West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-01-28

J"'h hHNsoh can marry yer brother
Dicks gal ON Dicks money-fer there's
no hope NV stoppiu that now-you can
cut Slim out with Polly ON Sims sal.
airy. Aw, take the money" And Nc
kee pressed half Of the bills into BUDS
lax fingers
The young mans hand closed upon
them mechanically. \ vague thought
that he might some day make restitu-
ton conspircd with MCKees lnsidious
appeal TO his hatred and jealousy To
induce him To retain the blood money.
ana he thrust Il within an inside
pocket OF his loose wHistcoat.
Now" said Mckee. thoroughly sat
isfied that he had involved Bud in the
crime too deeply for him TO confess his
share I'm Il, wen shake hands an
say 'Adois. Slim Iloover's probably
on our track 10y this time. hut reck-
on he'll Ice some mixed In the trail
around the mesa an give the Job up
as bad one when he reaches the riv-
er I'll show up on the Lazy X. where
the whole outfit will swear I've been
Ipr two Gays II Hoover PICKS on me as
one NV the men he's been fullcrin'.
You're safe. Nobody d put KILN any
body on to you, let alone yer ole
fricn' Terrill why. you amt man
yet, Bud, though | don't say II 20 dis
currudge you. You've made a start.
an some day YOU won't think no
morcn me NV KILN "A fcllcr what
STAINS I'm yer way | shouldn't be so
turribly surprised If Jack Payson got
what's comm TO him some day. But
what have you got there. BudF' he in
quired ms he saw the young man hold
ing letter he had withdrawn from
HE pocket into which he had put the
bills
Letter l got In Florence yesterday
when | was too full To read It," said
Bud. He opened it "Why. it's from
Polly" ne exclaimed "Irs an invite
by cod It's an invite TO Jack and
Echos wedding! It's tomorrow, The
scoundrcl has hurried the thing up for
fear Dick viii get back I'm time to stop
Il, Buck Mckee. believe you're
right, | could kin Jack Payson with
no more pity than would rattlcr or
Gila monster"
At this exhibition Of hatred by his
companion new thought flashed sud
denly through the Satanic mind OF the
half breed. 1t involved an entire
change OF his plans. but the devilish
daring Of the conception was irresistI-
BILE
SAY" he broke I'm. with seeming ir-
relevance, don't Payson ride a pacin'
mareT
"Ycs," answered Bud "Whnt Of IT."
"Oh. nothin'," said Mckee. ut jos
struck me as sorter funny Payson an
pacin', don't you see"
Bud was mystifed Had his com
panlon gone daft?
Mckee saw instantly that r. would
be very easy TO fix the charge OF muir
dering the station agent upon Payson.
The ranchman had evidently left the
station a short time before the muir
der and had gone straight south to
the Sweetwater. Unless IL had become
confused with their own tracks the
trail would be plain one owing TO
the fact that It was made by pacing
horse. and the pursuit would undoubt-
edly follow this
Payson rode the only pacing horse
I'm the Swcetwater and Bar one out
fits, ana It was certain TO come 20
light from Terrllrs receipts that he
had been with the agent about the
time Of the killing The motive for
the robbery would be evident Pay
son was I'm need OF $1,000 to pay of
the mortgage on his ranch.
Mckee said to Bud eve changed
my mind. / think I'll see little fun
before | break fer Texas I'll go with
you 20 the weddln'"
but you have had no invite" OBJ
jccted Bud
"Oh ! reckon they u take me along
on ycrs. / know too much fer Pay
son TO objecS TO me too strenuous"
They rode up to Allen Hacienda
shortly after slim Hoover had arriv-
/ ed. They could hear the merrlment
Of the wedding guests IN the kitchen.
Loud laughter was punctuated by the
popping Of corks. and Mckee. who
rode in advance Of Bud distinguished
the voice Of the sheriff in expostula-
I tion against the general ralllcry con
ccntratcd upon him.
The half breed grinncd wOlhshly. II
WAS evident that the bloodhound Of
the law had tracked the supposed MUIR
dcror just as the real criminal had
/ coujocturcd and desired
Polly ran out ON the piazza She
saw the man whom she regarded as
her lovers cyil genius AS he greeted
her ingratlotInply "Uowdy. Miss Pol
lyf' she replied sharply.
You ain't got no invite to this wed
din"
81 como with my friend Bud he ex
plained, with au elaborate bow
~ didn't see you Bud" answered
Polly, slightly Modified as she crossed
the dooryard 60 shake hands with her
sweetheart. Buck offered her his
hand, but she ignored him Mckee
shrugged hls shoulders and started for
the house
bud. he's some cast down because
It's not his wcddin'" was McKee's
parting shot ot the young couple Il
low l1l go in am join the boys. Tx
cuse me"
with pleasure" coldly replied the
girl.
The half breed ignored the sarcasm.
ana. answering iHnOccntly. much
obliged" he entered the house.
Polly turned on Bud. displaying her
resentment you an him always kick
up the devil when you're together.
What did You bring him along ferT'
she demanded
IT'S his last chance TO see any fun
around here. He's leaving for Texas, "
explained Bud
"Fer how lonRf"
FOR good"
Fer our good, you mean. There's
too many OF his kind comm into this