Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-04-30

"Let him alonc!" shouted SLIM ercttcdly.
"You wouldn't do him any harm,
would your" cried Polly.
"Is he in that wagon?" Slim repeat
ed angrly.
Polly caught hold Of his arm.
"What's he hidin' forY he demand.
ed
Slim pulled his gun and covered the
opening. "Come out, you coward!' he
shouted. Polly caught Slim by the
right wrist so he could not fire.
Bud leaped from the wagon, draw
ing his gun as he did so. You shan't
call me coward!' he shouted to Slim.
Polly ran behind Bud and, reaching
her arms about his waist, held down
his hands, depressing the muzzle of
/ his revolver. Slim danced up and
Gown in the excitement with his re-
volver in his hand. Polly kept call
ing on both of the men not to shoot
"Let him alonew shouted Slim ex-
citedly. Let him alone, Miss Polly.
He's only four 1ushin', an amt gun
shy"
Nov, look here, sonny" he cried
to Bud, "if that squirt gun Of yours
goes off an hits me an l find 1t 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 l love. Would you
Slim?
Polly smiled at the sheriff, complete
ly disarming him.
Showing his gun back into the holster
Slim grinned and said, II reckon
wouldn't"
We've been engaged fer ever 81
long now, waitin' fer Bud to get rich
an now-an' now it's come" He
face radiated her happiness. But
showed his alarm, motioning her to b.
silent, but Polly ratified on, Bud
been savin' an savin' till he's go
over thousand dollars, am slim
could not contain his Indignation at tn
deception practiced on the girl by tn
! boy.
'You derned thief!' he shouted
Then he stopped, plainly showing hi
annoyance at his lack of self repres
sion.
Buds hand dropped to his gu1
"You"- he began, but Polly stoppe
him with a gesture, looking from on
to the other of the men, daZed an
frightened.
"A thief? Bud a thief? What doe
1t mean? Tell mel" she gasped. Turf
ing to Bud, she demanded, bud, 20
heard what he said?"
Dropping his head, fearing to look Q
either of them, he muttered sullenl.
"He lied"
Slim checked his first betrayal of b
anger and kept himself well in hand.
"Oh. Slim" pleaded Polly, ''say 70
didn't mean it."
Simply and sadly Slim answered:
didn't. reckon as how I'm some jea
GUS, an'-an'-I lied"
His voice dropped, and he turne
aside, stepping away from the your
couple.
Polly was still in doubt. Sims a
lions We're SO strange 1t was not lil
this big hearted, brave sheriff to u
cuse Il man of stealing without bein
sure of his charges. Then Sims a
cusing himself Of lying was entirely ,
variance With his character. Ppm so
ry," she said. please forgive me.
was all my fault. didn't know th'
you
Slim held up his hand to silence he
"Wouldn't yos mind leayin' us t
gether bit?' he requested. In answ
to Polly's frightened glance he co
. tinued: There amt goin' to be !
trouble, only-me an him's got lit
business to talk over. Amt we. Blu
eh?"
Slim led Polly toward the corr'
CHANGING at Bud over his shoulder wi
: a reassuring smile. Gust you step o
yonder bit an wait" he said to Poll
"Now. you WON'T
"Can't you trust me any more?"
asked sincerely.
Grasping him by the hand. she look
him fairly and fearlessly in the eyt
3 saying: II do trust you. / trust y
y both.'
u AS the girl strobe out of earst
! SHm ohsantmindadlv kant shakinp 4