors looked at each other
striving to remember who of their ac
quaintance rode a pacing horse. Sage
brush Charley shook his head. 'Eo
body down this way, 'ceptin'. o.
course. the boss. rides a PAGER. Mus
be one of the Lazy X outfit. reckon
"Most likely" said the sheriff. "Ht
struck out south. probably to throw
me off scent. Then he fell In with TIVE
other men. an this balled me up.
lost one Of the tracks. but foilered thu
other two round Sweetwater mesa til
I come where they rode into the riv
er. OF course | couldn't foller th,
trail any farther at that pint, so. bein
as | was near Uncle Jim's. I rode oye1
fer help to look along both banks an
pick up the trail wherever it come:
out of the river. Sorry I must breal
up yer fun. boys, but some o. yo,
must come along with me. Duty
duty. I want Sa%ebrush anyhow. as
s'pose I can't ask fer Jack Payson."
Sagebrush pulled d long face. A
any other time he would have jumped
at the chance Of running to earth thu
dastardly murderers of his old frien(
Terrill. But in the matter of this hi
first experience Of wedding, he ha'
tickled his palate SO long with th
sweets of authorization that he coul,
not bear to forego the eliminating
swallow of realization
81 don't see why l shouldn't be lie
off as well as jack" he grumbled
'Our cases is similar.> You see. it
my first weddin'," explained the fore
man to the sheriff.
The other cowboys howled with de
light. The humor of the situation
caught their fancy, and they yelled
chorus of protestation in Hoover
ears. In this Colonel Allen joined.
Don't Spite the weddin'," he plead
ed. This here event has alread,
rounded UP the Sweetwater outfit fe
you an saved you more time tia
you'll lose by waitin till it's over
Then We'll all jine you"
Hoover commanded silence and, roll
ing cigarette, gravely considered tn
| At.