Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1909 — The Round-Up [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Round-Up

A Momence Qf Arizona Novelised From Edmund Day’* Melodrama

By JOHN MURRAY and MILLS MILLER

SYNOPSIS. Chapter I—Returning with gold from the mines to an Arizona ranch to claim Echo Allen, hla promised bride, Dick Lane is attacked by Apaches led by Buck McKee, a renegade. After spending six months in a hospital Lane writes to his friend Jack Payson, owner of the Sweetwater ranch, to tell Echo he is coming home. He tells Payson he has |3,000 to pay a mortgage placed by Jack on his ranch to help him. ll—Colonel Jim Alien, owner of the Bar One ranch, Is father of Echo and father by adoption of Polly Hope, Dick and Bud Lane. Polly and Bud are sweethearts. In Dick’s absence Echo falls in love with Jack, realizing that her love for Dick was merely friendship. Dick is believed to be dead, owing to the return of McKee with a lying story. Bud "chums” with McKee despite the warnings of Slim Hoover, the fat and popular sheriff. Echo and Jack become engaged. 111. — Echo declares to Jack after the latter suppresses Dick’s letter, fearing to lose her, that she will be true to her promise to Dick if he returns. Bud quarrels with Jack about Echo, the boy championing his absent brother’s cause. IV —'Aided by Bud, McKee murders Terrill, the station agent, stealing from him $3,000 of county money. McKee suggests to Bud that Dick may still be living.

CHAPTER V. UNKNOWN to Bud Lane and Buck McKee, who were rioting in Florence, Jack Payson had hurried up the wedding. Colonel Jim had wheedled Josephine Into consenting that it should take place two months ahead of the time that had been Axed. “April is the month fer flowers, Josie, an’ we’ll let you weep all you please." Two weeks’ notice, however, gave ■cant time for preparation for the important ceremony that Mrs. Allen deemed necessary. During this period the busiest spot in Arizona was the kitchen of Allen Hacienda. An Immense cake, big as a cheese, was the crowning effort of Josephine, who wept copiously at the thought of losing her daughter as she measured and mixed the Ingredients. A layer of frosting an inch in thickness incrusted this masterpiece of the art of pastry making. Topping the creation were manikins of a bride and bridegroom. This climax of the bridal k-ake had been brought up by wagon from Tucson with more caution than if it were a month’s cleanup of a paying mine. Mrs. Allen permitted no one to go near the artistic achievement. Others might look at it from afar, but at the slightest movement to get close to it she would push the observer back with the warning: “Keep yer dirty fingers off o' it. ’Taln’t common icin’; that’s confectionary.” Enough chickens to feed a darkycamp meeting were killed for the feast. Fried, roasted, cold or minced as tamales, the dishes filled ovens and tables and overflowed into the springhouse. Favorite recipes carried across the plains by the wives of the argonauts met in rivalry with the dishes of the cooks of old Mexico. Colonel Allen wandered aimlessly about the ranch while the preparations for the feast were in progress. The women folk drove him from one favorite loafing place to another. HU advice was scorned and his wishes made a subject for jests. Defiantly he had taken full charge of the liquid refreshments. A friendly barkeeper in Tucson, acting under bis orders, had shipped to him cases of champagne, a barrel of beer and a siphon of seltzer. Why the seltzer he never could explain. z Later the unlucky bottle marred the supper nnd nearly caused a tragedy. A guest picked it up and peered into the metal tube to see how “the durned thing” ‘worked. As he gazed and pondered, shaking the bottle in bis effort to solve the mystery, he pressed the handle. The stream struck him fairly between the eyes. Shocked, surprised and half blinded, he pulled his gun and declared immediate war on the “sheep herder who had put up the job on him.” Allen's other supplies were of the kind taken straight, in the southwest and downed with a hasty gulp. Driven from the house on the day of the wedding. Allen took refuge on the piazza. From behind the hacienda floated dreamily on the sun drenched air the music of guitars and mandolins played by Mexicans, practicing for the dance wjjlch would follow the ceremony. The colonel dozed and dreamed. Suddenly the peace of the afternoon was shattered by the wild “yipylps” of a band of cowlwys riding up the trail. Revolver shots punctuated their shrill cries. , Allen bounded from his chair, shaking himself like a terrier. This riotous sound was the music he longed to hear. When the staccato beats of the ponies’ hoofs ceased he shouted: “Come on, boys. Make this yotir home. Everything goes, and the Sweetwater outfit la always welcome.” The foreman was the first to pull up in front of the house. “Helio, Uncle Jim!” be cried. “Helio, Sagebrush!” answered the colonel, a* broad smile illuminating bls .face. Holding his pipe in one hand, be

licked his lips at (lie - thought of "lickerlng Up” without the invention of an excuse for his wife. Then he joined in a hearty laugh with the men about the corral as he heard the grunts and stamping of a plunging mustang. A cow pony had entered into the spirit of the occasion and was trying to toss bis rider over his Head. Fresno, one of the Sweetwater’s cowpunchers, was the victim of the horse’s deviltry. His predicament aroused wild shouts of mirth and sallies of the wit of the corral. "Hunt leather, Fresno, or he’ll buck you clean over the wall!” shouted Sagebrush. “Grab his tall!” yelled Show Low, with a whoop. “All over,” way the chorus as Fresno, with a vicious jab of his spurs and a jerk of the head, brought the animal into subjection. “Come right in, boys.” called Allen. “Let the greasers take the horses.” With shrill shouts, whoops and much laughter the guests crowded about the ranchman. Each wore his holiday clothes. New handkerchiefs were knotted about their necks, Fresno bad stuck little American flags in the band of his hat, the crown of which he had removed. "I want head room for the mornin’ after.” he had said. Show Low’s chaps were conspicuously new, and his movements were heralded by the cracking of unsoftened leather. Last of the band was Parenthesis, short, bowlegged, with a face tanned and seamed by exposure. The cowboys ran stiffly, toeing slightly inward. Long hours in the saddle made them apparently awkward and really ungraceful when on the ground. They greeted Allen with hearty enthusiasm. slapping him on the back, poking him in the ribs and swinging him from one to the other with cries of “Howdy, Uncle Jim?” “Howdy, Sagebrush? Hello, Fresno! Waltz right in. Show Low. Glad to see you all!” cried Alien as be in turn brought his hand down with ringing slaps upon shoulder and back. Meantime Parenthesis hopped about the outer edge of the ring, seeking an entrance. Failing to reach his host, he crowed, “How de doddle do!” to attract his attention. Allen broke from the ring. Grasping Parenthesis by the hand, he said: “I’m tolerable, thankee, Parenthesis. Where’s Jack? Didn’t he come over with you?” “What—the boss? Ain’t he got here yet?” asked the foreman. Tall and lean, with hardened muscles. Sagebrush Charley was as lithe as a panther on horseback. His first toy had been a rope with which, as a toddler, he had practiced on the dogs and chickens about the ranch yard. He

could not remember when he could uot ride. Days on the round-up, hours of watching the sleeping herd in the night watch, bad made him quiet and self contained in his dealings with men. His eyes looked out fearlessly on the world. All of his life he had handled cattle. Daily facing dangers on the long drives or in the corral, he schooled himself to face emergencies. Acquiring seif control, he was trusted and admired. When Lyman, the old foreman of the Swwtwater,--xesigncd, Jack Payson promoted Sagebrush, although next to. Bud Lane he was at the time the youngest man In the outfit. He made his employer’s Interests his own. At the mention of Payson’s name he always became attentive. With a shade of anxiety he awaited Allen’s answer. “No,” replied the ranchman, looking from one of his guests to the other. “Why, he started three hours ahead of us!” explained Parenthesis. With a challenging note in bis tones, as if his word was disputed, the host answered. “Well, he ain’t showed jup.” The little group bad become silent. Arizona was In a 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 a quarrel. After a moment's thought Sago-

brush brushed aside his ie«u-> .: u brightened up his comrades with Hie remark: “Mebbe he rid over to Florence station to get a present f<,r, Miss Echo. He said somethin’ about gettln’ an artlckle from Kansas City.” “Mebbe so,” agreed Allen, eager to cast out any forebodings. “It’s time,” he continued, “he wuz turnin’ up If this weddin’s to be pulled off by the clock.” # “Has the sky pilot got here yet?” asked Sagebrush. “No,” replied Allen. “He’s started, though. There’s one thing sartln—we can’t tighten up the cinches till the bridegroom gits here.” !'■ The absence of Jack Payson and the failure of the minister to arrive aroused the suspicions of Sagebrush. Coming closer to Allen, he smiled knowingly and. speaking in a confidential tone, asked: , >: “Say. Jim, they ain’t figgerin’ on git tin’ away on the sly-like, are they?” Show Low interrupted with the ex planation, "You see, we’re goin’ to decorate the wagon some." The suggestion that any one connected with Allen Hacienda would ride in anything on wheels except the driver of the chuck wagon on the round-up aroused the indignation of the old cattleman. For him the only use to which a wheeled vehicle drawn by a horse should be put was to haul materials that could not be packed on a horse.

"They ain’t usin’ any wagon!” he falrij shouted. “They’re goin’ away in the leather.” The idea of carrying out the traditions of the horse in Pinal county wen to a wedding journey tickled the boys Immensely. Slapping one another on the back and nodding their heads in approbation. they shouted: “That’s the ticket! Hooray !*’ “This ain’t no New York idea, where the bride an’ groom hits the life trail in a hired hack!” cried Fresno. Allen's feelings apparently were not yet fully soothed. Turning to Sagebrush, 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 it took.” “Hush, now,” was Parenthesis’ awed comment. “Fo* her i»op was a-chastn’ us an’ kept it up for twenty miles after the parson said ‘Amen.’” “Did be ketch you?” asked Fresno, with great seriousness. “He sure did.” answered Allen, with a twinkle in his eye, “an’ thanked me for takin’ Josephine off?his hands.” The boys laughed. The joke was upon themselves, as they had expected to hear a romantic story of earlier days. When the laughter had subsided Show Low suggested, “If we can’t decorate the wagon, let’s put some flxin’s on the ponies.” The proposal was received with more whoops, shouting and ylpplng. They waltzed about the smiling rancher. “That's what!” cried Sagebrush enthusiastically. Allen grew sarcastic, remarking. “I reckon you all must have stopped some time at the water tank.” Renewed laughter greeted this sally. “This is my first weddin’,” explained Sagebrush rather apologetically. “I want to know!” exclaimed Allen tn surprise. “I'm tell in’ you. I never seed a weddin’ in all my life,” replied Sagebrush, as seriously as if he was denying a fglse accusation of a serious crime. "Mother used to tell me about her'n, an’ I often wfsht I had been there.” FresLo shouted with amusement. lie bad Sagebrush rattled. The coolest man on the rauge was flustered by the mere thought of attending a wedding ceremony. “He's plum locoed over this one. Ain’t you, Sagebrush?” he drawled tauntingly. Sagebrush took his gibing In the best of humor. It was a holiday, and they were with jteople of their own kind. Had a stranger lieen present the remarks would have been resented bitterly. On this point cowboys are particularly sensitive. In the presence of outsiders they are silent, answering only In monosyllables, never leading in any conversation, and if any comment is necessary they make it indirectly. “Well. 1 ain't no society bud like you are.” laughed Sagebrush. The other? joined with him In his merriment over Fresno's discomfiture. "Weddin’s ain’t ao frequent where I come from as they is in Callforny.” “It’s the climate,” answered Fresno, with a broad grin. “So yon ain’t never been at a weddin’?’’ asked Allen, who was looking for another opening to have more fun with Sagebrush. Again the cowboy became serious and confessed: "Nope; I’ve officiated at several plain killin’s an’ been chief usher at a lynchin', but this here's my first weddin’, an’ I’m goin’ to turn loose some an’ enjoy it.” Sagebrush grinned in anticipation of the good times that he knew lay in store for him at the dance. “You're fixed up as if you was the main attraction at this event,” said Allen, looking Sagebrush over carefully and spinning him around on his heel. “Ain’t I mussed up fine?” answered Sagebrush. “You’re the sure big turkey,” interrupted Parenthesis. “Served up flue, with all the trimmln’s,” laughed Fresno, taking another jab at his friend. Their apart was broken up for the time being by the appearance of Polly at the door of the ranch house. “Hello, boys!” she shouted, with the fascinating cordiality of the western girl, wherein the breath of the plains, the

purity of the r.n .;.> v< ’ oweness of life are embraced in a simple greeting and the clasp <;f a hand. The cowboys took oT their hats au(l made elaborate bows to the young woman. “Howdy, Miss Polly?” they cried. “You sure do look pert.” added Sagebrush with what he considered his most winning smile. Fresno snickered and hastily brushed back the hair from his forehead. “Where’s Jack?” she asked the two men, who at once ranged themselves one on each side of her. “He did not start with the boys,” explained Allen. “He’ll be along soon, Polly.” “Well, now, when It comes to lookers, what's the matter with Polly Hope?” exclaimed Sagebrush slyly. Glances of admiration were cast at the girl, who was dressed simply and plainly In a little white gown which Mrs. Allen had made for her for the wedding. Polly's youth, good nature and ability to take care of herself made her a favorite on the ranch. She had no need of but If

an occasion should arise that Polly required a knight there were a score of guns at her service at an hour’s notice. “Looks like a picture from a book,” said Fresno, hoping to win back the ground he had lost by Sagebrush’s openly expressed admiration. (To be Concluded.)

The stream struck him fairly between the eyes.

“Howdy, Miss Polly?" they cried.